Child Development Center (CDC) Director - Minneapolis

About Jeremiah Program

Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. By investing simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her personal and professional goals and the education of her children, JP reauthors family outcomes and strengthens communities. In 2025, JP served over 2,000 moms and children across nine cities: Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, MN; and St. Paul, MN.

About the Role

The Child Development Center (CDC) Director guides the day-to-day operations of the Child Development Center, creating a relationship-rich, data-centered, and child development-oriented culture. This role ensures the overall health, safety, and growth of enrolled children while aligning operations with the mission, values, and purpose of the child development program. The CDC Director manages compliance, leads and coaches a team of educators, and partners with JP leadership to strategically design the center to meet the needs of single mothers.

Responsibilities

• CDC Operations
  • Ensure smooth and efficient CDC operations while meeting all licensing, health, and safety requirements.
  • Prepare staff schedules, manage classroom ratios, and coordinate communication plans for teacher absences.
  • Serve as a classroom teacher substitute when needed.
  • Develop and manage the annual program budget with the Executive Director, balancing operating revenues with staffing ratios and expense management.
  • Recruit and enroll families to meet CDC enrollment goals.
  • Collect, record, analyze, and report statistical program data; ensure timely and accurate data entry in assigned systems.
  • Leverage volunteer and partnership resources to support CDC operational needs.
  • Manage CDC finances, including collecting family payments, coordinating subsidies/funding resources, and collaborating with the CST Finance Team on tuition billing.
  • Maintain the Parent Aware quality rating by tracking progress on re-rating goals and preparing future submissions.
• Child Development & Early Childhood Education
  • Lead and oversee the center’s instructional and development program.
  • Ensure every child shows dramatic progress and the center meets ambitious performance goals set by leadership.
  • Analyze data with teachers regularly to maximize child development and progress.
  • Conduct required and recommended assessments and follow up with families on students’ development and progress.
  • Cultivate positive relationships with families and act as a liaison between parents and CDC staff.
  • Conduct required screenings of CDC participants using the ASQ tool and develop growth plans in collaboration with teaching staff and parents.
• Team Management
  • Recruit, onboard, and supervise CDC staff to meet Second-Generation programming goals and licensing requirements.
  • Formally supervise, observe, and evaluate all center staff, including 10 classroom teachers, a classroom float, and a Center Coach.
  • Coach and develop staff through weekly meetings and classroom observations.
  • Track feedback, data, and progress in a central tracker for all center staff.
  • Monitor implementation of approved curriculum and ensure teachers have the necessary resources for successful execution.
  • Partner with Second-Generation leadership to develop team knowledge and competencies.
  • Facilitate teaching team meetings to build collaboration and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Program Leadership
  • Model JP core values and foster a professional, positive, and inclusive culture for staff and participants.
  • Collaborate with campus and CST leaders to develop and implement policies and procedures that advance CDC operations and ensure seamless services for families.
  • Partner with the Executive Director and CST leaders to design creative solutions for a CDC that meets the needs of single mothers.
  • Communicate outcomes and participant input to inform program decisions at local and national levels.
  • Engage in regular communication with Jeremiah Program moms and campus leaders to ensure program effectiveness.
  • Educate internal and external stakeholders about CDC programs and needs.
  • Develop and maintain productive relationships with program partners and community resources.
  • Stay informed of emerging policy issues and trends that may affect the CDC.

Requirements

• BA/BS (Master’s degree preferred) in education, human services, social work, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years of experience managing others, preferably in an educational setting.
• 2+ years of experience coaching others toward achieving goals, preferably in an educational setting.
• Possess or be willing to obtain the required CDC director certification and credentials.
• Passion for the Jeremiah Program mission and belief in its early childhood educational model.
• Strong instructional, classroom management, and culture-building skills.
• Proven track record of supporting child development toward age-appropriate benchmarks (socially, emotionally, academically).
• Dynamic team leadership with a track record of building strong “adult culture.”
• Ability to motivate and enlist others in key initiatives.
• Professional maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and a “roll-up-my-sleeves” attitude.
• Clear, compelling, and responsive written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively across lines of difference and build trusting relationships.
• Experience building, managing, and navigating relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and children.
• Continuous growth mindset with a hunger for professional development.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to leverage them for the benefit of the CDC.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, data entry, and the ability to learn new technologies.

Pay

Salaries for this role typically fall between $85,000 and $91,000, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Supplemental benefits.
• Retirement plans.
• Generous paid time off package.