Center Director - School Age & Early Childhood

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Youth Development Center Director will be directly responsible for organizing and implementing school age childcare programs. You will provide leadership and direct supervision to staff and groups of children ages 3-13 during the school year in Youth Development Programs. You will oversee administrative and program details while having the opportunity to create positive and nurturing relationships with children. You will also be a role model in building cooperative relationships with the parents/caregivers. As the Center Director you will promote and support the potential of all youth in programs and facilitate peer-to-peer connections as part of the overall participant experience.

This job announcement is not intended to be inclusive of all functions, responsibilities and qualifications associated with the position, however, representative of the essential job functions and typical criteria considered necessary to successfully perform the position.

• Oversees the daily operation of the Grand Peak Academy program.
• The Director is responsible for determining the needs of the different program areas, protecting the health and safety of students, and creating a safe, enriching community within the school.
• The ideal candidate will ensure that the program area creates a nurturing and stimulating environment that fosters the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children
• Implement curriculum in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child and is age appropriate.
• Lead by example, displaying passion for making a positive impact on the lives of children and employees.
• Foster a positive learning environment through effective behavior management techniques.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices in early childhood education.
• Ensure that the physical center environment adheres to health and safety standard operating procedures, maintaining full compliance with local and state licensing regulations
• Ensures that the property is well-maintained by working with the school facilities team.
• Collaborate with other peers to enhance curriculum development and teaching strategies.
• Engages with families and the YMCA community.
• Partner and connect with parents to foster a shared commitment to providing the best care for and education for their children.
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding their child’s progress and any concerns.
• Communicates regularly with families, including reminders about curriculum, closures, delays, etc.
• Build and maintain a highly qualified staff by actively sourcing, training, coaching, and engaging with current and prospective employees.
• Management of staff to ensure a team atmosphere and cohesive environment.
• Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts, and corporate partners.
• Maintain timely and professional communication and kind relationships with peers, supervisors, & staff.
• May be required to work hours outside of normal work schedule for training, extended program hours, parent nights, or association events.
• Communicate effectively with all other staff, parents, and participants.
• Be available to substitute, in or out of ratio, and travel throughout the region we serve, if applicable.
• Other duties as assigned.

1. 21 years of age or older.
2. Center directors must meet the director qualifications letter issued by the Department or a current early childhood professional credential level III or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department prior to working as the director of a large center.
3. The educational requirements for the director of a large center must be met by satisfactory completion of one (1) of the following. (All course hours are given in semester credit hours, but equivalent quarter credit hours are acceptable.) Official college transcripts must be submitted to the Department for evaluation of qualifications.
   
   • A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in one (1) of the following:
     
     • Child Development;
     • Child Psychology;
     • Early Childhood Education;
     • Early Childhood Special Education;.
     • Educational Leadership and Administration;
     • Elementary Education;
     • Family and Human Development;
     • Family Studies;
     • Special Education; or
   • Completion of all of the following three (3) semester credit hour courses from an accredited college or university in each of the following subject or content areas:
     
     • Introduction to Early Childhood Professions;
     • Introduction to Early Childhood Techniques;
     • Guidance Strategies for Young Children or has been issued the Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion;
     • Health, Nutrition, and Safety;
     • Administration of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs;
     • Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions or Introduction to Business;
     • Curriculum Development: Methods and Techniques;
     • Child Growth and Development;
     • The Exceptional Child; and
     • Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice or have been issued the Expanding Quality Infant/Toddler Training certificate of completion; or
   •  Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes course content listed at rule section 2.214(B)(1), and experience listed at rule section 2.214(C).
4. The experience requirements for the director of a large center must include direct work with young children within an early care and education setting and is based on the completion of the following amount of verified work experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual:
   
   • Persons with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree with a major emphasis as listed in rule section 2.214(B)(1), or individuals with an early childhood professional credential
     level III version 3.0 as determined by the Department; no additional experience is required.
   • Persons with an Associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development must have three (3) months (455 hours) of verified experience.
   • Persons with a Bachelor's degree and have completed the thirty (30) semester credit hours specified in rule section 2.214(B)(2), must have three (3) months (455 hours) of verified experience.
   • Persons who have no degree but have completed the thirty (30) semester credit hours specified in rule section 2.214(B)(2), must have six (6) months (910 hours) of verified experience.
   • Additional requirements for verified experience include:
     • Verified experience acquired in a school-age childcare center may count for up to half of the required experience for director qualifications. The other half of the required experience must be working directly with children in a child development program; and,
     • For family childcare home experience to be considered, the applicant must be, or have been, the licensee in the state of Colorado.
5. Renewal of Large Center Director Qualifications Letter
   
   • All individuals who were previously qualified as a large center director by the Department, who have not completed the required courses in each of the following subject or content areas, must take one (1) course every two (2) years from an accredited college or university, with all courses completed by February 1, 2022, or be in compliance with a current transitory director qualification letter. Official transcripts listing completion of one (1) or more of the five (5) courses shall be submitted to the Department within thirty (30) calendar days of completing each course until all five (5) courses have been completed in:
     
     • Guidance Strategies for Young Children or has been issued a Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion;
     • Health, Nutrition and Safety or Child Nutrition;
     • The Exceptional Child;
     • Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice or have been issued the Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Care Training certificate of completion; and
     • Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions or Introduction to Business.
   •  Except for individuals holding an early childhood professional credential level III version 3.0 as determined by the Department, directors meeting all large center director requirements in rule section 2.214(B), in centers operating more than six (6) hours a day must complete a three (3) semester credit hour course from an accredited college or
     university every five (5) years in a subject related to the operation of a center and must be able to demonstrate the relationship of the course taken to the operation of the center.
   • The renewal application and the official transcripts must be submitted to the Department. The renewed director letter shall expire five (5) years from approval of the renewal
     application.
   • Director letters must be renewed prior to the expiration date, or the letter becomes invalid and the individual no longer qualifies as a director of a large center.

• Free Family Membership 
• Program discounts
• Generous retirement benefits - 12% after eligibility is met
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Sick Time

OUR YMCA CULTURE:

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day.  We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.