A Career with a Cause: Go to work knowing that what you do each day positively affects the lives of the people in your community.
This position requires strong skills and passion in the areas of relationship-building. This includes proficiency with active listening skills; patience; ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing and to do so with a diverse population in a fast-paced environment. A willingness to engage members and to connect them to staff and members to each other is essential.
The Child Care Director will enhance the YMCA’s role in child care with the direction and support of the Executive Director of Child Care Services. The Child Care Director will ensure that operations and staff at all School Readiness (preschool), Lighthouse (school age) sites, and the Day Camp program meet or exceed all standards of the YMCA as well as for licensing, accreditation and/or funders. The Child Care Director shall conduct a safe program experience for child care encompassing the child's total development in accordance with established YMCA goals and philosophy. The Child Care Director shall assume the duties of the Executive Director of Child Care Services in their absence.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
- Model and teach the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and serve as role model to children, parents, visitors, and other staff.
- Offer a comprehensive program that meets the emotional, physical, intellectual and social needs of both the individual and the group in accordance with the goals and policies of the YMCA programs.
- Ensure that program operations meet or exceed all standards of the YMCA, funders, and accreditors.
- Develop yearly budget andmarketing plan for SECC, summer camp, and other child care programs in coordination with Executive Director of Child Care Services.
- Assist with ongoing observations and supervision of preschool, child care, and summer camp staff including coaching, discipline, performance reviews, recruitment, interviewing, and placement.
- Maintaining records of education and certifications for all staff.
- Ensure proper care and safety of all children at all times. Be familiar with and follow emergency procedures appropriate to the site and in conformity with procedures adopted by emergency service authorities to ensure the safety of the children. Includes conduction of eight fire drills per year.
- Establish and maintain effective communication with parents.
- Maintain all records and files - including but not limited to accurate documentation of attendance, emergency information, health records, and accident/incident reports for each child and staff member; keeping any and all information pertaining to children and families confidential.
- Assist in the administration of the Care 4 Kids child care assistance program.
- Relate cooperatively with all program staff and business office personnel regarding all issues pertinent to the safe and effective operation of the program.
- Ensure that the site is in accordance with State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) rules and regulations for operating a child care programat all times.
- Provide a monthly report detailing activities, problems and suggestions.
- Attend staff and committee meetings, and professional trainings.
- Maintain a warm and safe environment that is orderly, clean, and stimulating and permits the child to grow and explore.
- Maintain a positive and professional attitude, and loyalty to the YMCA, its families, and staff.
- Report and complete the necessary forms for any difficult or dangerous situation which may occur, including any difficulties or concerns from children, parents, staff, or other involved parties.
- Be knowledgeable in and convey by word, action and attitude YMCA philosophies to children, parents, staff, and others.
- All other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree from an approved university in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor's degree in another field plus the Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ETCT in the age group with which incumbent will be working).
- At least 1080 hours of documented supervised experience over a nine-month span of time, including working with children in a program with these standards or comparable standards. Programs must serve same ages and developmental stages as those served in this program.
- At least two years of supervisory experience required.
- At least one year of experience working in a grant-funded child care program with responsibilities for budget development, monitoring and/or processing or reports.
- Knowledge of and experience with implementation of NAEYC accreditation standards as well as Department/Office of Early Childhood Education licensing standards.
- Incumbent must be able to prepare student portfolios based on Connecticut Benchmarks and NAEYC classroom portfolios.
- Experience in collecting and interpreting data used in assessments, portfolios and reports.
- Must have documentation of a physical examination every two years and a TB Tine Test upon hire and must submit
- Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Background Check and fingerprinting forms within 30 days of hire.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
- Must be able to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities according to the CT Early Learning Development Standards (CT ELDS).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with diverse populations.
- Proficiency software applications including Microsoft Office. Must demonstrate knowledge and ability to enter data, registrations, payments and all other information pertaining to the child care programs using DAXKO software.
- Must possess sufficient visual and auditory acuity to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner during high activity.