Childcare Assistant Director - Bilingual English/Spanish

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, providing high-quality language immersion education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. Our values fuel everything we do: nurturing children's growth, creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development, celebrating diversity, and embracing optimism for a brighter future for every child, family, and team member we serve.

About the role

Reporting to the Center Director, the Assistant Director supports the center's operations, maintains high standards of educational quality, and enhances team culture. This role helps lead the center in achieving enrollment targets, fostering positive staff relationships, and maintaining a safe, compliant, and welcoming environment for children and families.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Team Support
  • Assist the Center Director in embodying Tierra Encantada's core values in all aspects of center operations.
  • Foster a collaborative team environment through coaching, feedback, and recognition, while supporting staff development and retention initiatives.
  • Step into a leadership role during the Center Director's absence, ensuring seamless center operations and consistent staff performance.
  • Lead a team of floats and kitchen staff. Cover classrooms and kitchen when needed due to breaks, PTO, or sickness.
• Administrative Tasks and Parent Communication
  • Manage daily administrative functions, including enrollment tasks, handling phone calls, responding to emails, updating child records, and ensuring timely communication with families.
  • Serve as a point of contact for parents, addressing concerns, resolving issues, and communicating updates related to their child's progress, center policies, and upcoming events.
  • Regularly update parents on center activities and important announcements to enhance parent satisfaction.
  • Coordinate parent-teacher meetings, ensuring open lines of communication and active parental involvement in their child's education.
  • Maintain organization within facilities.
  • Oversee accurate and on-time counting of food and supplies inventory.
• Operations and Compliance
  • Support the Center Director in managing daily operations, ensuring compliance with childcare licensing regulations and internal policies.
  • Oversee the facility's safety protocols, conducting regular safety drills and ensuring the center remains a secure environment for children, staff, and families.
  • Assist in monitoring staff schedules, managing time-off requests, and maintaining accurate payroll records to ensure proper staffing levels.
• Educational Quality and Program Management
  • Collaborate with the Center Director to review and enhance educational programs, maintaining Tierra Encantada's high standards of early childhood development.
  • Work with teachers to monitor child development, ensuring comprehensive assessments and strong communication with families about their child's progress.
  • Support the maintenance of accreditation standards and continuous improvement of educational quality.
• Community Engagement and Customer Service
  • Assist in local marketing initiatives to promote the center, supporting enrollment growth by participating in open houses, community events, and family engagement activities.
  • Build strong relationships with families, providing responsive feedback and fostering a welcoming community that ensures high satisfaction and retention.

Requirements

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a lead teacher or assistant director position in a daycare, pre-K, or educational setting.
• Director qualified for the state of Kansas as specified in Kansas K.A.R. 28-4-429(c) and K.A.R. 28-4-429a.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with an emphasis on team building and problem-solving.
• Familiarity with childcare licensing requirements, safety protocols, and best practices in early education (strongly preferred).
• CPR, First Aid, and Food Protection Manager certification (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire).
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Google Suites (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms).
• Perceptual and cognitive judgment to mitigate and respond to family concerns.
• Proven experience in managing customer service (a plus).
• Proven success in retention and onboarding of new hires (a plus).

Physical Requirements

• Frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Carry and lift 25 pounds or less; occasionally push, pull, run short distances, and carry and lift 25-50 pounds.
• Use repetitive or fine hand movements.
• Excellent long-distance and near vision to monitor children's activities both indoors and outdoors in various light conditions.
• Hearing capabilities to respond to children's needs and maintain safety in a moderately noisy environment.

Pay

Base salary range is $49,000 to $55,000 depending on qualifications, education, and experience. This position is eligible for additional compensation in the form of a monthly performance bonus.

Schedule

This is an onsite, full-time, salaried, and exempt position that works Monday-Friday, with some weekends required occasionally.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous PTO package
• 401(k) with employer match
• Performance bonus
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company-paid professional development