This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. YMCAs across the country offer quality full-day and partial-day child care for infants through preschoolers, enabling parents and family members to go to work knowing their children are in safe, stimulating environments. Children and their caregivers can also attend the Early Learning Readiness Program together. Young learners get stimulating preschool-like experiences. Their caregivers receive support to replicate the experiences at home, ensuring that children start kindergarten ready to learn. As the Director of the Early Learning Center you are responsible for the overall operations of a YMCA Early Learning Child Care Center providing quality experiences for children that focus on the core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring of the YMCA.
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.
- Provide supervision to Program Coordinator, Lead Teachers, Program Assistants and volunteers in the Early Learning Center.
- Manage all classrooms at the center ensuring compliance with policies and licensing guidelines. Conducts regular visits/observations to each classroom settings for all age groups. Responsible for conflict resolution supports in service/ with staff relations.
- Practice continuous quality improvement, evaluating programs, and implementing changes as needed.
- Ensure that observations and evaluations of each child are completed by lead teachers.
- Plan both long and short range activities in accordance with curriculum objectives, developmentally appropriate practice and program philosophy. Coordinate with lead teacher/assisting staff to create daily lesson/activity plans to meet the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs of the children in your care. Work with lead teacher to ensure supplies have been approved and purchased for needed programming activities.
- Liaison between Head Start, Early Head Start, and other program contractors or partnerships with the ELC.
- Maintains monthly communication and positive relationships with parents through family involvement efforts. Facilitates parent conferences, parent involvement nights, teacher planning days, and provide supports for external resource recommendations.
- Supervise scheduling practices for ELC staff. Work with lead teachers to ensure proper staffing and ratios within the center at all times. Responsible for approving schedule changes, time off request, and oversee required scheduled training times for ELC staff.
- Schedule ongoing staff development efforts which includes planning and conducting staff meetings on a regular basis, to enhance communication, provide necessary training, and provide other staff the opportunity to be involved in program development, creative problem-solving, and to provide their input to successful program operation.
- Assist with recruitment efforts, screening, hiring, training, developing of programs, teachers and other personnel necessary to ensure quality delivery of Early Learning programs as well as potential YMCA youth development staff.
- Review new hire paperwork with new ELC personnel. Supervise onboarding process for ELC department staff and Orientation Training for new ELC program staff.
- Assist with coordination with Food Service program assistant that food/supplies for program operations have been approved, purchased, and financial invoices submitted to Senior Director. Ensure food service program assistant is maintaining operational codes for the ELC that meet operational standards.
- Implement knowledge of emergency procedures to ensure safety of children and be physically and mentally able to respond to emergencies and administer CPR and/or First aid appropriately.
- Ensure required program records, appropriate forms, and files of staff and children are up to date and up to standard DHS and other operating codes. Ensures sign in/out sheets and incidents/accidents reports are submitted in a timely and accurate manner. Reports participant hours to DHS provider portal in a timely and accurate manner.
- Complete monthly DHS reporting for billing for submission. Assist accounting department with monitoring/assisting program member account activity (private pay/assistance).
- Manage program registration process.
- Assist the Senior Director of Youth Development in reaching enrollment and revenue goals, program goal development, and ongoing growth/participation of ELC program.
- Manage/approve payroll time sheets of staff under direct supervision.
- Perform all other duties assigned by the Senior Director of Youth Development.
- With assistance from Senior Director of Youth Development manage programs within annual budget parameters, including overseeing and managing staff hours and overseeing participant fees and payments.
- Assists with planning and facilitation of Y-wide community and family missions/events. Participates in YMCA fundraising and financial development activities such as; grant writing, implementation and reporting, the Annual Fundraising Campaign and other fundraising events.
- Model professionalism and best practices at all times.
- Support the mission of the YMCA and incorporate the YMCA character development values including Care, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility in our daily routine while working with children, parents, and staff.
- Minimum 3 years of experience working in youth program setting.
- Minimum 1 year of supervisory experience.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills and professional demeanor
- Proven customer service skills (in person as well as on the phone)
- Requires resourcefulness and excellent organizational skills
- Ability to work independently
- Criminal record clearance by being fingerprinted prior to reporting to work and signing a statement regarding criminal convictions
- Excellent personal computer skills and experience with standard business software.
- Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
- (Preferred) Experience with early learning or youth program curriculum and standards.
Salary: $28,000.00 - $31,000.00