Early Childhood-Assistant Director

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Assistant Director

Department: Operations

Reports To: School Director

Supervisory Position: Yes

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Watertown, MA

Are You Ready to Make an Immediate Impact?

Babilou Family US is part of the global Babilou Family network and brings a local, community-focused approach to early childhood education through our Little Sprouts, Building Blocks, and Heartworks schools. We are looking for a proactive and collaborative team member who will support our mission and contribute meaningfully to this role. 

As an Assistant Director, you will play a vital role in supporting the Certified Teacher and ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. You will assist in daily classroom operations, child supervision, curriculum implementation, sustainable education practices, and family interaction while building strong relationships with colleagues and contributing to a positive school culture. 

Our work is guided by our educational approach, Sustainable Education®, which bridges research and daily practice to help children thrive and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re in what we like to call the science of children. Everything we do is rooted in research about how young minds grow—how they learn, connect, and build the skills that last a lifetime. We also lead our HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. This guiding framework fosters an environment where educators, children, families, and partners feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow.

• We will provide children with a safe, organized, and nurturing classroom environment.

• We will support high quality learning experiences guided by daily lesson plans.

• We will integrate sustainable education practices into daily routines and learning experiences.

• We will build strong and trusting relationships with children, families, and staff.

• We will maintain consistent safety, compliance, and quality standards.

• We will support your professional growth through training and ongoing collaboration. 

Classroom Support 

• Assist the classroom teachers in delivering daily lesson plans and learning activities.

• Help ensure the classroom remains clean, organized, and safe.

• Support the implementation and oversight of sustainable education practices, including environmentally responsible routines, age-appropriate sustainability concepts, and stewardship habits within the classroom. 

•KPIs

▪ Complete all assigned classroom tasks daily.

▪ Maintain zero major safety incidents annually.

▪ Receive positive feedback from the lead teacher and through observations.

Child Supervision and Development

• Supervise children during activities, meals, transitions, and outdoor play.

• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining full responsibility to recognize, document, and immediately report any suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.

• Support individual developmental needs and help children achieve age-appropriate milestones. 

•KPIs

▪ Adhere 100 percent to child safety protocols.

▪ Document observations for at least 90 percent of assigned children monthly. 

Family Interaction 

• Greet families and support daily communication as directed by the Certified Teacher.

• Participate in conferences and family events when requested. 

•KPIs

▪ Respond to delegated parent inquiries within 24 hours.

▪ Participate in at least two-family engagement events per year. 

Professional Development 

• Attend all required training and maintain certifications.

• Collaborate with the teaching team for continuous improvement, including learning opportunities tied to sustainable education initiatives. 

•KPIs

▪ Complete 100 percent of annual training requirements.

▪ Participate in at least one professional development activity per quarter. 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• Exercises independent judgment in daily decision‑making related to school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality.

• Assists with the supervision and direction of school staff, contributing to hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback. 

• Acts as a management representative in the absence of the School Director, supporting the leadership of the overall school program.

• Has authority to recommend personnel actions, including staff assignments, scheduling changes, disciplinary recommendations, and staffing adjustments.

• Makes decisions that directly impact school operations, including compliance, curriculum implementation, and family communication workflows.

• Performs administrative and leadership duties that require specialized knowledge of early childhood education, regulatory compliance, and center operations.

• Regularly engages in non‑manual work related to business operations, including documentation, compliance audits, enrollment oversight support, and center preparedness.

• Expected to manage time independently to fulfill leadership responsibilities without reliance on a set number of hours worked. • Supports operational functions tied to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics, demonstrating responsibility for key business outcomes.

• Holds a primary role in maintaining school licensure standards, ensuring the site's continual compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines. 

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Must be EEC Director II Certified

• Experience working with young children in a childcare or educational setting

• Knowledge of child development and classroom safety standards

• Strong communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills

• Ability to follow lesson plans and support the Certified Teacher effectively

Preferred

▪ Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field 

▪ Previous experience working in ECE school leadership

Work Environment

▪ Active classroom environment with regular interaction with children, families, and team members

▪ Movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces throughout the day

▪ Collaborative setting with consistent communication and teamwork 

Physical Requirements

▪ The Assistant Director role requires active involvement in both administrative and classroom environments. To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, the following physical abilities are required:

o Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75 percent of the workday. o Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day to engage with children and support staff.

▪ Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasional assistance with children’s belongings.

▪ Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running, outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.

▪ Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.

▪ Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.

▪ Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs.

▪ Ability to follow and model all safety procedures. 

All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

•Up to 75% discount on your child's tuition, including tax-friendly tuition reduction options.  

•Comprehensive health benefits package, including health, dental, & vision all effective from start date. Additional benefit selections, including pet insurance, are also available.    

•Free subscription to First Stop Health for 24/7 access to virtual doctors.    

•401(k) plan with eligibility for a discretionary employer contribution each year (Must be 21+ to enroll. Eligibility to contribute starts after 60 days of employment).  

•Pay increase opportunities related to job performance, updates in certification credentials, and degree completion.    

•Opportunities for career advancement and ongoing coaching, including a dedicated Child Conference.    

•Employee referral program available.  

Babilou Family US is part of a global network of 1,100 early education and child care centers. We provide quality early education and child care across 42 New England schools. Through the experience and talents of nearly 900 early education professionals and in partnership with nearly 4,000 families, we are on a meaningful journey to create optimal learning spaces where children ages 0-5 can learn, grow, and thrive.   

Our teams, whether at our home office or inside our schools, are change makers – they inspire, create, model, and most importantly make this a great place to work. At Babilou Family US we are consistently recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity within the communities in which we operate. Our focus on equity and inclusion allows us to develop a broader scope of ideas and approaches, offering a collaborative and dynamic educational experience for the youngest members of society.    

#LI-Onsite 

#INDHP

Salary: $58,000-$67,500 per year w/annual bonus plan for EEC Director Qualified Candidates. 

Legal Notice

We are an equal opportunity employer and value a workplace where everyone feels welcome. Employment here is offered on an at‑will basis, meaning either the employee or the company may end the relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, consistent with applicable state and federal laws.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.