Regional Childcare Director

About the role

The Regional Childcare Director provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and regulatory compliance for all assigned YMCA early learning, preschool, school-age, and youth development programs. This position ensures that each licensed childcare program consistently provides a safe, nurturing, and high-quality environment while meeting or exceeding all New York State OCFS Licensing Standards, YMCA policies, and accreditation or quality improvement standards as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Acting Childcare Director for YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County and oversight over Childcare directors, coordinators, and part-time staff.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for multiple licensed childcare programs throughout the assigned region.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, evaluate, and develop Childcare Directors and other assigned leadership staff to build high-performing teams and ensure accountability.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, retain, and support qualified childcare professionals while promoting employee engagement, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Ensure all assigned childcare programs maintain compliance with NYS OCFS Child Care Licensing Standards, YMCA policies, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Conduct regular compliance audits, prepare programs for licensing inspections, monitor regulatory changes, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Maintain high-quality early childhood and school-age programs by monitoring curriculum implementation, classroom environments, behavior guidance practices, and overall program effectiveness.
• Champion child safety by ensuring compliance with YMCA abuse prevention policies, risk management practices, emergency preparedness procedures, and all required safety training.
• Develop, manage, and monitor operating budgets for assigned childcare programs, including revenues, expenses, payroll, enrollment, and financial performance.
• Foster positive relationships with children, families, school divisions, licensing representatives, community partners, and other stakeholders while responding professionally to questions, concerns, and feedback.
• Analyze operational, enrollment, financial, and quality data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Human Services, Business Administration, Recreation, or a closely related field.
• Meet all qualifications required by New York State OCFS to serve as a Site Director.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible leadership experience managing licensed childcare programs.
• Minimum three years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of New York State child care licensing regulations.
• Experience managing multiple childcare locations or multiple program sites.
• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel regularly between YMCA program locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or related field.
• Seven or more years of childcare leadership experience.
• Multi-site operational leadership within a nonprofit or YMCA environment.
• Experience with NYS OCFS accreditation programs and licensing.
• Bilingual communication skills.