School - age Director

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT US:

Manchester Early Learning Center (MELC) has been a trusted partner for Manchester families for nearly 50 years. As a non-profit, NAEYC-accredited organization, we provide year-round, quality educational experiences for preschool and school-age children across multiple sites — including our Preschool Center and before-and-after school programs in every Manchester Public Schools elementary school and Bennet Academy.

We are looking for an energetic, passionate, and experienced leader to join our team as School-Age Director. In this role, you will oversee designated school-age sites, providing leadership and support to full-time Program Managers who run each location. You'll shape the quality of programming, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure children receive safe, engaging, and developmentally rich experiences every day.

This is an exempt, full-time position — a meaningful leadership opportunity for someone who is ready to make a real impact across a growing, community-rooted organization.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITY:

The School-Age Program Director oversees and assures appropriate operations of MELC's school-age programming across all sites. Through direct supervision of Program Managers, this position ensures that programs are meeting expectations, continuously improving in quality, and operating in compliance with all licensing, accreditation, and grant requirements. The School-Age Program Director works in close partnership with the Director of Programs and Director of Operations to advance MELC's mission and provides welcoming, professional service to all students, families, staff, and community partners.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervise (hire, evaluate, and support) Program Managers; assist with the supervision of Senior Group Leaders, Group Leaders, and Front Desk Staff.
• Ensure an environment that facilitates achievement of program and youth development outcomes, with overall responsibility for the cleanliness, attractiveness, and safety of properties and equipment across all school-age sites.
• Lead quality improvement of programs by conducting program evaluations, classroom and site observations, and providing regular structured feedback to staff.
• Ensure all school-age programs operate in compliance with the standards and requirements of MELC's licensing and accrediting bodies, including the Office of Early Childhood (OEC).
• Oversee that all grant-funded programs and positions, including 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) and State Department of Education (SDE) sites, meet program expectations and reporting requirements, in coordination with the Director of Programs.
• Manage effective recruiting, hiring, training, and scheduling of school-age staff in partnership with the Learning and Talent Coordinator.
• Partner with the Learning and Talent Coordinator to support onboarding, ongoing professional development, and credentialing of school-age staff.
• Provide oversight of school-age workforce development initiatives, including the Work Program and Senior Group Leader (SGL) program, in coordination with the Learning and Talent Coordinator.
• Oversee enrollment for all school-age sites, ensuring programs are enrolled to capacity and that incoming children meet enrollment requirements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with public school district partners, host school administrators, and community organizations.
• Coordinate with the Director of Operations on school-age transportation logistics, including bus schedules, routing, and communication with drivers.
• Oversee compliance with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) at participating school-age sites, including documentation, meal counts, and reporting requirements.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with parents, guardians, and family members, including managing escalated concerns and family engagement initiatives.
• Compile, analyze, and report program data, including attendance, participation, and program outcomes, in support of grant reporting and organizational planning.
• Monitor school-age program budgets, including site-level expenditures and purchasing, in coordination with the Director of Programs.
• Respond to incidents, emergencies, and family or staff concerns in a timely and professional manner, escalating to leadership as appropriate.
• Act in the best interest of the organization, reflecting the values of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect.
• Perform other duties as needed or directed.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Youth Development, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory experience, preferably in a school-age, youth development, or educational site.
• Minimum of one year of experience working with school-age children.
• Multi-site management experience preferred.
• Knowledge of OEC licensing requirements and best practices in school-age program quality.
• Experience with grant-funded programming and grant compliance reporting preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with staff, families, school district partners, and community stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new software and database systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Commitment to MELC's mission and values.

Manchester Early Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer