Position Title: College Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, DACHS

Employee Classification: LC Faculty NT 12m

College/Division: College of Hlth, Educ & Soc Trans

Department: 350150-CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  81033.63

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The School of Teacher Preparation, Administration, and Leadership invites you to apply for the position of College Assistant Professor.

Classification Summary:
The successful candidate for this College Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education position will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) for NMSU’s Doña Ana County Head Start/Early Head Start (DACHS) grant, which is a $1.6M federally sponsored project funded by the Office of Head Start. This program serves over 130 children and families annually and employs over 40 staff members across multiple preschool sites in southern New Mexico’s Doña Ana County. The DACHS PI will have comprehensive oversight of the award's fiscal and programmatic components, ensuring that all grant objectives are met and that the program complies with all regulatory requirements.
This leadership role requires someone who can navigate complex university systems and lead with authenticity, integrity, and dedication to the continual growth and success of the DACHS program. The ideal candidate will be an innovative and forward-thinking leader with a demonstrated ability to manage an extensive, multifaceted program's operational and strategic aspects, advancing NMSU's mission and the grant's goals.

Classification Standard Duties:
• Grant and Program Oversight: Responsible for all components of the DACHS award, both financial and programmatic, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and university regulations. This includes ensuring that all grant objectives are met and maintaining fiscal accountability for the program’s budget.
• Reporting and Documentation: Responsible for the preparation and submission of all required reports, including annual reports, end-of-grant reports, and other documents as required by the funding agency. This includes maintaining accurate documentation of program activities and ensuring compliance with reporting deadlines.
• Budget and Financial Management: Oversee all budgetary processes for the DACHS program, including reviewing financial reports, ensuring the proper allocation of funds, and managing budget revisions as necessary. This includes guiding funding submissions and making recommendations for any adjustments to the budget due to changes in the scope of work.
• Grant Submission and Scope Revisions: Responsible for collaboration with stakeholders to write and submit annual grant proposals, submit funding requests, manage the programmatic scope of work changes, and oversee any required budgetary revisions due to adjustments in the scope of work or other programmatic changes.
• Leadership and Supervision: Directly supervises the DACHS Program Manager, ensuring effective implementation of the program’s daily operations and supporting staff’s professional growth and development.
• Coordination and Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for all communication between key stakeholders, including the Office of Head Start, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education & Care Department, the HEST Research & Budget Center, and the DACHS Advisory Committee.
• Strategic Leadership: Lead the DACHS program focusing on long-term growth and sustainability. Ensure the program aligns with NMSU’s mission, priorities, and commitments to equity, social justice, early childhood education, and social transformation.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement: Collaborate with Early Childhood Education faculty within the School of TPAL, contributing to related sponsored projects and initiatives such as the NMSU School for Young Children and the Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies, and others within the university and community.
• Faculty Responsibilities: Engage in traditional faculty responsibilities, which include seeking additional external funding, teaching up to three undergraduate and graduate courses (both face-to-face and online) over the academic year (one each semester), advising graduate students, and contributing to service and outreach efforts as needed. The teaching load will be determined with the school director of TPAL at the start of each calendar year.
• Leadership in University Systems: Demonstrate an ability to navigate complex university systems and engage authentically with diverse stakeholders, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration within the DACHS program and across NMSU.

This leadership role requires someone who can navigate complex university systems and lead with authenticity, integrity, and dedication to the continual growth and success of the DACHS program. The ideal candidate will be an innovative and forward-thinking leader with a demonstrated ability to manage an extensive, multifaceted program's operational and strategic aspects, advancing NMSU's mission and the grant's goals.
In addition to leadership responsibilities, the successful candidate will have teaching responsibilities within the School of TPAL. The candidate should preferably demonstrate a successful history of teaching courses in early childhood education to students from diverse backgrounds.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
• Earned doctorate in Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field, or ABD with the dissertation successfully defended within one month of employment.
• Proven experience or ability in securing and managing federally funded grants, including both financial and programmatic oversight.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with a focus on fostering growth, compliance, and collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively within complex university systems and lead authentically and transparently.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice in educational settings.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge and background in early childhood education best practices, particularly in federally funded programs like Head Start, childcare, and infant and toddler services.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse groups, including program staff, specialists, preschool teachers and assistants, families, faculty, university students, communities, Tribal Nations, and governmental agencies, ensuring culturally responsive practices and a strong commitment to social justice.
• Proven experience in active supervision within diverse settings, focusing on providing constructive feedback, supporting professional development, and addressing conflicts or challenges as they arise.
• Be able to provide online and face-to-face undergraduate and graduate instruction in Early Childhood Education and at least one of the areas listed under preferred qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Experience with Head Start programming and community-based childcare/preschool services.
• Experience in fostering community and university partnerships (i.e., lab school, etc.).
• Desire and dispositions to work with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
• Ability to effectively teach in one or more areas: Early Childhood Education or a closely related field.
• Possess the ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Has experience teaching online and hybrid courses.
• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate for this College Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education position will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) for NMSU’s Doña Ana County Head Start/Early Head Start (DACHS) grant, which is a $1.6M federally sponsored project funded by the Office of Head Start. This program serves over 130 children and families annually and employs over 40 staff members across multiple preschool sites in southern New Mexico’s Doña Ana County. The DACHS PI will have comprehensive oversight of the award's fiscal and programmatic components, ensuring that all grant objectives are met and that the program complies with all regulatory requirements.
This leadership role requires someone who can navigate complex university systems and lead with authenticity, integrity, and dedication to the continual growth and success of the DACHS program. The ideal candidate will be an innovative and forward-thinking leader with a demonstrated ability to manage an extensive, multifaceted program's operational and strategic aspects, advancing NMSU's mission and the grant's goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position

Department Contact:  Leanna Lucero, 646-3825, leannal@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.