Daycare Director
Columbia Children's CenterPosted 1 day ago
The Director at Columbia Children’s Center in Hudson, NY is responsible for overseeing all center operations, including compliance with all relevant laws and licensing regulations, development of educational programming, development and adherence to policies and protocols, hiring and management of all staff, handling prospective and current enrollments, maintaining the facility, keeping necessary records, following an annual budget and basic bookkeeping protocols, assisting with fundraising and development, and building relationships within the community. The Director also attends monthly Board meetings and presents reports and relevant updates to the Board of Directors.
Program Oversight and Development:
- Maintain a culture of safety and compliance with daycare licensing; strive for best practices in early childhood education and nonprofit leadership
- Maintain good relations with and act as liaison to the regulatory body, partnering agencies, referral sources, the community-at-large, and the corporate officers
- Attend monthly Board meetings, fundraising meetings, and other periodic committee meetings
- Manage an annual budget and complete basic accounting and bookkeeping tasks, according to guidelines
- Ensure the physical environment and health/safety practices are in full compliance with licensing regulations
- Shape and oversee educational programming, including the design/selection of classroom curricula & the spaces in which children learn and play, developmental assessments, behavioral management protocols, and cadence of communication with families about the program
Staff Supervision and Development:
- Handle recruitment, hiring, job training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions in a professional and success-oriented manner
Manage staff schedules, payroll, and benefits
Regularly observe classrooms and provide individual feedback/coaching
Connect staff with enriching professional development opportunities, model and coach skills that prevent caregiver burnout and encourage pride in their work
Plan and facilitate monthly staff meetings
Cultivate an environment that inspires excellence in each employee
Family Relationships and Outreach:
- Manage recruitment and enrollment of all families
- Get to know each enrolled child and their family members;
- Regularly meet with families at drop-off and pick-up times and be accessible to families during and after operating hours, within reason
- Connect families with helpful resources, such as educational materials, parenting support, health and wellness services, and direct referrals to programs
- Effectively communicate with families, verbally and in writing, to ensure they are informed and meaningfully connected to the daycare, ensure materials are translated for parents not fluent in English. Ability to work with families and children from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures.
- Act as child advocate, assuring that all children’s rights are respected and that all parent grievances and complaints are addressed in a timely and equitable manner in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and best practices
- Plan and facilitate community events; attend local events as an ambassador of CCC
Ideal Knowledge, Skills, and Capacities:
- Able to safely lift infants, toddlers, and preschool children
- Empathy and natural ability to connect with and lead young children and adults
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to organize, manage time, plan, and create/use systems for efficiency
- Experienced in professional leadership roles; business acumen
- Familiarity with best practices in child development, behavior management, and parent-child relationships
- Flexibility, adaptability to changing circumstances; calm during crises
- Problem-solving orientation; strengths-based thinking; goal oriented
- Basic familiarity and skill with standard office technology, including Gmail and Drive, Microsoft Word; ability to quickly learn and use various web portals and software programs necessary for licensing, payroll, grant reporting, enrollment records, etc.
Requisite Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood, Childhood Development, or related field required.
- Associates Degree in Early Childhood with a Plan of Study leading to a Bachelors Degree or Child Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) required.
- Minimum 1 year experience full time teaching children ages 0-5.
- 1 year experience supervising staff in an early childhood program
- Current CPR certification at time of hire; MAT Certification highly preferred
- Strong knowledge of state licensing rules and regulations
- Must meet any additional state specific guidelines, including background check
Compensation:
- Base salary of $58,500, with opportunities for performance-based raises and bonuses
- $1,000 hiring bonus
- All federal holidays are paid days off
- Sick, personal, and vacation days (negotiable, with minimum of 15 total days per year)
- Optional voluntary life insurance and Simple IRA with maximum employer match allowed by law
About Us
Columbia Children’s Center is a nonprofit, licensed daycare in Hudson, NY. We are the largest and longest operating daycare in Columbia County, serving generations of families since 1982. We serve up to 60 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and are supported by an incredible team of 15-18 employees, including teachers for five classrooms, a cook who serves three meals daily, and an administrative assistant. Our facility includes inspiring architecture, natural sunlit spaces, and spacious playgrounds - all poised for remodeling with new grant funding underway.
