Director, Early Learning
Description
Northwest Center is now hiring a Director for our Greenwood Early Learning School!
Northwest Center Kids' mission is to provide an inclusive environment in which all families receive individual programs of education, advocacy, therapy, and family support that nurtures the development of children with and without disabilities.
In partnership with the Northwest Center Kids Leadership team, the Director oversees the safe and effective operation of one of Northwest Center's licensed early learning programs. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, planning and implementing an operating budget, supervising staff, providing direction and leadership within the program, positive visibility in the community, and maintaining strong relationships with staff and families.
Join Northwest Center Kids, where you will work alongside a passionate, collaborative, and innovative team that values work/life balance while serving and making a difference in the lives of families and their young children.
Location: Greenwood - Seattle, WA
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 6 PM
Salary: $70k - $90k DOE
Benefits:
- Competitive and affordable Medical (including hearing & hardware coverage!), Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life insurance
- 17 Accrued Paid Time Off Days Annually
- 20 paid holidays + 1 day of floating holiday; 2 floating holiday days annually after one year
- Parental Leave and Paid Compassion Leave
- Retirement 401(K) with a company match
- Employment Assistance Program (EAP), including six free therapy sessions per year
- Physical Wellness Reimbursement Program - $25 per month
- Student Loan Contribution Program - $50 per month
- Eligible to receive scholarships for a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education
- Monthly reflective practice with a licensed therapist
- Tuition discount after one year at our NWC Early Learning Schools
Check out the entire list of benefits Northwest Center has to offer here: http://www.nwcbenefits.com/
Essential Functions:
- Plan, prioritize and implement all operational goals of the program
- Design, implement, evaluate, and report operational strategies to accomplish department goals
- Ensure program compliance with all agency policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with Washington State and other city and county licensing regulations and laws, including compliance with all appropriate fire, health, and safety requirements as necessary to maintain the license for the program
- Develop and maintain positive relations with families, advocates, and guardians of the children served by the program
- Maintain regular contact with families by responding to questions, being accessible, and conducting meetings
- Develop department budget
- Monitor fiscal performance and maintain controls over income, operating expenses, and capital expenditures within budgetary limits
- Assure contract compliance with funding sources and governmental entities
- Supervise and provide leadership and support to early learning staff
- Develop long/short-term staff development plans; oversee routine personnel functions, including recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, performance evaluations, and terminations
- Maintain regular contact with staff through individual and group meetings
- Design and implement events such as conferences, staff meetings, and training to ensure a quality early learning program
- Collaborate with other departments within Northwest Center as necessary and participate in inter-agency activities
- Participate in inter-department long and short-term planning and operation for the division's success
- Lead, champion, and engage all staff in ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Regular and punctual attendance is required to complete job responsibilities
- Active participation in state and local early learning events and activities
- Work closely with the marketing and development teams to find alternative funding sources for the program
Requirements:
- Bachelor's in Education, Child Development, or related degree with at least 45 ECE credits
- Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education is strongly preferred
- 5+ years of experience in the early childhood field, including a minimum of 2 years as a classroom teacher and 2 years of staff management experience
- Washington State STARS certification and maintains continuing education requirements
- Must have current CPR and First Aid training
Skills and Abilities:
- Must have demonstrated ability in management and administration; demonstrate knowledge and application of good personnel practices
- Strong customer service orientation
- Able to communicate clearly in English in both oral and written form
- Broad working knowledge of Child Development theories and family systems theories
- Demonstrated ability to contain operational costs while meeting operational goals
- Experience in the successful resolution of complex personnel issues
Northwest Center is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at [email protected].
At Northwest Center, we do not just accept diversity and inclusion — we celebrate it, support it, live it, and flourish in it to benefit our employees, the community, and our clientele. We believe that our strength lies within our diversity and the forward motion toward a day when people of all abilities can learn and work together.
We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and improving decision-making, planning, resource allocation, and how we treat others. Our goal is to create and implement more equitable practices, policies, and culture. To be equitable means to value and respect individuals from all cultural backgrounds, genders, races, identities, and abilities. Northwest Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veterans’ status.
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