Site Director

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga , a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College , our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​ The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: BS $29.00/hour

MA $31.00/hour

FLSA Status : This is an Exempt position.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
This position works 240 days per year, 8 hours per day. Schedules may vary due to work assignments and projects.

Department: Early Learning

Location: James A. Henry

SUMMARY:
Chattanooga Head Start is a grant-funded program, and is subject to reapplication every 5 years.
The Site Director is responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the assigned site and the supervision of the Education Staff, Site Clerk, and Volunteers. In addition to ensuring a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children in assigned classrooms, the Site Director is responsible for observing, monitoring, supporting, and training teaching staff in these duties and responsibilities. An important function of this position is to develop positive and productive relationships with enrolled families. The Site Director will ensure that documentation on children and families is submitted and maintained in a timely manner.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Provides daily leadership and supervision of site staff; acts as a liaison between components; conducts site meetings and provides information, solves problems; and plans and evaluates the site activities to ensure smooth operations.

Monitors each classroom to ensure a safe, healthy and cognitively oriented environment. Monitors all Health procedures and Active Supervision and Transition procedures.

Monitors and supports all Disability and Mental Health Services to ensure comprehensive care is provided to children with special needs.

Monitors, observes and provides feedback to classroom staff to ensure appropriate implementation of the curriculum to support the development of individual children, socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically. Monitors lesson planning and individualization of children development through the on-going assessment instrument.

Supervises education staff, site clerk and volunteers, conducts orientation and training of staff and parents, and completes performance appraisal on assigned personnel.

Prepares and maintains records and reports, exercises administrative direction over the record keeping and reporting for the site's operations.

Demonstrates work habits which comply with agency personnel policies and procedures,completes special assignments from immediate supervisor or Head Start/EHS Director.

Supervises children as a fill-in for educators to prevent classroom closure and/or undue hardship on site.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required.

Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred.

Any combination of equivalent experience and education to perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.

Early Childhood classroom experience

Head Start/Early Head Start Experience

Experience training adult learners

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: None.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of :

Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood Best Practices

Appropriate Early Childhood Environments

Head Start Performance Standards

State of Tennessee Child Care Licensing Requirements

Skills in :

Ability to present a positive image of the organization to members of the community

Ability to effectively train and instruct center staff in necessary elements such as, curriculum, lesson planning, adult/child interaction developmentally appropriate practices, etc.

Successful experience in developing and maintaining a cohesive team

Supervision and coordination of staff efforts to achieve goals and objectives

Experience successfully working with culturally diverse staff and clients

Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

Proficient use of computer applications, including word processing, data-entry into web-based software applications, and email communication

Ability to plan, organize, and implement position requirements

Ability to solve problems with tact, good judgment and in a respectful manner

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require: walking, standing, reaching, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

This position is classified as Medium Work in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, which require all staff—regardless of job function—to support the health and safety of children. This may include the direct supervision of children and/or the ability to respond promptly and effectively during emergencies at a Head Start center.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: N

Department of Transportation - CDL: N

Child Sensitive: Y

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position is subject to pre-employment screenings, which include a background check, drug screening, lift test, TB screening questionnaire and/or TB skin test (as determined by initial results), complete physical examination, Hepatitis B titer, and fingerprinting. Ongoing requirements include a physical reexamination on an annual or bi-annual basis and fingerprint clearance every five years.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer .

JES 7/18/25

KJF