Director of Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Director of Compliance leads and oversees all regulatory compliance functions

across a large, multi-site childcare organization. This individual ensures that every

location operates in full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while

maintaining high operational standards.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position requiring extensive on-site

presence. The Director regularly visits schools, conducts audits, identifies risks, and

implements corrective actions. They ensure every location remains inspection-ready daily. Additionally, the Director serves as the primary escalation point for resolving complex parent complaints, ensuring all grievances are investigated and resolved in alignment with regulatory standards and organizational policies.

The Director serves as the subject matter expert on regulatory compliance. They partner closely with executive leadership, operations, and school administrators to promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Primary Responsibilities

Regulatory & Audit Management

● Lead compliance programs across all childcare locations.

● Conduct on-site audits (routine and unannounced) to ensure daily inspection

readiness.

● Ensure full compliance with Article 47, DOE, CACFP, SACC/SAAC, Early

Intervention, fire safety, and OSHA.

● Prepare schools for inspections by the Department of Health, Department of

Education, and CACFP.

● Develop corrective action plans and oversee them through to timely completion.

● Review critical documentation including staff/child files, attendance, health

records, and licensing files.

Escalation & Complaint Resolution

● Manage escalated parent complaints regarding safety, regulatory, or operational

issues.

● Investigate grievances objectively by gathering facts, conducting interviews, and

reviewing records.

● Resolve conflicts impartially, balancing regulatory mandates with families

needs.

● Document all inquiries, investigations, and resolutions to maintain a clear audit

trail.

● Analyze complaint trends to identify systemic issues and implement preventive

measures.

Training & Policy Development

● Train school leadership including principals, educational directors, and site

managers on compliance.

● Develop corporate policies, procedures, audit tools, and training materials.

● Monitor regulatory changes and seamlessly implement organization-wide

updates.

● Partner with leadership (Operations, HR, Facilities, Education) to mitigate

operational risks.

● Report compliance metrics, inspection outcomes, and complaint trends to

executive leadership.

Required Qualifications

● Educational Director Status: Meets all NYC Department of Health qualifications

to serve in this role.

● Regulatory Expertise: Extensive, working knowledge of NYC Department of

Health Article 47 regulations.

● Licensing Knowledge: Strong understanding of NYC DOH daycare licensing,

inspections, and operations.

● Agency Frameworks: Comprehensive understanding of DOE requirements for

early childhood and school-age contracts.

● Program Experience: Proven experience with CACFP regulations, audits, and

School-Age Child Care (SACC/SAAC) operations.

● Leadership History: Minimum five years of leadership experience in childcare

compliance or early childhood education.

● Multi-Site Management: Experience overseeing compliance across multiple

childcare centers simultaneously.

● Conflict De-escalation: Proven ability to manage high-stress situations and

sensitive customer or parent grievances.

Preferred Experience

● Scale: Experience managing compliance for a large, multi-site childcare

organization.

● Local Insight: Direct experience handling NYC DOH and DOE inspections.

● Staff Oversight: Experience supervising regional compliance staff or specialists.

● Systems Design: Experience developing compliance monitoring systems and

corporate training programs.

● Track Record: Proven history of successful regulatory inspections with minimal

deficiencies.

● Specialized Care: Experience with Early Intervention programs.

Key Competencies

● Regulatory Mastery: Expert knowledge of NYC childcare regulations.

● Conflict Resolution: Exceptional mediation, de-escalation, and customer service

skills.

● Attention to Detail: Meticulous eye for paperwork, file audits, and physical

environment safety.

● Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills for interacting

with families and regulators.

● Organization: Analytical mindset capable of managing multiple competing

priorities under pressure.

● Core Values: Deep commitment to the highest standards of health, safety, and

quality care.