Childcare -Assistant Director

Little Sprouts • Dedham, MA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director supports the Certified Teacher and school leadership in maintaining a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. The role assists with classroom operations, child supervision, curriculum implementation, sustainable education practices, and family interaction, while building strong relationships with colleagues and contributing to a positive school culture. The position follows Babilou Family US’s Sustainable Education® approach, which connects research about children’s development with daily practice, and its HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition.

The Assistant Director exercises independent judgment in daily decisions affecting school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality. The role assists with supervising and directing staff, including contributing to hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback. In the School Director’s absence, the Assistant Director represents management and supports leadership of the overall school program. The role may recommend personnel actions and make operational decisions involving compliance, curriculum implementation, and family communication workflows. It also performs administrative and leadership duties related to early childhood education, regulatory compliance, center operations, documentation, compliance audits, enrollment support, center preparedness, and school performance metrics. A primary responsibility is maintaining the school’s licensure and ongoing compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.

The position works in an active classroom environment, interacting regularly with children, families, and team members and moving between indoor and outdoor learning spaces. It requires prolonged movement, including standing and walking for up to 75% of the workday, and the ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds. Employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
• Director state 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.
• Complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.
• Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75% 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 engage at a child’s eye level, participate in age-appropriate activities, and supervise outdoor play.
• Ability to work 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, drills, and urgent classroom needs.
• Ability to follow and model safety procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business.
• Prior experience leading school-level operational improvement or quality initiatives.
• Director state credentials (also listed as a required qualification).

Responsibilities

• Assist classroom teachers in delivering daily lesson plans and learning activities.
• Help keep classrooms clean, organized, and safe.
• Implement and oversee sustainable education practices, including environmentally responsible routines, age-appropriate sustainability concepts, and stewardship habits.
• Supervise children during activities, meals, transitions, and outdoor play.
• Recognize, document, and immediately report suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment as a Mandated Reporter under 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 school staff, including contributing to hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Represent management and support leadership of the overall school program in the School Director’s absence.
• Recommend personnel actions, including staff assignments, scheduling changes, disciplinary recommendations, and staffing adjustments.
• Make decisions affecting compliance, curriculum implementation, and family communication workflows.
• Perform administrative and leadership work involving documentation, compliance audits, enrollment oversight support, and center preparedness.
• Support operational functions related to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics.
• Maintain school licensure standards and ongoing compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.
• Complete assigned classroom tasks daily and adhere to child safety protocols.
• Document observations for at least 90% of assigned children monthly.
• Respond to delegated parent inquiries within 24 hours and participate in at least two family engagement events per year.
• Complete all annual training requirements and participate in at least one professional development activity per quarter.

Benefits

• Up to 50% childcare tuition discount.
• 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 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.
• Paid time off and holiday benefits, including an annual Winter Break closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Employee Assistance Program offering confidential support for mental health, financial wellness, work-life balance, and other personal needs.
• Employee referral bonus program.
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement.
• Pet insurance.
• Additional lifestyle and fringe benefit programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed