Job DetailsJob LocationYMCA Dillard Early Learning and Youth Academy Branch - Wichita Falls, TXPosition TypeFull TimeEducation Level4 Year DegreeSalary Range$46,000.00 - $51,000.00 Salary/yearTravel PercentageNegligibleJob ShiftAnyJob CategoryManagementDescriptionPOSITION SUMMARY:Effectively operates and manages all aspects of the early childhood department including curriculum, education, staffing, parent engagement and cconscious ddiscipline of the pre-school. Supports the Executive Director with human resources, customer relations, marketing, educational programs, financial responsibility, and physical facility. Promotes positive image of the program within the community and establishes strong working relationships with YMCA staff team, state licensing authorities, Texas Rising Star (Texas Workforce Solutions), local and county health departments, and other regulatory agencies.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Education
Plan and execute the curriculum for Infant-Preschool Child Care assuring that the programs provided meet the highest quality standards and strive to develop the whole child socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Ensures that the Frog Street curriculum is implemented accurately. Ensured teachers are Trained and coached on Frog Street.Trains and coaches teachers on Conscious Discipline techniques and practices. Ensures that Conscious Discipline is implemented in all classrooms by all teachers. Assists in putting together the schools monthly calendar (EC portion).Conducts monthly classroom observations. The Youth Development Director- EC is responsible for all classrooms curriculum and education compliance with Texas Rising Star.Posts evidence of learning on the Schools Bright Wheel parent engagement tool.Assists and coaches teachers on bi-annual Parent/Teacher conferences. Participates in 1st meeting to provide insight and feedback.Ensures that all EC staff knows and comply with Minimum Standards.General
Ensures EC compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.Implements health and safety standards; ensures that appropriate supervision of children and safe transportation practices are utilized daily.Supports the Executive Director of Youth Development in completing all required paperwork and record keeping on a timely basis and maintains same in an organized, up-to-date manner. This includes all program files such as student, employee, vehicle, driver, health, safety and CACFP food files.Keeps the Executive Director of Youth Development apprised in a timely manner of all critical areas of responsibilities, including serious student accidents, employee issues, incidents, and significant events. Report to the Executive Director verbally and in writing all variances to required standards, all accidents/incidents, as well as daily operations.Develops and maintains a strong working relationship with all state licensing authorities, vendors, and community contacts.Perform other duties as assigned by the manager.Customer Service
Develops and actively maintains positive communications with parents and staff.Recognizes parent concerns, evaluates course of action, and responds appropriately to needs of parents. Communicates parent concerns to the Executive Director and to other senior leadership as needed.Responsible for keeping fully enrolled early childhood program; determines reasons for loss enrollment and addresses problem areas contributing to loss enrollment.Financial Responsibilities
Assists in developing the program budget. Ensure all resources are effectively managed/controlled and within budgetary balance.Submits appropriate receipts on all credit card and transactions in a timely manner.Ensures EC supplies and equipment are inventoried and appropriately maintained. Provides bi-annual equipment list to ED.Participates in annual support campaign to bring awareness to our cause and promote staff participation in EC.Human Resources
Recruits, selects, and properly trains qualified early childhood staff. Develops early childhood staff through program growth and guidance plans. Maintains professional working relationships with staff and supervisor(s).Anticipates staffing needs. Prepares and posts weekly staffing schedule and modifies according to daily student counts in each classroom. Ensures that state and local regulations/ratios are always met.Counsels staff regarding performance issues via employee handbook and policy and procedures for corrective action.Supports the Executive Director to evaluate early childhood staff on a yearly basis with a written performance review/training plan, and at other times as needed; recommends merit raises for staff within association guidelines to the ED.Marketing
Responds and follow up on enrollment inquiries. Gives prospective customers tours of the program and detailed information about the programs educational philosophy and classroom teachers. Assists the Executive Director to develop marketing strategies to increase capacity utilization; utilizes community-based marketing techniques and other appropriate marketing methods.Facility
Refers any maintenance/repair of building, equipment, and grounds to Executive Director to ensure a safe environment that meets program and licensing safety standards.Maintains a clean, safe, and healthy environment.Assists in assuring compliance with Daily Building and Grounds Checklist.Ensures documentation of required emergency practices including evacuation, sheltering in place, and lock-down drills.YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Ys values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fundraising.Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other persons point of view and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS:
- The Early Childhood Director must meet or exceed director state licensing requirements for age, education, and experience. A Bachelors or Associates degree in Early Childhood Education is preferred.
- The EC Director must be qualified to drive the company vehicles when needed.
- The EC Director must maintain a current CPR/AED/First Aid certificate, as well as maintain current Food Handlers certificate.
- The EC Director must be willing and able to work in any classroom as needed to meet the program need.
- The EC Director must be willing to serve as a Director on Texas Child Care Licensing.
- The EC Director must maintain at least 30+ hours of training each year.
- YMCA Competencies (Team Leader)
- Must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and meet one of the following combinations of education and experience:
EducationExperience(1) A bachelors degree with 12 college credit hours in child development and six college credit hours in management, and at least one year of experience in a licensed childcare center; (2) An Associates of applied science degree in child development or a closely related field with six college credit hours in child development and six college credit hours in management. A closely related field is any educational instruction pertaining to the growth, development, physical or mental care, or education of children ages birth through 13 years,and at least two years of experience in a licensed childcare center; OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Completion and satisfactorily passing of fingerprint background check.Within 30 days of hire completion of: YMCA Child Abuse Prevention and Risk Management training; CPR; First Aid; AED; Food Handlers Certification and Bloodborne Pathogens. Adhere to association and position training requirements. Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.Ability to respond to safety and emergency situations.Experience and the ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.