Program Director

Early Childhood Program Director

The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and daily operations of an early childhood program licensed for 73. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality education and care for children, aged 1 month – 12 years, while maintaining compliance with licensing regulations, NAEYC accreditation standards, and program policies. The Program Director fosters a positive culture for children, families, and educators and leads continuous quality improvement efforts across the program.

The ideal candidate is a strong instructional and operational leader who is passionate about early childhood education, staff development, family partnerships, and creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.

A central office team offers essential supports to allow directors to focus on children, families, and educators. Various members of the office team conduct interviews, handle subsidy enrollment, authorizations and billing, clerical/secretarial tasks, etc. The regional director offers significant coaching.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the early childhood program
• Develop and maintain a positive and professional workplace culture, with a focus on collaboration and accountability
• Create and facilitate continuous quality improvement initiatives and program goals
• Manage daily operations, staffing, scheduling, ratios, classroom coverage, facilities and safety standards
• Ensure program compliance with all company, state, federal and local regulations, policies and reporting requirements
• Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement program policies and procedures
• Hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate educators and support team
• Facilitate staff meetings
• Support educator growth through reflective practice and performance feedback through monthly observations, 1:1s and evaluations
• Promote staff engagement, collaboration, accountability, and retention
• Ensure implementation of developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum, assessment tools, and individualized learning plans aligned with program philosophy and early learning standards and best practices
• Ensure educators offer and maintain developmentally appropriate, high-quality learning environments
• Reinforce active supervision practices and safe environments
• Promote positive behavior support, social-emotional learning practices, inclusion and culturally responsive practices
• Guide educators in maintaining high standards for teaching and learning through coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional support to team members
• Collaborate with leadership to identify professional development needs and to develop individual professional development plans for educators
• Build positive relationships with children, families, and community partners
• Communicate effectively with families regarding program information: enrollment, orientation, conferences, ongoing updates, child development, conflict resolution and satisfaction surveys
• Address family concerns professionally, collaboratively and immediately
• Support family engagement activities
• Build and maintain partnerships with community agencies, local schools and stakeholders aligned with the program mission
• Ensure adherence to all health, safety, and emergency procedures
• Manage child enrollment, staffing needs, waitlist, and billing
• Monitor and manage program labor and supplies expenses
• Monitor facility needs and coordinate with maintenance as needed
• Maintain and ensure accuracy of records, documentation, and reporting requirements
• Model confidentiality, professionalism, ethical leadership, and effective communication
• Participate in strategic planning and program initiatives
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of child development and early childhood best practices
• Experience with reflective practice and adult learning
• Ability to build strong, positive relationships with educators and families
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Experience with coaching, mentoring, and staff development
• Strong knowledge and understanding of licensing regulations and NAEYC standards
• Proficiency with technology and administrative systems

Individualized benefits package

Salary commensurate with education and experience

Requirements

• EEC Director I certification
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, preferred
• Associate's degree and coursework/ experience acceptable if coupled with EEC Director I certification and demonstrated EEC leadership experience
• 3 years experience in licensed early childhood education
• 1 year supervisory or leadership experience: supervising staff, managing operations, engaging with families and ensuring high-quality practices
• Demonstrated experience with licensing compliance, NAEYC accreditation and continuous quality improvement is highly desirable
• Must be passionate about children and supporting their growth into becoming the best that they can be and equally as passionate about leading and supporting the educators who guide them

Salary Description Start $47,000, commensurate with education/exp