Director of Early Learning Services

About the role

The Director of Early Learning Services is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, and operation of the childcare center and campus based Bloom Room program. This position oversees all academic and non-academic childcare services, ensuring high quality early learning experiences in a safe, nurturing, and compliant environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct all childcare services related daycare and campus bloom room.
• Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, program policies, and address students behavioral or learning concerns.
• Monitor students progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
• Teach classes, courses or provide direct care to children, as needed.
• Direct and coordinate activities of staff assigned.
• Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for leadership team as requested.
• Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
• Review and evaluate new and current programs to determine their efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with state, local, and federal regulations and recommend any necessary modifications.
• Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Completes all orientation and mandated training activities, including ELearning Courses, within required timeframes, and in accordance with the criteria established for this position.
• Ensures timely follow through on all children’s tuition payments and reports any discrepancies in a prompt manner.
• Provides accurate and timely weekly payment information to support precise accounting processes.
• Collaborates with the Early Learning Coordinator to develop outreach strategies and recruit new student enrollment.
• Works toward obtaining childcare accreditation and maintains all required standards to ensure continued accreditation.
• Completes all invoicing and reporting required for the Food Program within established deadlines.
• Communicates effectively with all parties involved in the Food Program, including vendors, providers, and the funding agency.
• Maintains accurate and complete files for both teachers and students.
• Safeguards the environment by ensuring that all sanitation, safety, and security procedures are followed.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with parents, guardians, staff, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Leads enrollment tours, provides program information, and supports families throughout the registration and orientation process.
• Prepares required reports for funding agencies, licensing bodies, and organizational leadership.
• Manages inventory, supplies, and equipment to ensure classrooms are well equipped and within budget.
• Addresses parent concerns or complaints promptly and professionally, ensuring timely resolution.
• Reviews Early Learning Coalition (ELC) reporting requirements and ensures that all required documentation is completed and submitted in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• At minimum, must hold National Child Development Associate (CDA) or other early childhood credential that meets or exceeds the requirements of the National CDA and is recognized by regulatory agencies in at least five states.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required.
• An Active Florida DCF Director’s Credential is required.
• An Active VPK Director’s Credential is required.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or a related field is required.
• National Early Childhood credential or an active School-Age Child Care credential may be substituted for formal educational qualifications.
• Must have at least 480 hours experience in childcare setting serving children ages birth through eight years of age.
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test are required.
• Bilingual is preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of early childhood development principles and developmentally appropriate educational practices.
• Knowledge of Florida DCF licensing regulations, VPK standards, and ELC reporting requirements.
• Minimum of two years of experience in early childhood education or childcare administration.
• Enthusiastic personality that will engage preschool children.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with adults and children.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with teachers, support staff, parents, and students in a positive and constructive way.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives required.
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems required.
• Ability to develop meaningful goals and objectives required.
• Skill in group processes including goal setting, planning, and conflict mediation required.
• High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work required.
• Experience in youth development model, asset-based relationship building, and experience in motivating youth required.
• Ability to be empathetic, compassionate, non-judgmental, and enthusiastic.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Skill in teaching others how to do something.
• Skill in talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Ability to think creatively, developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Skill in Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.
• Understanding of issues related to individuals with varied identities in prevention, intervention and treatment.
• Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds, have different perceptions of health.
• Understands that individuals with distinct community backgrounds define and perceive family and its importance differently.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals with distinct community backgrounds.
• Ability to use trauma informed care principles including ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding re-traumatization, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment.
• Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of trauma.
• Aware of the differences between trauma informed and trauma-specific services.
• Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values.
• Knowledge of Incident Reporting.
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality.
• Familiarity with WestCare services and programs.
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
• Maintains a good attendance record.
• Observes working hours.
• Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor.
• Works independently with minimal supervision.
• Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job.
• Work time is always productive.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others.
• Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare.
• Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision.
• Maintains a positive attitude toward work.
• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
• Work area is clean and orderly.
• Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
• Presents a positive personal image.
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor.