Director, YMCA Tomorrow Academy at Dove Springs

YMCA
Salary
$60,000.00
$70,000.00
How to Apply
Apply Online
Make a lasting impact on young learners' lives while enjoying 48 days of PTO, a free family gym membership, and so much more! 
Job Description

Imagine leading a groundbreaking new preschool where the excitement of childhood curiosity shapes the educational experience. As the Director of the YMCA Tomorrow Academy at Dove Springs, you will spearhead the launch of an innovative site that provides an emergent curriculum, ensuring that learning is driven by the children's interests and needs. 

Your leadership will be instrumental in creating an environment where no two days are alike, as your team crafts engaging experiences that captivate and inspire young minds aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Rooted in secure attachment theory and trauma-informed care, you will help build strong, positive relationships between educators and children, creating a foundation for trust and growth that supports school readiness. 

In this pivotal role, you'll oversee a dedicated team of educators who share your passion for nurturing secure attachments and promoting emotional well-being. Your leadership will ensure that the preschool remains a forward-thinking educational setting that values innovation, empathy, and resilience. 

You will also support the enterprise’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and the core character values of the YMCA. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President, Early Learning, you will partner closely with other senior leaders throughout the enterprise to achieve outcomes. 

Qualifications

Education, Experience, and Certifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in early childhood, human development, or related field. 
  • Eight years of experience in NAEYC accredited program, three of which were in a leadership role. 
  • Strong understanding of child development emergent curriculum and the Reggio Emilia approach to education. 
  • Must meet Director qualifications under the Texas Rising Star guidelines and NAEYC accreditation guidelines.  
  • The position requires Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) (formerly overseen by TDFPS) Program Director certification, or eligibility for certification upon hire. 
  • Current CPR and First Aid certification or become certified upon hire.   
  • Preferred qualifications include:
    • YMCA experience  
    • Bilingual (Spanish/English)  
    • Certification or demonstrated experience in trauma-informed care, with a strong understanding of how to support the emotional and psychological well-being of children who have experienced trauma.

 

Essential Functions

The perfect candidate will be... 

  • Deeply invested in the development of early childhood learning and education in our community to shape the future of child care at the Greater Austin YMCA. 
  • An expert at creating warm, welcoming environments for children, families, and educators, promoting safe, secure attachments for children and emotional well-being for all. 
  • An innovator in operations who works collaboratively with colleagues to accomplish collective goals around maintaining budgets, meeting or exceeding enrollment targets, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and more. 
  • Creative and curious, demonstrating continuous improvement in curriculum development and implementation, with positive assessments from stakeholders. 
  • An inspirational leader that teachers want to learn from ensuring results in cultivating a high-performing team with low staff turnover and high staff engagement. 
  • An effective communicator that families want to build a relationship with, resulting in regular and open communication channels and positive feedback. 
  • A regulations expert who ensures Academy certifications in Childcare Regulation and Texas Rising Star, keeping the Academy up to date with the latest regulations and best practices in early childhood education. 
  • An aspirational go-getter who will reach and sustain a Texas Rising Star level 4 within one year of opening and NAEYC (National Association of Education of Young Children) accreditation within two years of opening through continuous quality improvement initiatives. 
  • Organized in all things staff development, management, scheduling, coaching, and evaluation ensuring efficient scheduling and management systems, with positive evaluations from staff on the support and coaching received. 
  • Passionate about building a culture of trust, positive relationships, responsibility, and respect amongst all stakeholders, driving the Academy to be a leader in high-quality childcare in Central Texas. 

 

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Competencies We’re Looking For:  

  • You’re a Cause-Driven Leader – You are effective at:   
    • Providing visionary leadership to ensure resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community.    
    • Building relationships – connecting people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships, and collaborations to co-create solutions to pressing social needs.   
    • Leading operations – ensuring relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community.    
    • Developing and inspiring people – supporting the holistic development of self and others so everyone can embrace the Y’s cause, sustain our culture, and inspire others to action.  
  • You build effective teams – building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.   
  • You're organized & productive – You are a master at planning your day and not letting distractions come in between meeting your goals.   
  • You demonstrate resiliency – rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.   
  • You communicate effectively – developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.   

 

Required Certifications

Education, Experience, and Certifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in early childhood, human development, or related field. 
  • Eight years of experience in NAEYC accredited program, three of which were in a leadership role. 
  • Strong understanding of child development emergent curriculum and the Reggio Emilia approach to education. 
  • Must meet Director qualifications under the Texas Rising Star guidelines and NAEYC accreditation guidelines.  
  • The position requires Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) (formerly overseen by TDFPS) Program Director certification, or eligibility for certification upon hire. 
  • Current CPR and First Aid certification or become certified upon hire.   
  • Preferred qualifications include: 
    • YMCA experience  
    • Bilingual (Spanish/English)  
    • Certification or demonstrated experience in trauma-informed care, with a strong understanding of how to support the emotional and psychological well-being of children who have experienced trauma.