Assistant Director Childcare

Little Sprouts, LLC•Winchester, MA

9d•$63,000 - $68,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director supports the Certified Teacher and school leadership in creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. The role assists with daily classroom operations, child supervision, curriculum implementation, sustainable education practices, and family interaction, while building relationships with colleagues and contributing to a positive school culture. The educational approach, Sustainable Education®, applies research to daily practice to support children’s development and lifelong learning. The role is guided by the HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. The position combines administrative leadership and classroom work. It exercises independent judgment in school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality; assists with staff supervision and direction; and acts as a management representative when the School Director is absent. The Assistant Director may recommend personnel actions and make decisions affecting compliance, curriculum implementation, family communication, and school operations. Responsibilities also include documentation, compliance audits, enrollment support, center preparedness, and maintaining licensure and regulatory standards. The role supports operational outcomes related to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance. The work takes place in an active classroom and collaborative school setting, with regular interaction with children, families, and team members and movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Physical duties include prolonged standing and walking, changing positions to engage with children and support staff, lifting and carrying items up to 30 pounds, participating in age-appropriate activities, and responding safely to emergencies. Employees must complete a background check required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
State Director credentials.
Strong knowledge of state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
Ability to manage budgets and drive enrollment growth.
Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75 percent of the workday.
Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day.
Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds.
Ability to sit on the floor and participate in age-appropriate activities, including light running and outdoor play supervision.
Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Ability to supervise children in playgrounds, classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.
Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergencies, including evacuations and drills, and to follow and model safety procedures.
Completion of a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business.
Prior experience leading school-level operational improvement or quality initiatives.

Responsibilities

Assist classroom teachers in delivering daily lesson plans and learning activities.
Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom.
Support sustainable education practices, including environmentally responsible routines, age-appropriate sustainability concepts, and stewardship habits.
Supervise children during activities, meals, transitions, and outdoor play.
Serve as a mandated reporter and recognize, document, and immediately report suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment in accordance with state law.
Support individual developmental needs and help children achieve age-appropriate milestones.
Greet families and support daily communication as directed by the Certified Teacher.
Participate in conferences and family events when requested.
Attend required training, maintain certifications, and collaborate with the teaching team on continuous improvement and sustainable education initiatives.
Exercise independent judgment in daily decisions related to school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality.
Assist with supervision and direction of staff, including hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback.
Act as a management representative in the School Director’s absence and support leadership of the school program.
Recommend personnel actions, including staff assignments, scheduling changes, disciplinary recommendations, and staffing adjustments.
Make decisions affecting compliance, curriculum implementation, family communication workflows, and school operations.
Complete administrative and leadership duties involving early childhood education, regulatory compliance, and center operations.
Perform documentation, compliance audits, enrollment oversight support, and center preparedness activities.
Manage time independently to fulfill leadership responsibilities.
Support operational functions related to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics.
Maintain school licensure standards and ensure ongoing compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.
Complete assigned classroom tasks daily, adhere to child safety protocols, document observations for assigned children, respond to delegated parent inquiries, participate in family engagement events, and complete training and professional development targets.

Benefits

Up to 50% childcare tuition discount.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance effective on the first day of employment.
Free First Stop Health membership with 24/7 access to virtual primary care, urgent care, and short-term mental health support.
401(k) retirement plan with an annual discretionary employer match contribution.
Optional life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
Performance-based pay, including increases tied to certification and/or degree completion.
Career growth and professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and the CHILD Conference.
Generous paid time off and holiday benefits, including an annual Winter Break closure between Christmas and New Year's.
Employee Assistance Program offering confidential resources and support for mental health, financial wellness, work-life balance, and other personal needs.
Employee referral bonus program.
Tuition and professional development reimbursement.
Pet insurance.