Center Director

Child Development Center Director

Responsible for the oversight and coordination for planning, organizing, developing, coordinating, implementing, supervising and evaluating the overall activities of the multiple Child Development Centers; including Early Head Start and Head Start Program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for hiring, supervising, training and terminating staff, in accordance with Easter Seals policies and procedures, OSHA, FLSA and other applicable labor requirements.
• Responsible for overall classroom active supervision working collaboratively with the Teaching staff and Education team.
• Support the social and emotional development of children maintaining a positive and effective learning environment.
• Provides guidance, support and leadership to staff to emphasize the importance of the program achieving high standards of quality services and safety environment.
• Assist in the coordination of curriculum development, planning and providing daily classroom activities to meet social, intellectual, physical and emotional needs of individual children and to ensure the appropriate use of the High Scope curriculum.
• Plan and implement in-service and other staff professional development activities as appropriate. Ensure staff complete annual trainings as required by the agency, performance standards and others regulatory bodies.
• Perform staff Performance Evaluations accordance with established agency procedures.
• Ensure staff maintain required credentials, certification and documentation to meet state and local licensing requirements for employment; as well as specific program guidelines (i.e Early Head Start, Head Start, VPK, Food Program, DCF, etc. ).
• Ensure staff maintain up to date the required medical screening and background clearances.
• Assures remediation of any non-compliances found by the agency monitoring team or grantee assessment, and incorporates recommendations into planning for the improvement of the program in a timely manner.
• Supervise, train and support classroom volunteers.
• Monitors the implementation of the responsibilities of employees through observation, constructive feedback, monthly supervisory meetings, team meetings, and review of files and documentation.

Financial Management Responsibilities

• Help prepare and implement Centers budget, monitor monthly financial statements, and adjust spending as needed to maintain compliance.
• Ensure enrollment meets allocations for budget projections.
• Prepares and submits proposals, grants applications and reimbursements packages according to pertinent guidelines and procedures.
• Access and maintain current information on relevant local, state and federal fiscal issues.
• Monitors the program's administrative cost, assuring it does not exceed the allowed amount.

Enrollment Responsibilities

• Responsible for maintaining 100% enrollment at all time, including VPK percentage and disability.
• Coordinate intake function including: screening telephone inquiries for admission, parent interviews, placement and follow-up, transitions and referral to other programs.
• Provide orientation for new staff, families and volunteers.
• Ensure that all referral, wait list and information calls for Center is documented.
• Ensure that all client records are current and complete as required by licenser agents and Centers policies.

Facility/Program Management Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations for DCF Child Care licensure, Early Head Start, Head Start, Medicaid, ADA and others affecting facility and programs.
• Provide a safe and clean environment for staff and children by overseeing supply orders, submitting timely requests for facility maintenance and repairs, fire drills, fire drill practice and emergency contact sheets for staff and parents.
• Other facility related issues as they occur.

Community Outreach Responsibilities:

• Promote fund raising efforts for the Centers.
• Coordinate Center parent newsletter and information distribution to families and staff regarding federal, state and local issues affecting children and families.
• Assist in evaluating individual and family needs and bring in appropriate resources to bear an effort to solve the problems.
• Seeks collaboration and maintains association with community professional and organizations.

Physical Demands:

• Regular to frequent requirement, and as needed, to lift children (up to 50 lbs.), including bending, stooping, stretching, walking, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, sitting on low chairs or on the floor.
• The work is in a childcare setting. In order to conduct classroom activities and interact with children in a meaningful way, some physical exertion such as the following physical demands are required:
• Noise level can be moderate to loud
• Detecting unsafe situations by sight or sound.
• Moving quickly to intervene in unsafe situations.

Educational & Experiential Requirements:

• Have at least a baccalaureate degree required.
• Specialized college-level course work or work experience in administration, leadership, or management.
• Specialized college-level course work or work experience in early childhood education/child development, human services, family services counseling or related field.
• Work experience in supervision of staff, fiscal management or administration.
• DCF 45 hours (Introductory Child Care Training-40 Hours and Literacy Requirement-5 hours;
• Active Director Credential or completion within six months of hire.
• Three years previous experience supervising programs that provide comprehensive coordinated services to young children and/or families.
• Head Start and/or Early Head Start experience, preferred.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to work as a team, communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and receptive to receiving and offering feedback.
• Ability to work under pressure, maintain accuracy and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with staff, participants and the public in a professional and concerned manner.
• Bilingual (Spanish & English) preferred.

Other:

• Work a flexible schedule as required.
• Other related duties as necessary to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of Easter Seals South Florida as a whole.
• Successful completion of background process which includes: Local background check, Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, medical clearance, drug test and reference checks.
• Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable.

Reporting to this position: Center Staff