Childcare Director

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization's work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN-We are never done learning and always seek to improve. We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. We UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

1. Enrollment: Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
2. Satisfaction: Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
3. Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
4. Education and ConversionE: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
5. Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
6. Ownership: Staff and volunteers encourage members to own the YMCA, using words such as we, us, and our association (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child Care Director I is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and administration of a child development center or program with up to 5 classrooms. This role includes managing a staff team of up to 20 teachers, developing educational programs, ensuring compliance with state and local regulations, and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for all children. The Child Care Director I will also handle budget compliance and monitoring, program enrollment, and communication with parents and guardians. The ideal candidate is a dedicated leader with a passion for early childhood education, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to create a positive and supportive atmosphere for both staff and children. This position requires face-to-face leadership in these programs and may involve early morning, evening, and weekend responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Manages the day-to-day operation of the child development center to ensure a safe, nurturing, and educational environment for children
• Maintains and improves quality standards for educational and care practices.
• Manages recruiting, orientating, and enrolling of children/families, in collaboration with outreach and enrollment specialist
• Advises and supports parents/guardians of necessary child/family referrals
• Confers with parents/guardians regarding child/ren progress, facility activities, policies, and enrollment procedures
• Advises teaching staff regarding child's behavioral or learning problems, and recommends methods of modifying inappropriate behavior and encouraging learning experiences
• Reviews and evaluates facility activities to ensure conformance to state and local regulations and licensing requirements. Maintains a positive relationship with assigned licensing consultants
• Conduct regular inspections and assessments to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations Builds and maintains community partner relationships in the facility and in the community
• Interviews, hires, onboards, and trains teaching staff, in collaboration with Senior Director, Early Learning Workforce Development
• Plans, assigns, and directs work; create staff schedules and manage staffing needs; addresses complaints and resolves problems
• Confers with teaching staff regarding child's behavioral or learning problems, and recommends methods of modifying inappropriate behavior and encouraging learning experiences
• Sets goals and objectives for staff members; conducts performance evaluations and provides feedback to improve teaching practices. Monitors monthly budget and year-end forecast for responsible program areas
• Assists with Annual Campaign
• Liaise with contracted custodial team and maintain all areas in a clean, presentable fashion
• Serves in ratio as needed to cover PTO, vacancies, or leaves of absence.
• Prepare and draft reports for funders as requested
• Participate in management meetings, strategic planning, and effectively cascade communication to team members
• Holds and maintains licensure for program center
• Ensures grant compliance, as required

Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Association

COMPENSATION

$48,000 - $60,000 annually; Full Time, Annually

BENEFITS

• Free YMCA Family Membership & discounted program fees
• 50% discount off the regular rate for each child registered in a YMCA childcare program. Full-time YMCA employees working in a licensed childcare program will receive a 50% discount on all Early Learning (including infant room), School-Age, and Day Camp registrations.
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off, beginning at 4 weeks per year
• 9 Paid Holidays per year
• 10% retirement contribution upon eligibility, learn more here.
• 403(b) retirement savings account
• The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. More information can be found here.
• Paid Parental Leave
• Discounted childcare
• Long term disability, basic life insurance and other voluntary benefits
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program and resources for you and your family
• Community Discounts, and more

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree (BA) from four-year college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; 2 semester hours in child care administration; three to five years experience with licensed child care management and development; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Past supervision experience preferred. Ability and desire to work with children infant to 6 years of age.
• Strong knowledge of state regulations and licensing requirements for childcare centers.
• Must have working knowledge of sound fiscal principals.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to interact with people of all ethnic backgrounds, ages and lifestyles.
• Working knowledge of computers and experience with a variety of software applications.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Fingerprinting
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)
• DHS clearance
• Negative T.B. test and proof of current physical exam
• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification required within the first 60 days
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• AED-Oxygen Certification required within the first 60 days

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work environment and 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.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of members, parents, and staff.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.

TRAVEL:

0 – 5% of local travel within the state of Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel may be required for educational conferences or training.

PM21

Compensation details: 48000-60000 Yearly Salary

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