Center Director

Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) is a 118-year-old Chicago-based nonprofit organization providing early childhood education and camping programs to children of all religions, races, and ethnicities across Chicagoland. Guided by Jewish values and culture, JCYS delivers educational and recreational programs for children and, through board service, develops the next generation of Jewish civic leaders.

Center Director provides leadership, direction, and oversight of the JCYS Northwest Family Center in Buffalo Grove . As a key member of the agency’s leadership team, the Center Director ensures that JCYS programs reflect our mission and nurture each child’s spirit, imagination, confidence, kindness, and talents. This position is considered confidential.

Core Responsibilities

Center Administration

• Oversee daily operations, ensuring the safety and well-being of children and staff.
• Ensure full compliance with IL DCFS and other regulatory standards; maintain required documentation and prepare for all inspections.
• Collaborate with other JCYS centers, Central Office Administration, and the Facilities Manager to maintain high-quality operations.
• Conduct quality assurance, risk management, and facility planning in partnership with appropriate staff.
• Monitor the center budget with the CFO, Facilities Team, COO, and MDO to ensure fiscal health and sustainability.
• Recruit, hire, and retain staff to meet DCFS ratios while fostering positive community relationships and visibility throughout the center.

Fiscal Management

• Assist in developing and managing annual center budgets in accordance with JCYS fiscal guidelines and best practices.
• Monitor revenues, expenses, and fundraising activities to ensure fiscal stability and growth.
• Prepare mid-year financial projections based on current performance and guidance from Operations and Finance.

Program Development

• Align center goals with the JCYS Strategic Plan, current field research, and best practices in Early Childhood Education.
• Identify, develop, and implement new programs from concept through execution.
• Regularly evaluate program effectiveness and ensure alignment with the agency mission, policies, participant needs, and community priorities.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Lead recruitment, hiring, training, mentoring, supervision, and evaluation of staff.
• Provide effective oversight of teachers and staff, including observations and performance evaluations.
• Support implementation of high-quality ECE programming.
• Maintain a positive, inclusive work culture grounded in customer service, dignity, respect, and collaboration.
• Conduct regular staff meetings that reinforce ECE best practices and meet DCFS licensing requirements.
• Partner with HR to ensure staff complete required training in child safety, conduct, ethics, and confidentiality.

Client Relations

• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment in which families feel supported and connected to the JCYS community.
• Partner with Marketing to implement recruitment strategies, including open houses, fairs, and tours, to achieve enrollment goals.
• Engage regularly with parents—responding to messages, greeting at drop-off/pick-up, attending programs, hosting meetings, and fostering strong, trusting relationships.
• Oversee family communications and community engagement initiatives.
• Ensure the successful planning and execution of annual family events (e.g., classroom celebrations, Purim carnival, Shabbat dinners).
• Possess knowledge of Jewish culture and traditions, applying it appropriately to programs and staff training to create an inclusive, cohesive Jewish environment.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Represent JCYS within the community to partners, donors, and funders to advance the agency’s mission.
• Provide enrollment updates, special reports, and audits as required.
• Attend relevant JCYS meetings and events.
• Keep appropriate JCYS leadership (COO, MDO, Director of Risk Management, Director of Human Resources and Director of Facilities) informed of developments that may impact center operations or the broader agency.

Additional Responsibilities: Assigned as needed to support center objectives.

JCYS offers a generous benefits package including PTO, health, dental, vision, life, LTD, and STD insurance, and an employer-matched 401(k) plan.

JCYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).

Seniority Level

• Director

Employment Type

• Full-time

Job Function

• Business Development and Sales
• Non-profit Organizations