Evening Childcare Director

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role:

We are seeking a dependable, experienced Evening Child Care Director to lead center operations during our evening program. This person will be the on-site administrator from 4:00 PM until closing and will help ensure that children receive safe, nurturing, developmentally appropriate care while staff follow all center policies and Illinois licensing requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise evening teachers and support staff; assign classrooms, manage breaks, and maintain required staff-to-child ratios and group sizes
• .Monitor classrooms to ensure active supervision, age-appropriate activities, positive guidance, and safe transitions throughout the evening.
• Serve as the on-site person in charge and respond calmly to emergencies, illnesses, injuries, behavior concerns, and staffing needs.
• Communicate professionally with families at pickup and document important messages, incidents, medication information, and follow-up needs.
• Confirm accurate child attendance, staff timekeeping, authorized pickups, and sign-in and sign-out records in Smartcare.
• Ensure meals and snacks are served safely and that allergy plans, medication procedures, sanitation practices, and health requirements are followed.
• Complete evening safety checks, verify that classrooms and common areas are cleaned and secured, and follow all closing procedures before leaving.
• Maintain confidentiality and immediately report licensing, safety, staffing, or family concerns to the owner/director.
• Support staff coaching, onboarding, policy compliance, and corrective follow-up as directed.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old and meet the current Illinois DCFS child care director qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130.
• Must provide documentation showing an approved director-qualification pathway. Candidates should be prepared to document applicable college coursework, including child care or child development coursework, and qualifying work experience. A typical pathway includes at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours from an accredited college or university, with at least 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours directly related to child care and/or child development, plus the experience required by DCFS.
• Must meet applicable Illinois requirements for child care administration or management education/credentialing and provide official transcripts or credential documentation for verification.
• Must be able to pass all required background checks and meet DCFS health and personnel-file requirements.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain it within the required timeframe.
• At least two years of successful experience in a licensed early childhood or child care setting strongly preferred; supervisory experience preferred.
• Must be dependable and consistently available for the full 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM shift.

Skills We Value

Strong leadership and judgment; clear family and staff communication; knowledge of licensing, ratios, health and safety, and positive guidance; organization; professional documentation; reliability; and the ability to remain calm and make sound decisions without constant supervision.

Compensation
$25.00 to $28.00 per hour, including a $2.00 per hour evening shift differential. Final pay will be based on verified education, credentials, director-qualified status, supervisory experience, and overall child care experience.

About Us:

Maxine’s Daycare & Learning Center provides a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and feel at home. Our center serves children from infancy through school age and offers both daytime and evening care to support the needs of working families. We are committed to maintaining a positive workplace where teachers and leaders feel valued, respected, and encouraged to grow professionally.