Early Childhood Education Center Director
BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being. From toddlers to seniors, we feed, shelter, teach, and support our neighbors to build a stronger community. In all aspects of our work, we strive for the highest ethical and performance standards and are guided by the belief that people are to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their present situation or past experiences.
Across our 60+ locations, we provide programs in a variety of service areas, including workforce development, children, youth, families, seniors and homeless prevention.
Sparking Imagination, Igniting Minds BronxWorks Early Childhood Learning Center provide high-quality early childhood care and education to children 2 years 9 months to 5 years of age, our goal is to provide opportunities that offer all children and families a strong start in school and life.
Job Overview
BronxWorks currently has an opportunity for an Early Childhood Education Center Director to join our caring and expanding team at our newest location. BronxWorks is looking for an individual that has New York State Early Childhood Education Center management experience with high standards. The ideal candidate will have to be committed and want to make a difference in the lives of young students and their families, while effectively and efficiently running all aspects of operations. This individual must also have the ability to effectively establish relationships with staff, parents, children, and the community at large. This position will lead a team of staff working together to offer quality education in a safe and nurturing environment. The ECLC Department has a focus on teamwork with the objective of helping children to learn, grow, and thrive.
In this extremely rewarding position, you will assume ultimate responsibility for creating and maintaining an educational and nurturing environment for the students and families we serve as well as timely submissions of contracts and operational budgets. The Educational Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the preschool. This position is responsible for smooth day-to-day operations, financial management, curriculum delivery, employee/student retention and achievement, parent/community relations, and strategic planning for the school. The Director must perform a variety of highly responsible, confidential, and complex administrative duties including, but not limited to, budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping/ recording procedures, curriculum knowledge and employee relations. This position requires the ability to provide exceptional customer service, excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Maintain, at all times, high-quality childcare standards based on developmentally appropriate practices.
- Ensures compliance with the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, Head Start Standards, and NYC PKA Policy and procedures.
- Responsible for all aspects of program development, quality, and safety.
- Completes annual inspections within the required timeframe with the fire department, Department of Health, etc. as required.
- Recruit, interview, recommend new hires, trains, coaches teaching staff, motivates, and evaluates appropriate staff to meet program standards.
- Reports directly to the Daycare Board Chair.
- Establish and monitor quality assurance of program goals in compliance with the agency and contractual expectations.
- Monitor program's contractual compliance and meet with contractual manager during site visits.
- Act as a conduit with funding source
- Create and manage budget and other fiscal matters.
- Attend internal and external agency/ contract meetings, training sessions as provided.
- Conduct monthly staff meetings or more frequently as required.
- Supervise and evaluate staff performance, providing monthly written feedback.
- Complete each staff members' annual performance review.
- Provide staff training on program goals and duties as well as expectations to the agency.
- Meet monthly with Program Director for exchange of ideas and written feedback
- Submit monthly reports to supervisor and funding source
- Use student assessment data to work with staff to meet the needs of all students.
- Promotes and oversees school activities /events.
- Ensures staff and children's records are current and accurate.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Program Specific Responsibilities
- Responsible for the implementation of administrative procedures, programmatic oversight and organizational compliance with Head Start (HS), and Department of Education (DOE) funded early childhood programming.
- Ensure that program meet all compliance and safety requirements set forth by the organizations Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health and mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and other Funders.
- Oversee program's performance management efforts (developing and analyzing tracking systems, create and review program plan on a quarterly basis to inform programmatic decisions and outcomes).
- Monitor and maintain program enrollment and attendance.
- Supervise all staff at the program including teaching staff, family worker, administrative assistant, and custodian.
- Establish and maintain staff schedules, including approval of time off requests and coordinate placement of classroom substitute teachers to ensure appropriate classroom coverage.
- Direct and develop teaching methodologies to ensure high quality early childhood curriculum and developmentally focused and evidence-based services for children ages 2 - 5 years.
- Conduct formal and informal observations of all classrooms, review lesson plans and provide constructive feedback and guidance to Lead Teachers and Teacher Assistants.
- Ensure that new hires have taken requires steps prior to beginning work assignments i.e., DOE and CBC background clearances, fingerprinting, attended and completed required trainings, and all required paperwork is completed).
- Ensure effective communication between the program and the parents, through informal contacts, planned conferences and discussion of their child/ren's progress.
- Remain familiar with community resources; engaging in community outreach and networking regarding services provided by the agency; and developing/ maintaining ongoing productive communication with the community, stakeholders, parents, and internal professionals.
- Promote a culture of continuously improving early childhood development principles and practice through professional development, collaboration. modeling, and collaborative planning amongst all stakeholders.
Essential Skills
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Familiarity with Head Start, NYC Department of Education PKA policies and procedures.
- Knowledge and understanding of New York State early childhood learning standards.
- High expectations for instruction and social, and emotional support of students.
- Knowledgeable of research-based best practices.
- Experience with rating expectations of ECERS and CLASS.
Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Early Childhood with NYS Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education (Birth Grade 2).
- Minimum requirement of at least one two years management experience in Head Start and/ or UPK programs, plus two years of experience working in a group setting with children.
- Knowledge of multiple early childhood education curricula (Creative Curriculum, CLASS ECER-S, Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG), and Screening Tools.
- Experience working successfully in an inclusive and diverse work environment.
- Proficient in modern business communications including computers, electronic mail, voicemail, Data-based Systems and copier equipment.
- Experience in fiscal management/budget preparation.
- First Aid and CPR certification are preferred.
- Bilingual skills are a plus.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Ability to stand, walk, or sit for long periods of time, or climb five flights of stairs, if required to conduct home visits and/or fieldwork.
- Ability to bend and retrieve objects and/or documents.
- Ability to travel in the boroughs of New York City and its adjacent counties via public transportation.
- Ability to travel for a minimum of 1 mile within a reasonable amount of time and in all types of weather, including inclement weather, if required to conduct home visits and/or field work.
BronxWorks seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. BronxWorks is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. This commitment applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and employee development, placement, promotion, demotion, upgrading, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local
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