Regional Childcare Director

Job Description

Job Description

The YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County is seeking a dynamic, cause-driven leader to lead our childcare teams!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Regional Childcare Director provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and regulatory compliance for all assigned YMCA early learning, preschool, school-age, and youth development programs. This position ensures that each licensed childcare program consistently provides a safe, nurturing, and high-quality environment while meeting or exceeding all New York State OCFS Licensing Standards, YMCA policies, and accreditation or quality improvement standards as applicable.

The Regional Childcare Director is responsible for developing and supporting Childcare Directors, Childcare Coordinators, and childcare part-time staff, ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining strong enrollment, achieving financial sustainability, fostering positive relationships with families and community partners, and advancing the YMCA's mission of strengthening the foundations of community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Human Services, Business Administration, Recreation, or a closely related field.
• Meet all qualifications required by New York State OCFS to serve as a Site Director.
  Minimum five years of progressively responsible leadership experience managing licensed childcare programs.
• Minimum three years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of New York State child care licensing regulations.
• Experience managing multiple childcare locations or multiple program sites.
• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel regularly between YMCA program locations.

PREFERRED

• Master's degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or related field.
• Seven or more years of childcare leadership experience.
• Multi-site operational leadership within a nonprofit or YMCA environment.
• Experience with NYS OCFS accreditation programs and licensing
• Bilingual communication skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Acting Childcare Director for YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County and oversight over Childcare directors, coordinators, and part-time staff.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for multiple licensed childcare programs throughout the assigned region.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, evaluate, and develop Childcare Directors and other assigned leadership staff to build high-performing teams and ensure accountability.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, retain, and support qualified childcare professionals while promoting employee engagement, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Ensure all assigned childcare programs maintain compliance with NYS OCFS Child Care Licensing Standards, YMCA policies, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Serve as the regional subject matter expert on childcare licensing regulations, operational standards, and best practices.
• Conduct regular compliance audits, prepare programs for licensing inspections, monitor regulatory changes, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Ensure all required licensing documentation, staff qualifications, training records, child files, and operational records are complete, accurate, and current.
• Maintain high-quality early childhood and school-age programs by monitoring curriculum implementation, classroom environments, behavior guidance practices, and overall program effectiveness.
• Champion child safety by ensuring compliance with YMCA abuse prevention policies, risk management practices, emergency preparedness procedures, and all required safety training.
• Conduct routine facility and program evaluations to identify operational risks and implement improvements that promote participant safety and program quality.
• Investigate operational concerns, licensing issues, incidents, complaints, and policy violations in collaboration with Human Resources and executive leadership.
• Develop, manage, and monitor operating budgets for assigned childcare programs, including revenues, expenses, payroll, enrollment, and financial performance.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve enrollment, participant retention, operational efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Foster positive relationships with children, families, school divisions, licensing representatives, community partners, and other stakeholders while responding professionally to questions, concerns, and feedback.
• Represent the YMCA in community partnerships, licensing visits, meetings, and professional organizations to strengthen community relationships and promote YMCA childcare services.
• Analyze operational, enrollment, financial, and quality data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Participate in Association strategic planning, organizational initiatives, grant opportunities, and program expansion efforts that support the YMCA's mission and long-term goals.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, operational excellence, inclusion, collaboration, and exceptional member service while modeling the YMCA's mission and core values.
• Coordinates with Director of Camps to manage staff who provide leadership roles at Camp in summer
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the successful operation and growth of YMCA childcare services.
• Ensure consistent implementation of Association policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives across all assigned childcare locations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise program activities.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.