About this role
Position Summary
The Early Childhood Impact (ECI) Center Director oversees the day-to-day operations of our child development centers, including infant, toddler, and preschool programs. Reporting to the Area Manager, this role ensures high-quality, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive programming in alignment with the YMCA's mission, policies, and goals. This position requires a valid Child Development Site Supervisor or Program Director Permit.
Why You'll Love Working Here
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Full-time employees are eligible for heavily subsidized coverage with several plan options.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, with options for Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance for added financial protection.
• Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs to support mental health and work-life balance.
• Commuter Benefits available for eligible employees.
• 12 Designated Holidays.
• Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
• Professional Development Opportunities and ongoing training to support your career growth.
• YMCA Membership Benefits and discounts on programs for you and your family
Key Responsibilities
• Lead, support, and develop staff to ensure effective program delivery.
• Oversee center and classroom operations, maintaining compliance with California regulations and Head Start/Early Learning standards.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for children, families, and staff.
• Collaborate with families and community partners to support child development and center goals.
• Manage administrative functions, including staffing, budgeting, and reporting.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field (with 12 semester units in child development if degree is related).
• Valid California Child Development Site Supervisor or Program Director Permit (or official verification of pending application). Must maintain permit through required continuing education.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred.
• Minimum of two years of teaching or administrative experience in a publicly funded preschool or child development program, including one year in a supervisory role.
• Valid California driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and annual DMV check.
• Completion of 15 hours of preventive health practices training; current pediatric first aid and CPR certification.
• Strong knowledge of early childhood development and inclusive programming for ages 0–5.
• Experience working in multi-cultural, interdisciplinary settings and with community agencies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Successful completion of criminal background clearance and health requirements (physical exam, TB test, immunizations).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related computer programs.
Work environment and physical requirements
• Ability to supervise children safely indoors and outdoors.
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs; stand or walk for up to two hours; perform bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, and reaching.
• Provide visual and auditory supervision in varied environments.
• Travel locally for meetings, training, and events, including occasional evenings.
• Reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Specific Essential Function from the Job Description for this role
• Design and deliver high-quality programming that achieves the educational, administrative and service delivery goals. Work with staff, parents and resource professionals to develop and implement a developmentally and age appropriate program.
• Oversee the Early Childhood Impact Center including supervision of the staff, coaching, performance management and evaluation, certifications, training and ensure all staff have professional development plans.
• Make classroom observations on a regular basis and review weekly classroom lesson plans.
• Hold individual classroom team conferences related to classroom observations and classroom plans.
• Identify training needs of the education staff, and family service staff as appropriate.
• Maintain necessary records to document the growth and development of the education staff.
• Facilitate and monitor the home visit responsibilities of the education staff.
• Ensure that daily staffing requirements and child/staff ratios are met at all times and may be required to fill-in for teaching and other staff to maintain ratios.
• Make recommendations on staffing, program and expenditures, and maintain inventory documents.
• In coordination with the Human Resources Department, assist in the hiring process for center staff.
• Provide on-going and frequent communication to staff and arrange and facilitate regular meetings with staff and provide for mandated trainings and updates to policies and procedures.
• Ensure and monitor program compliance including staff educational requirements with federal/state requirements; understand, interpret and implement federal, state and agency rules and regulations.
• Ensure accurate reports and documentation that complies with applicable laws, policies and procedures; submit reports on program activities and status to the Area Manager as required.
• Ensure proper maintenance and confidentiality of child, family and program files.
• Follow procedures for making verbal and written reports of suspected child abuse to Children's Protective Services and to others as required; report unusual incidents to Community Care Licensing and to supervisors as required.
• Ensure a healthy, safe and clean indoor and outdoor environment at the facility; handle emergency situations in a calm and professional manner and administer first aid and/or CPR if required.
• Monitor parent involvement through individual and group contacts and meetings.
• Complete accounting records, time cards, reports, insurance claims, Early Childhood Impact or YMCA records accurately and in a timely fashion.
• Make referrals to support services based upon children's needs and follows-up to see that the needs are met.
• Coordinate the support services offered by other service areas within the center.
• Review each child's developmental screening results and individualized service plans for completion and accuracy, as well as, the classroom lesson plans and home visit reports.
• Use Facilities software to request repairs at the center, keeping the Area Manager informed.
• Complete all purchase requisitions and submits completed purchase paperwork.
• Serve as a resource/liaison to all licensing representatives, health and fire inspectors who may visit the center, as well as other partners and community service agencies.
• Maintain excellent rapport with parents and extended family members and effectively and sensitively deal with parents and community members from various cultural and economic groups.
• Encourage, promote and develop programmatic opportunities for parents to fully participate in their children's educational experience.
• Monitor parent involvement through individual and group contacts, monthly parent meetings and address parent and community concerns.
• Perform other tasks as may be required for the efficient operation of the comprehensive, integrated program.