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Infant/Toddler Head Teacher (West Side YMCA)
West Side Branch YMCA
If you’re ready to inspire and lead a team dedicated to the development and care of children, this role is for you!
Job Description
About Our Center: Our center is home to 10 vibrant classrooms, serving children from 8 weeks to 5 years old, with a total capacity of 120 children. You'll be joining an outstanding team of creative, dedicated professionals who are deeply committed to their work with children. What makes this position unique is the incredible support you'll receive as part of the Y community. You're not an island here — you'll have a dedicated back-end team that ensures smooth operations. The Business Office manages the intricacies of state subsidy and billing, Human Resources offers high-level staff support, and our Development Team actively pursues and secures grants. The Early Childhood Admin team consists of this position, the Director of our UVMMC location in Winooski, our Assistant Director, and our Early Childhood Coordinator who collaborate on making the program stronger and more streamlined. With the Early Childhood Coordinator taking most of the admin work, you're able to focus on the day-to-day operations. Plus, you'll be backed by a Leadership team that deeply values early childhood education and champions the work you do. Together, we’re committed to your success and the success of your program, with a community of experts ready to support you every step of the way.
Qualifications
Why You’ll Love It Here:
- Mission-Driven Impact: You’ll be part of a supportive community that’s passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families.
- Lead and Inspire: You’ll guide a dedicated team of professionals in creating a safe, enriching environment for early learners.
- Shape the Future: You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of early childhood education in your community, leaving a lasting impact.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of one remote day each week, allowing you to recharge and focus from home.
- Generous Time Off: Start with 7 paid vacation days, 7 paid holidays, and 4 weeks of Paid Time Off in your first year.
- Student Loan Support: Take advantage of Public Service Loan Forgiveness as part of our nonprofit organization.
- YMCA Perks: Enjoy a free Y membership and discounts on programs and camps for you and your family.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Receive robust health, dental, and vision insurance to support you and your loved ones. The Y also offers life insurance, an employee assistance program, retirement plans, and short and long-term disability.
Essential Functions
What You’ll Do:
- Lead with Impact: Provide strong leadership and support for employees, including Assistant Director, Early Childhood Coordinator, and teaching staff. Ensure programs run smoothly and consistently.
- Build Your Team: Work closely with HR and Marketing to identify staffing needs, manage the hiring process, and develop recruitment plans. Support staff through professional development and evaluations.
- Foster Growth: Work with staff to set goals, provide ongoing support, and follow up until goals are met. Mentor teaching teams and conduct regular check-ins.
- Create a Positive Environment: Manage employee conflict and problem-solving to maintain a nurturing, positive environment for staff and children alike.
- Ensure Compliance: Oversee the development of curriculum, ensure compliance with state licensing, accreditation standards, and YMCA policies. Manage NAEYC and Stars reaccreditation processes.
- Collaborate and Advocate: Build strong partnerships with community organizations and advocate for early childhood education at the local and state level.
- Stay Organized: Manage the center’s operating budget, PTO systems, payroll, and handbooks. Ensure all licensing documents are up-to-date and available.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Y’s values. Ensures a high level of service with
a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.
Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships
to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides employees with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds employees accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.
Required Certifications
Qualifications:
- At least twenty-one (21) years of age.
- Bachelor's Degree in Elementary or Early Education, Human Development, or a related field, or 30 college credits with an Early Childhood or School Age focus, or at least a Vermont Early Childhood Career Ladder Level Four (4) A or B Certificate.
- Program Director Step 2 certificate, successful completion of three (3) college credit courses in curriculum and an additional nine (9) credits in program management, staff supervision, administration or human resource management or willingness to take classes in first year of directorship.
- Vermont Early Educator License is preferred.
Nice to Haves:
- At least five (5) years of experience in early education with two (2) or more years of experience in staff management.
- Ability to build strong and effective relationships, communicate effectively both orally and written and prove leadership skills to carry out through the center.
- Proficiency in budgeting and financial management.
- Effective problem-solving skills with the ability to act quickly, safely, and efficiently.
- Ability to pass a federal background check and state fingerprint check.