Summary:  Under the supervision of the Branch Executive, the Early Childhood Development Director is responsible for the organization, delivery and overall quality of the Two Rivers YMCA Preschool and early childhood development activities. The Early Childhood Development Director will lead staff to use a thematic approach or creative curriculum and assessment tools to progress each child. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Maintain and implement all licensing standards within the Preschool. 
• Recruits, trains, and develops full-time and part-time staff and volunteers.  Interprets YMCA policies and procedures in a positive manner.  Ensure all staff complete appropriate training and certifications required by the YMCA and DCFS.
• Ensures all early childhood development programs and special events have adequate staffing and supervision.
• Promotes and incorporates the YMCA mission and four core values in all early childhood development programs.
• Monitors, evaluates, and tracks the effectiveness of and participation in all early childhood development programs.  Responds to all member, participant, and community inquiries and complaints in a timely manner.
• Establishes new program activities and expands programs within the community in accordance with the YMCA’s strategic plans and community needs.
• Continually develops all early childhood development program content, implementing new and improved curriculum as recommended by the YMCA of the USA and supervisor.
• Initiates the marketing and distribution of early childhood development program information. Effectively communicates program offerings and updates to other YMCA staff, members, participants, and the community.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with other community organizations.  Represents the YMCA in community events or meetings when requested.
• Coordinates use of early childhood development facilities for program activities and events.
• Continues professional development as recommended by the YMCA of the USA and supervisor.

Effect and End Results: 

• The Two Rivers YMCA will maintain its role as a premiere provider for early childhood education.
• The Preschool department will meet or exceed annual budgeted revenue projections.
• The quality of early childhood development program will improve through regular program evaluation.
• Programs will experience annual growth in enrollments.
• All early childhood development activities and events will be supervised with appropriate staff to maintain the highest quality. 
• Staff, members, participants, and the community will be constantly aware of current Preschool events and programs offered through the Two Rivers YMCA.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

Supervises approximately 15+ staff, including full-time non-exempt and part-time staff.  Responsible for their overall direction, coordination, and evaluation. 

Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; approving timecards; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Also responsible for the direct supervision of volunteers throughout the course of the year.  Must ensure all have completed the necessary paperwork, including but not limited to application, background check and family reference, prior to volunteering. Responsible for scheduling, communication, tracking hours and communicating YMCA program expectations and values.

Qualification Requirements:  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 accommodations will be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:  Must be DCFS Director Qualified.  Current that means they must have at least an Associate’s Degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education or equivalent (64 semester hours in any discipline and minimum of 21 semester hours in CD, ECE, or Early Childhood Special Education) AND either a Gateways to Opportunity Level I Illinois Director Credential or 3 semester hours in approved training in administration, leadership or management.  Must be at least 21 years of age.  (Subject to change pending updates from DCFS.)

Language Skills:  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, curriculum, policy/procedure manuals, and financial documents.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members and non-members of the YMCA.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of parents, participants, administrators, and staff.

Mathematical Skills:  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, and percentages.  Ability to interpret and utilize a department budget.

Reasoning Ability:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:  CPR/AED/First Aid Certification for infant, child and adult, Bloodborne Pathogen Training, Mandated Reporter and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse required. Gateways coursework module #1, #2, #3 (Required within 30 days of hire). All DCFS standards must be met including background check, physical and fingerprinting. Additional required trainings include food serving and sanitation certification, and any other mandated state or licensing required trainings.

Other Skills and Abilities:  Must have competence on a computer.

Physical Demands:  The 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 occasionally works in outside weather conditions.  And at times, may be required to be in a pool.

The noise level in the work environment varies, but is usually moderate and often loud.

Salary Description

$50,077 to $57,000