Director - Early Childhood Education

The Wolk Children’s Center is a highly respected, inclusive childcare center that serves the Greater Rochester community, teaching children through exploration, discovery, and play. We are looking for a Director of Early Childhood Education to lead our center and continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children and families. At the Wolk Children’s Center, alongside academic learning, our children participate in robust enrichment experiences such as yoga, music education, swim lessons, and physical education.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY

Direct the day-to-day operations of the licensed childcare center under the regulatory requirements of the Office of Child and Family Services (NYS OCFS) while supporting educational programming, providing leadership for classroom educators and upholding customer-facing experiences with children and their families.

Reporting to the CEO and supervising a large team of direct reports, including Educators and office staff, the Director leads the focus on Early Childhood Education ECE best practices: mandatory health and safety practices, child-centered & play-based learning environments, nurturing relationships, positive socialization, whole-child skill development, and on-going professional development for educators and staff.

The Director also promotes the JCC’s focus on creative enrichment opportunities, community building, and values-based curriculum within a Judaic environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Working closely with the CEO, set the direction, goals, accountability and strategic initiatives of the Licensed Childcare Center
• Support the mission, promote, and implement the Core Values of the Jewish Community Center.
• Oversee management and coordination of the ECE program’s daily activities, scheduling, staffing and resources
• Lead the team to ensure quality training and implementation of developmentally appropriate child-centered programs at all age levels and across all classrooms.
• Collaborate with Jewish educators to support the successful integration of the Judaic curriculum and events
• Ensure health & safety training requirements are maintained up to date for all staff
• Oversee the childcare center’s Health Care Plan; ensure compliance with all medical records including (but not limited to) severe allergies, special health needs, OTC medication, daily health checks
• Ensure safety protocols and procedures are clearly defined, communicated, practiced, and posted in place for staff and children, including procedures for emergency response evacuation or security risks
• Assist in budget management and development, submit receipts and invoices, work with finance dept to sustain business & financial administration goals
• With the support of the Human Resources team, participate in recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, training, and evaluation of all Early Childhood staff
• Lead the staff performance management process to mentor, coach, train and ensure professional development goals are achieved
• Facilitate regular classroom observations and provide educator coaching to support lesson planning, child assessment, classroom management, and environmental & materials needs.
• Ensure OCFS and JCC policy compliance and maintain positive and professional relationships with NYS OCFS and DOH representatives
• Facilitate assessment of children’s progress through formal observation and collaboration with the team of Educators to establish a reflective teaching cycle of goal creation, assessment, reflection, and planning.
• Ensure timely response to inquiries, questions, complaints from families and staff.
• Maintain open and regular communication with parents using a variety of approaches to provide clear and consistent messaging.
• Participate in strategic planning as it relates to pilot, long-term or future program needs based on community needs and state regulations to best serve children and families and ensure sustainability of the Licensed Childcare Program
• Provide leadership in exploring, evaluating, and developing innovative programs for the children, students and families in the Center, keeping abreast of the changing environment in the community and field of early childhood
• Collaborate with leadership to elevate systems for recruitment, enrollment, and registration, including marketing, branding and community awareness strategies
• Other duties as assigned or determined to support a high quality Licensed Childcare Center

Education and Experience:

• Degree in early childhood education or child development required (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
• Required experience:
  • A minimum of 5 years combined work as an early childhood classroom teacher and/or program professional in a licensed program (New York State preferred)
  • A minimum of 2 years proven supervisory experience managing 30 + employees
• Must have ability to hold license for Licensed Childcare Center or be in active pursuit with a signed plan of study for Director certification program
  • Must meet NYS OCFS requirements for “Program Supervision Functions”
  • Must maintain NYS in-service requirements
• Strong knowledge of early childhood curriculum development.
• Competent knowledge of OCFS Childcare Center regulations, corrective actions & compliance provisions, and overall childcare center licensing
• Experience with grant writing, preferred

Computer Skills:

• Proficient with MS Office products to favorably impact operational efficiencies
• Experience with childcare center applications for parent and classroom communication
• Experience with social media as a tool to impact promotion of center and recruitment strategies

Key competencies for Success:

• Support the mission, vision, and values of the JCC and represent a positive image of the JCC when interacting with families and members of the community
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and thoughtfully with a diverse set of individuals including children, parents, and staff
• Proven experience in customer/parent service management and quality service delivery
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, to engage with staff, families, children, colleagues and the community
• Excellent critical, creative thinking and decision-making skills
• Ability to observe and assess child behavior and model positive behavior management techniques and safety regulations
• Maintain confidentiality and a safe environment for children, families, and staff at the JCC
• Commitment to be available to open or close the Center daily and remain flexible to adjust work schedules to meet the needs of the Center

Physical Demands: The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, grasping and twisting, climb or balance.
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Possess the strength, endurance and vigilance required to maintain constant supervision of children.
• Ability to swim in the pool and be active on the playground.
• Ambulatory ability to manage uneven ground, hills, and steps.
• The employee must infrequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform within the described work disabilities to perform within the described work environment. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly exposed to:

• Infants – Pre-K Classroom environment
• Outside environments (playgrounds)
• Gymnasium and Pool where applicable
• Ability to assist children in an emergency

Benefits include:

• Health, Dental and Vision
• Retirement Plan, Life and Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free membership to our Fitness and Aquatics Center