Assistant Director

The Goddard School•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Assistant Director supports the school’s daily operations while working closely with children, teachers, families, and the leadership team. This hands-on leadership role typically involves spending 35% or more of the day in classrooms supporting children and faculty. The Assistant Director serves as the school’s Director on Duty, responding to classroom, staff, family, and operational needs throughout the day. The position supports a safe, inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment; assists with the Wonder of Learning curriculum and COR Assessments; and helps maintain licensing, health and safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, accurate records, and organized operations. The Assistant Director also supports faculty development, family engagement, and collaboration on school policies and improvement. The candidate must meet applicable Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requirements and Pennsylvania Group Supervisor Qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.35 through one of the listed education and experience pathways. Required additional qualifications include Child Protective Services Law clearances and Pennsylvania onboarding and annual training. A candidate serving as a qualified substitute for the Director must also meet applicable Director qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.34. The role requires strong communication, relationship-building, leadership, and problem-solving skills; the ability to move between classroom and administrative responsibilities; and the ability to respond immediately to emergencies. The Assistant Director reports to the Onsite Owner. Compensation is $50,000–$53,000 per year. The employer is an equal opportunity employer. Goddard School locations are privately owned and operated by franchisees, who set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.

Requirements

Meet Pennsylvania Group Supervisor Qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.35 through one of the specified pathways: a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or human services; a bachelor’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 1 year of experience working with children; an associate’s degree in a related field plus 2 years of experience working with children; or an associate’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 3 years of experience working with children.
Obtain required Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) clearances.
Complete required Pennsylvania onboarding and annual training.
If serving as a qualified substitute for the Director during an absence, meet applicable Director qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.34.
Strong communication, relationship-building, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to move comfortably between hands-on classroom support and administrative/leadership responsibilities.
Ability to handle crisis situations and respond immediately to emergencies.
Ability to hear conversational speech, with or without a hearing aid.
Ability to see and read newsprint, with or without corrective lenses.
Ability to speak and be understood under normal circumstances.
Ability to lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to use arms, hands, legs, and feet, with or without corrective devices, including the ability to evacuate the building during an emergency.

Responsibilities

Serve as the school’s Director on Duty and oversee the daily rhythm of the building.
Provide hands-on classroom support and step into classrooms when additional support is needed.
Support a safe, inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.
Assist with implementation of the Wonder of Learning curriculum and COR Assessments.
Support classroom activities and individualized, child-centered learning.
Mentor, support, onboard, and assist with training faculty.
Build positive relationships with children, families, staff, and community partners.
Greet families and respond to questions or concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies, particularly situations involving children.
Assist with licensing, health and safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
Support accurate record-keeping and organized school operations.
Assist with family events, education workshops, meetings, and community engagement.
Collaborate with the leadership team on policies, school improvement, and daily operations.