Education Director - Early Childhood Education

ABOUT US:

Established in 1917, YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood (the “Y”) is a not-for-profit Jewish community center that welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We offer a wide range of educational, recreational and social services programs to enhance the quality of life of the people we serve. From top-notch early childhood education and youth development programs to innovative senior center services, there’s always something for everyone at the Y!

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Education Director will help to oversee the day-to-day administration of a preschool program serving 120+ children from two through five years, offering a robust variety of programs and classes. The successful candidate will bring great presence and creativity to the position and work with our Managing Director of Early Childhood Education to enhance the success of our program.

LOCATION:

54 Nagle Avenue, New York, NY 10040

POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

• Full-time, FLSA Exempt position
• Monday - Friday: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm, with room for flexibility

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee and manage a variety of year-round programs with a combined enrollment of approximately 120 children including pre-K education, extended day, and summer camp.
• Work with the staff to develop and implement an emergent curriculum based on the interests of the students and families.
• Continue to grow and support the preschool’s mission and vision.
• Create and actively promote a welcoming environment where every child and parent is treated with dignity and respect.
• Hire, train, manage and mentor staff to ensure the overall success of the preschool and maintain supervision and instructional guidance through regular staff meetings, classroom observations and professional development.
• Provide support and guidance to the staff and parents to meet each child's individual learning needs.
• Work to ensure consistent compliance with licensing regulations, including staff qualifications, teacher/child ratios, and health and safety requirements.
• Establish meaningful relationships with families and maintain effective communication, both oral and written.
• Foster open communication with parents and address concerns with care and professionalism.
• Develop and maintain systems to track and support overall program success.
• Monitor child assessments and support teachers in documenting developmental progress.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree in related field preferred
• Three years early childhood education teaching experience required
• Two years of leadership experience in early childhood education setting preferred
• New York State Teacher Certification (Birth-Grade 2 or equivalent) required
• Proven ability to lead professional development efforts and support educators within a teaching and learning environment

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Compensation range of $85,000-$90,000.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and competitive benefits package: Health Insurance; Retirement Plan, Optional 403b Plan, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Commuter Benefit Plan, and Y Fitness Center Membership.

WORK AUTHORIZATION & CLEARANCE:

• Documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Must pass the background check, medical exams, fingerprinting and other requirements of the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE)

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other functions and responsibilities may change or may be assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and competitive benefits package: Health Insurance; Retirement Plan, Optional 403b Plan, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Commuter Benefit Plan, and Y Fitness Center Membership.