Center Director

Job Description

Job Description

The Center Director is responsible for the overall management of the center base program

and running of the classrooms at a licensed site. They are designated with California

Community Care Licensing as the Center Director on the Licensing 500 form and are

responsible for the duties of the Center Director as required by California Community Care

Licensing. This is a non-exempt position.

THE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

I. Demonstrate principles of family support*

1. Develop a trusting relationship with families of enrolled children and make them the

senior partner in helping to improve the quality of life for the entire family.

2. In partnership with families, NCS staff, and involved agencies, make and follow up

on referrals and coordinate logistics to insure good communication between family

and all involved partners.

3. Plan and implement outreach to ensure full enrollment, strong community support

and successful transitions for children and families.

4. Take a lead role in helping parents to: understand the development of their children;

grow their parenting skills; ensure their child’s safety; and become more involved in

their child’s education.

5. Conduct parenting education and teach parents to lead parent committee

meetings.

6. Demonstrate appropriate response to children and families that have experienced

physical & emotional abuse, neglect, violence, substance abuse, and mental health

concerns and strive to provide resources that address those issues.

7. Regularly observe and assess children and families in relation to developmentally

and culturally appropriate norms and standards. Communicate those observations

and their indication of strengths and possible concern to families and make

referrals to appropriate support staff.

* For Center Directors at sites with an assigned Family Worker, the above would be done

in collaboration with the Family Worker.

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II. Achieve positive child outcomes through classroom activities

1. Provide appropriate materials & create, warm, safe and educationally challenging

indoor and outdoor environments for children at all developmental levels.

2. Utilize all NCS required screening and assessment tools and performance standard

guidance to address child health, nutrition, and development and provide effective

follow-up on information gathered.

3. Implement the NCS chosen curriculum incorporating parent input to ensure

individualized learning opportunities for all enrolled children based on ongoing

observations, screenings, assessments, and parents’ desires.

4. Promote language, literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, social emotional

and physical development, and positive approaches to learning.

5. Create a classroom environment that fosters independence and trust through the

use of familiar routines, transitions, and predictable responses to children’s needs.

6. Provide positive child guidance and appropriate expectations and effectively

respond to challenging behaviors of children.

7. Organize family conferences, participate in child study teams, case conferences,

inter-agency conferences, and IEP/IFSP’s.

8. Write objective narrative notes, maintain adequate records, and submit timely,

complete and readable documentation and required reports.

III. Effective management of classroom

1. Predict unsafe situations and take precautions; provide child first aid; implement

procedures that prevent the spread of infectious diseases; promote oral and

physical health; and appropriately respond to emergencies/crises.

2. Effectively supervise, coach, support and train teachers, lead teachers,

associate teachers, assistant teachers, special aides, volunteers, and cooks, if

applicable.

3. Develop and implement effective classroom management systems through clear

and direct communication that ensures optimal safety and effective learning for

children, classroom volunteers and observing parents; an effective work

environment for staff; and appropriate meal service practices.

4. Promote effective teamwork by supporting all members of the team. Model a

positive non-judgmental attitude with clear and direct communication in working

with staff, volunteers and families.

5. Appropriately address conflicts and differences between staff, parents, and children.

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IV. Manage professional growth and development*

1. Promote high quality interpersonal communication between children, families,

peers, support/management staff, and community services/schools and community

helpers.

2. Work with your supervisor to identify your professional development goals based

on NCS performance reviews, ongoing feedback and self-identified areas for

growth.

3. Demonstrate appropriate professional role including: a) an understanding of

boundaries, b) maintenance of confidentiality, c) working within allotted budget, d)

timely notification to supervisor of absence from any work activity, and e) presenting

acceptable behavior at all times.

4. Follow NCS Personnel Policies and other policies, applicable State and Federal

regulations and standards, and NCS and Head Start and Early Head Start mission,

goals, and plans.

5. Maintain all necessary certifications, including but not limited to child development

permit, mandated reporter training and CPR/First Aid. Integrated pest

management

6. Support all staff under your supervision in maintaining their professional

development goals and necessary certifications.

7. Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the essential job functions listed above, the Center Director is also responsible for Ensuring

licensing requirements are always met including, but not limited to:

 Maintaining current site personnel and child files and rosters

 Maintaining up to date postings as required

 Ensuring proper ratios adult to child ratios are maintained

 Ensuring children are visually supervised

 Communicating site maintenance needs to the Facilities Supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Qualifications vary depending on funding for the program

• For Head Start funded programs: AA/AS degree in ECE/Child

Development or related field.BA/BS degree preferred.

• For State funded programs: Site Supervisor level permit on Child

Development Matrix.

• For Early Head Start: Associate level permit or equivalence and 3 units

in infant/toddler care or comparable training

• Note: For programs with dual funding, staff must meet requirements for

both funding sources.

2. Minimum of two years of experience working with children under age 5 in a group

setting.

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3. Must possess knowledge of child development and be sensitive to the needs and

characteristics of young children and families. Must have the ability to relate well to

other staff members, parents and community members. Must be self directed and

able to initiate parent and staff activities.

4. Must be able to read and write English effectively.

5. Be self-motivated, open, flexible, and willing to work cooperatively with staff to

ensure positive outcomes.

6. Possess the ability to accept, reflect and act upon feedback. Facilitate and model

respectful, professional communication and teamwork. Demonstrate a positive

attitude. Promote Northcoast Children’s Services programs to children, families,

co-workers and community.

Physical Requirements

1. Must successfully complete a health screening and provide proof of the absence of

TB no later than 7 days following the date of hire.

2. Physical agility to lift and carry objects up to 25 pounds; and children up to 50

pounds for safety reasons.

3. Physical agility to bend, stoop, walk, reach overhead, push/pull, squat, twist, and

turn.

Health and Safety Training Requirements

1. Must possess, or be willing to obtain within 30 days, a current pediatric first aid and

pediatric CPR certificate.

2. Must provide documentation of 15 hours of Health and Safety training as prescribed

by Community Care Licensing. Hours from current first aid and CPR certificate

count toward this requirement.

3. Must have a current Criminal Record Clearance with current Child Abuse Index

Check on file with Community Care Licensing, or provide fingerprints and a Child

Abuse Index Check prior to the first day of work in order to obtain a Criminal Record

Clearance from the Department of Justice.