Director of Early Childhood
hace 4 días
Vestal
The Early Childhood Director provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Binghamton JCC Early Childhood program, including Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classrooms serving approximately 200 children. This role is responsible for shaping and leading the strategy, culture, and long-term vision of the program to meet the evolving needs of children and families in our community. \n \n \n As a key member of the JCC Leadership Team, the Early Childhood Director oversees one of the JCC’s largest core programs and plays a vital role in advancing organizational goals through high-quality early learning experiences. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in curriculum leadership, child development, behavior guidance, scheduling and operations, and compliance with JCC policies and New York State requirements. They will lead and develop staff, strengthen family engagement, and foster an inclusive community where children, educators, and families thriv \n e\n \n \n What you’ll \n d: \n \n• Early Childhood Leadership & Team Dev\n elo\n pmet: \n • Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and accountability for the Early Childhood Leadership Team, including the Assistant Director, Experience Manager, and Administrative \n M anaer. \n \n• Recruit, supervise, coach, and develop a team of 40+ early childhood educators, building a supportive, accountable, and high-perfor\n min\n g culure. \n • Partner with the Chief Program Officer to translate organizational priorities into a clear vision, annual goals, and continuous improvement priorities for Earl \n y Chilhood. \n \n• Plan and lead professional development, including the annual weeklong training series, monthly learning opportunities, staff meetings, classroom observations, coaching, and per\n for\n mance spport. \n • Build leadership capacity and succession readiness throughout the department by empowering managers and educators to take ownership, solve problems, and grow \n professonally. \n \n• Program Quality & Ed\n uca\n tional Exellence: \n • Lead and strengthen implementation of The Creative Curriculum across Infant, Toddler, Preschool, \n and UPK cassrooms. \n \n• Ensure classrooms consistently reflect child-centered, play-based, developmentally appropriate practice and strong s\n oci\n al-emotiona learning. \n • Support the Assistant Director in educator supervision, lesson-plan review, reflective coaching, classroom structure \n , and behavir guidance. \n \n• Oversee developmental screening and assessment practices, including Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), and ensure appropriate family follow-u\n p a\n nd individualzed support. \n • Use enrollment trends, family feedback, classroom observations, quality indicators, and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness and d \n r ive continuou improvement. \n \n• Maintain at minimum a 4-star Quality Stars NY rating and actively pursue opportunities to strengthen\n pr\n ogram quality ad recognition. \n • \n O perations, Compiance & Safety: \n \n• Oversee daily program operations, including staffing plans, schedules, classroom coverage, resource allocation, communic\n ati\n on systems, and pogram logistics. \n • Ensure full compliance with applicable New York State regulations, OCFS standards, licensing requirements, \n JCC policies, andUPK requirements. \n \n• Maintain strong systems for attendance, documentation, reporting, required records, and timely school-district submissions, in par\n tne\n rship with the Admiistrative Manager. \n • Oversee the Early Childhood Health and Safety Plan, collaborate with the Medical Liaison, and ensure staff are prepared to follow em \n e rgency procedures ad safety protocols. \n \n• Partner with the Facilities Director to prepare for and successfully complete required inspections and to maintain safe, fun\n cti\n onal, and welcoming larning environments. \n • Ensure classrooms are appropriately staffed, equipped, and supported to meet l \n i censing standards andprogram expectati\n ons\n . \n • Family Experience Community Engagement: \n • Create a welcoming, inclusive, and relationship-centered experience for children and families from inquir \n y and orientation throug ongoing participation. \n \n• Respond to family questions and concerns with empathy, clarity, professionalism, and timely follow-through, while co\n ach\n ing staff to deliver the ame standard of service. \n • Establish and support an annual Parent Committee and collaborate with the designated Paren \n t Liaison to strengthen faily voice and engagement. \n \n• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Early Childhood program, building relationships with school districts, community organizat\n ion\n s, advocacy partners, fundes, and other stakeholders. \n • Lead signature community initiatives such as the JCC Literacy Day and collaborate across JCC departments on enrichment programs, open h \n o uses, family programs, and ajor organizational events. \n \n• Foster an Early Childhood culture rooted i\n n J\n ewish values and welcoming offamilie \n s of all backgrounds. \n \n• Fisca & Organizational Leadership: \n \n• Develop the annual Early Childhood budget in partnership with the Chief Program Officer a\n nd \n Finance team, including staffin, program, and overhead needs. \n • Manage department budgets and accounts with strong fiscal stewardship, monitor financial perfor \n m ance, and identify operational fficiencies and resource needs. \n \n• Identify opportunities for enrollment growth, program inno\n vat\n ion, grants, community partnershis, and long-term sustainability. \n • Manage Early Childhood grant and allocation responsibilities, including the United Way application and required repo \n r ting, and pursue additional fundig opportunities when appropriate. \n \n• Collaborate with Marketing, Membership, Development, Finance, Facilities, Health & Wellness, Youth & Family, Camp, and other departments t\n o a\n dvance organizational priorities an create a cohesive JCC experience. \n • Establish and uphold clear Early Childhood pol \n i cies, p\n roce\n dures, communication pratices, and sandards of excellence. \n Who You Are: \n · You are a strategic, collaborative, and child-centered leader wh \n o can inspire educators while maintainng strong operational accountability. \n \n· You are an empowering coach who develops staff through observation, fe\n edb\n ack, professional development, clear exectations, and supportive supervision. \n · You balance big-picture thinking with the daily realities of staffing, licensing \n , family needs, classroom quality, and afast-paced early childhood environment. \n \n· You hold a bachelor's degree in Early\n Ch\n ildhood Education or a related field; a mster's degree in Education is preferred. \n · You hold a valid NYS Teaching Certificate (Birth-Grade 2), or can s \n u bmit a plan of study to obtain NYS certifcation (Birth-Grade 2) within five years. \n \n· You bring at least five years of early childhood edu\n cat\n ion experience, including at least four yeas in an administrative or leadership role. \n · You have a deep understanding of child development, play-based learning, socia \n l -emotional growth, behavior guidance, and tauma-informed, relation\n shi\n p-based practice. \n · You are well versed on OFS regulations and how to ensure compliance. \n · You understand the importance of licensing, complia \n n ce, safety, documentation, risk management, ad quality improvement in a childcare setting. \n \n· You communicate effectively, build trusting relationships with familie\n s a\n nd staff, and manage multiple priorities with sund judgment and a solutions-oriented mindset. \n · You are proficient in M \n i crosoft Office Suite and comfortable learning ad using new systems, platforms, and data tools. \n \n· You are committed to stre\n ngt\n hening famil \n ies and advancing the mission and vales of the Jeish Community Center of Binghamton. \n Why Join Us: \n · Lead with Purpose: Guide an award-winning Early Childhood program th \n at serves approximately 200 children each day and pays a central role in the lives of local families. \n \n· Exceptional Team: Develop a dedicat\n ed \n team of early childhood leaders and educators who cae deeply about children, families, and one another. \n · Leadership Impact: Serve on the JCC Leadership Team and partner \n d irectly with the Chief Program Officer to shape progam quality, culture, growth, and long-term strategy. \n \n· Professional Growth: Continue building y\n our\n leadership through ongoing professional development, ommunity partnerships, and opportunities to innovate. \n · Competitive Compensation: Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensiv \n e\n \n benefits package while building a meaningful career wth an organization that values its people and mission. \n If you are passionate about working in a community-based organization and have a strong desire to contribute to the success of the Binghamton JCC’s Early Childhood Education Center, we encourage you to apply! Please submit \n y\n o ur resume and cover letter to Raychel Reilly at raychel@binghamtonjcc.org. We look forward to hearing from you! \n \n \nSince its inception in 1927, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Binghamton, NY has grown to become an essential part of the Broome County community. As a full-service, non-profit organization, the JCC provides educational, cultural, recreational, and physical fitness programs to enhance the quality of life for all ages, from infants to senior citizens. As a non-sectarian United Way partner,\n t\n h\n e Center welcomes participants regardless of age, race, reigion, sexual orientation, nationality, or ability to pay. \n The JCC's facility houses a natatorium with a 2250 sq. ft. pool, gymnasium, small fitness center, men's and women's health clubs, steam, sauna, a fitness loft with spin bikes and Pilates reformers, stage, auditorium, and more. Over 200 children are served daily at our award-winning Early Childhood \n C\n e nter. Our year-round educational childcare includes UPK, afer-school program, summer camp, and youth sports offerings. \n \n \nThe 8-acre land also features outdoor te\n nnis/pickleball and basketball courts, pavilion, nature preserve,
