Job Description

Job Title: Early Childhood Education Director

Reports to:  Executive Director

Location: Atlanta, GA

Salary:  Competitive salary based on experience and education

Benefits: Paid holidays, PTO, 403(b) plan options, 100% Employer paid healthcare

Who We Are:

Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for families facing homelessness by building pathways to long-term self-sufficiency. Since 1986, the Shelter has provided free quality early childhood education and family services to address the entire family's needs.

About the Role:

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Director assumes responsibility for the ECE program in conjunction with the Executive Director. This includes planning and implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum, scheduling, and equipment management. They will oversee a teamwork approach with the ECE staff to meet the educational, health and safety, and nurturing needs of children, while also ensuring compliance with licensing and accreditation standards and cultivating relationships with external stakeholders.

What You’ll Do:

1. Oversee facility operations according to licensing (DECAL) and accrediting agencies’ (Quality Rated and NAEYC) guidelines.

· Participate in annual self-assessments, BFTS licensing visits, Quality Rated improvement process, NAEYC accreditation, monitoring visits, and the creation and implementation of action plans as needed for non-compliance or to remain in good standing.

· Provide supervision of ECE staff, vendors, interns, and volunteers, including performance appraisals, in conjunction with the Assistant ECE Director and the Curriculum Coordinator.

· Ensure all required documentation and records are maintained in accordance with Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter’s policy as well as licensing and accreditation agencies.

· Maintain staff personnel files in compliance with BFTS.

2. Create and foster an environment of educational innovation and growth that supports program and agency goals.

· Determine annual goals and objectives for the ECE program.

· Maintain staff attendance records and process all leave requests and timesheets.

· Schedule monthly emergency drills and complete monthly preventative maintenance and safety checklists.

· Submit bi-monthly activity and statistical reports to the Executive Director.

· Submit monthly client compliance reports to Family Services Director and credit card reconciliation reports to the Finance Director.

· Ensure all formative and summative student assessment data is collected, analyzed, and utilized appropriately to guide classroom instruction and continuous program improvement.

3. Demonstrate and maintain positive communication among teachers, parents, other staff, volunteers, and third-party agencies.

· Meet bi-weekly with the Family Services Team.

· Facilitate bi-weekly meetings with the ECE Leadership Team.

· Initiate and maintain center relations with community partners and affiliated agencies and serve as a representative of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter on advisory boards, panels, etc.

· Attend community meetings and community functions as a representative of the agency.

· Cultivate and oversee all outward-facing ECE-affiliated partnerships, including group and/or corporate volunteer opportunities (i.e., therapy and education contractors).

· Communicate significant emotional and/or behavioral concerns, legal-ethical issues, and other program matters regarding a child to the Family Services Team and Executive Director, in conjunction with the Assistant ECE Director and the Curriculum Coordinator.

· Establish and maintain an effective parent-teacher communication plan.

4. Builds and Leads a Successful Team

· Provide direct supervision to the Assistant Director, Curriculum Coordinator, and classroom teachers.

· Providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to ECE team.

· Serve as site supervisor/mentor for interns, graduate students, etc.

· Assign performance goals, initiatives, and work tasks to direct reports.

· Coach and develop team members to successfully perform in roles.

· Manage performance of team members, including administration of the performance management tools and disciplinary processes.

· Grow team capabilities to enable department and organizational talent development and succession planning.

5. Additional duties and responsibilities

· Ensure all members of the ECE leadership team are cross trained.

· Operate within assigned budget, reviewing financial reports, and adjusting expenditures as needed.

· Assist in the development, management, and reporting of grants and other projects.

· Keep current developments and current trends in the field of ECE, nutrition, and human services, and identify education opportunities to further develop the skills of center staff.

What You’ll Need:

Education

· Master of Early Childhood Education or equivalency or bachelor's degree with 7+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education or related field will be considered.

Experience

· Have at least 2 years of experience working with all classroom age ranges of children five years old and younger in a state-licensed childcare facility.

· Have at least 2 years of educational leadership experience, preferably in a state-licensed childcare facility.

· Familiarity with the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning Bright from the Start Rules & Regulations.

· Experience with NAEYC and Quality Rated evaluation/accreditation.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with parents and volunteers

· Computer proficiency (MS Office – Word and Outlook)

· Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage teams, guide staff, and provide professional development.

· Established network of contacts within the City of Atlanta and the surrounding metro area.

· Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, a poised public presence, and a demonstrated ability to exercise sensitivity and good judgment.

· Ability to effectively speak and present to individuals, including high net-worth donors, executive corporate management, and small, mid-size, and large groups.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills

· Proven ability to manage multiple projects with varying priorities at one time.

· Detail-oriented, flexible, and committed to meeting deadlines.

This role may be a fit for you if:

· You are passionate about working with young children facing homelessness.

· You are a self-starter with strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills.

· You can work independently and complete assignments within the parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices.

· You authentically desire to connect with and expand our team and stakeholders, including community partners, donors, and volunteers.

· You have experience in the non-profit sector.

Physical Demands:

This position works in a typical childcare setting. There may be extended periods of sitting, standing and/or bending; listening, talking and/or visual concentration; writing and/or computer use. This position would normally have routine opportunities to alter physical position or change eye focus. Lifting should not normally exceed 50 pounds.

Location : Early learning center physically located at 607 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Occasional remote (telework) and in-region travel to meetings and events.

Schedule: 40 hours standard weekly, typically Monday - Friday. Occasional remote (telework), evening, or weekend hours may be required.

Application Process and Additional Information

Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, veteran status, and any other classifications protected by law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and any other term or condition of employment. Violations of this policy will not be tolerated. We strongly value a diverse workforce and inclusive culture for all employees.

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter.

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