Early Learning Center Director Alameda

Hiring Range: $80000 - $91000 DOE and licensure (Full salary range up to $97700 for long-tenured staff currently in position or other exceptional circumstances).

Summary/Objective:

The ELC serves children ages 6 weeks to 11 years old in a comprehensive high-quality early learning environment with a strong emphasis on whole-child development teacher training and application of Conscious Discipline. The center is attached to a low-income permanent supportive housing complex and is open to resident families as well as the surrounding community. The Director plays a key role on the Executive Leadership Team ensuring alignment with organizational goals equity and inclusion while leading the Centers strategic vision and daily operations educational programming staff management compliance with regulations and fostering of family and community partnerships. Position also collaborates closely with those at Warren Villages Gilpin location ELC to form a strong cooperative team and ensure consistent practices across sites.

At Warren Village we uphold organizational values of accountability collaboration empowerment excellence inclusion and integrity. We agree to engage our work together with honesty and transparency clear decision-making continuous learning and improvement a commitment to repair community building and collective growth and well-being. We recognize that our backgrounds are broad and our talents are many from different lived experiences. We value and leverage these differences to support and engage our communities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Program Management

• Oversees daily operations ensuring licensing compliance and smooth administrative functions. Includes effective engagement communication compliance and relationship with Colorado state licensing staff.

• Oversees implementation of curricula and daily routines ensuring alignment with educational standards.
• Ensures compliance with Colorado Shines quality standards.
• Develops implements and evaluates curriculum plans focusing on holistic child development.
• Partners with teaching teams to foster parent involvement and support family engagement.
• Approves educational events field trips and activities.
• Collaborates with the Instructional Coach to maintain instructional quality data tracking and use of data to improve practice and student outcomes.
• Works with other departments and service providers on enrollment funding and diverse learner support.
• Collaborates frequently with Gilpin ELC leadership to ensure alignment and efficiency across both sites.

• Staff Management

• Interviews hires trains and supervises highlyqualified staff. Mentors and holds all ELC staff accountable to Warren Village HR guidelines and requirements.
• Conductsstaffperformance evaluations implements staff development plans manages staff time-off.
• Manages staff scheduling and substitute arrangementsin alignment with standard hours of operation and budgetary requirements engaging Assistant Director support as needed.
• Leads immediate and effective conflict resolution among staff manages internal communication and facilitates staff meetings.
• Ensures compliance with personnel policies and oversees payroll and performanceimprovemenplans.
• Builds a learning culture with shared leadership structures.

• Administration and Leadership

• Handles budgeting andfinancial managementwith the Financeteam aligning resources with program goals. Consistentlyensures teacher FTEs align with budget funding requirements and enrollment levels.
• Prioritizes student enrollment(in accordance with Warren Village enrollment priorities)to maximize room capacity and revenue sources.
• Maintains accurate records including student counts and staff files.
• Represents the ELC in the community advocating for the center and engaging with donors and community partners.

• Develops and monitors departmentalstrategic plan action items with reporting asnecessary; implements changes as needed to ensure quality outcomes.

• Compliance and Safety

• Ensures the safety and wellbeing of children by maintaining a clean safe environment.
• Independently ensures compliance with State of Colorados Department of Early Childhood licensing requirements including health safety and licensing standards.
• Coordinates maintenance with the Director of Facilities in alignment with licensing or other requirements.
• Oversees emergency drill procedures and staff responsibilities and timely adherence to all program-related requirements.

• Financial Management

• Develops and manages the centers budget in collaboration with the Finance team including ensuring ongoing compliance with all funding source requirements for timely family information compliance.
• Approves expenditures and manages supply purchasing and capital items along with Assistant Director.
• Supports the management of parent accounts enrollment and marketing efforts as needed including timely parent tuition payments.
• Collaborates with the grant-writing team on applications and implementation.
• Independently ensures contracts with funding sources (CCAP UPK DPPSFP HeadStart etc.) are accurate and current and that ongoing compliance and communication requirements are met.

• Family and Community Engagement

• Engages consistently with Family Supportive Services staff to proactively address student and/or parent issues enrollment issues and other factors related to successful Two Gen model implementation.
• Builds relationships with families to ensure open communication on child progress and center policies.
• Addresses parent concerns and feed back and facilitates parent meetings and conferences.
• Collaborates with community organizations to support the centers goals.
• Plans and implements family engagement opportunities including conferences and events.

Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Ability to independently and successfully operate a large early learning center predominantly serving students coming from highly complicated and challenging environments.
• Commitment to the mission goals and values of Warren Village.
• Strong management organization and leadership skills with minimal oversight required.
• Effective time management and ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong ability to hold staff accountable to schedules and policies with swift corrective action as needed.
• Clear decision-making problem-solving and effective prioritization.
• Knowledge of Colorado licensing requirements and regulations.
• Continuous learning and modeling flexibility to meet business needs.
• Passion for equitable early childhood education curriculum design and instructional improvement.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite programs and early childhood data systems (TS GOLD Creative Curriculum Conscious DisciplineBrightwheel).
• Ability to implement inclusive practices for diverse developmental medical and behavioral needs.
• Working knowledge of licensing requirements state/federal regulations and health standards.

Minimum/Required Qualifications:

• Associates Degree in Early Childhood Educationor related fieldor4years of related experiencemay be substituted for education.
• Valid State of Colorado Large Center Director Certificate.
• Demonstrated success leading a large early learning center in the Director role for a minimum of 3 years.

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of Colorado ELC licensing standards and requirements
• Experience with Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) Denver Preschool Program (DPP) Universal Pre-K (UPK) State Funded Program (SFP) Teaching Strategies Gold/Interrater Reliability Creative Curriculum Conscious Discipline and trauma-informed practices.
• Experience with Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Child Care Licensing Rules & Regulations.
• Understanding of and experience with service to low-income families in an ELC environment.
• Six years of related ELC experience including teaching and at least three years in a supervisory role.
• Two years of computer experience with software programs and skills related to ELC operations.
• Ability to pass the State of Colorado (and out-of-state as applicable) fingerprint and background checks.

Preferred education knowledge and/or experience:

• Strongly preferred: Bachelors Degree (BA) in Early Childhood Education or related field or 8 years of related experience to include teaching.
• Spanish proficiency both verbally and in writing.
• Experience with culturally diverse populations.
• A valid Colorado drivers license.
• Experience with Head Start Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) ESI (Early Screening Inventory) and Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3/ASQ-SE2).

Work Environment: The working environment is an approximate balance of 50% office work (using a personal computer and other office equipment) and 50% movement inside/outside the center including interactions with staff families children community support agencies consultants and government agencies which requires the ability to exchange accurate information. The environment includes unusual elements such as weather dirt dust fumes smoke unpleasant odors and/or loud noises. The employee may be exposed to contagious/ill children and must be conscious of the health and safety of the children their parents school personnel and themselves.

Physical Demands: While performing the responsibilities of the position must constantly be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time; occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets office machinery etc. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator copy machine and computer printer. Frequently communicates information and ideas so others will understand; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Must have the ability to observe details at close range.