Associate Vice President of Early Education

YWCA Tri-County Area•Pottstown, PA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Early Education is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategy, growth, sustainability, innovation, and long-term vision of YWCA Tri-County Area’s Early Education portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this position provides executive leadership for strategy, systems development, program expansion, partnerships, revenue diversification, and operational scalability across Early Education programs and related educational enterprises. The role focuses on enterprise-level leadership: identifying growth opportunities, strengthening organizational infrastructure, advancing innovation, securing funding opportunities, and positioning the organization as a regional leader in high-quality early education. The Associate Vice President oversees alignment of programs and service models with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities, builds organizational capacity, and fosters cross-functional collaboration. The position also maintains a connection to program delivery and supports classrooms, educators, and students when operational needs arise. The position supervises the Managing Director of Early Education and provides leadership support to the Early Education leadership team. It oversees strategic planning, operational systems, enrollment, financial sustainability, partnerships, expansion initiatives, performance monitoring, and reporting to executive leadership and the Board of Directors. The role is full-time, exempt, and based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend events or professional development and varied hours between 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; flexibility and occasional non-traditional hours may be required. Occasional travel to conferences, seminars, and meetings may be required, and the position may require classroom coverage.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Human Services, or a related field is preferred; a bachelor’s degree in a related field is accepted.
Pennsylvania Director’s credential is required.
At least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
At least five years leading organizational strategy, program growth, operations, or system-level initiatives.
Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, organizational change, and strategic planning.
Strong understanding of early childhood education systems, public funding structures, and regulatory environments.
Knowledge of child development from birth through school age, early education social-emotional best practices, and basic classroom management procedures.
High degree of technical literacy, including complex Microsoft Office tasks and the ability to adapt to organizational software.
Exceptional relationship-building, communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
Strong organizational, spelling, and grammar skills; ability to work independently, implement processes, and contribute as part of a team.
Cultural competence and sensitivity to community-specific issues, with an empowering approach to relationships with people and families from diverse backgrounds.
Commitment to YWCA Tri-County Area’s mission and values.
Successful completion of required background clearances.
Current health assessment and TB screening.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including lifting up to 50 pounds, sitting on the floor or ground with children, and standing, bending, kneeling, squatting, or crawling.

Nice To Haves

Experience with corporate-owned and/or franchise-operated early childhood education organizations.
Experience leading multi-site early Education operations or large-scale educational initiatives.
Experience developing new programs, partnerships, or organizational growth strategies.
Experience securing public funding, grants, contracts, or other revenue-generating opportunities.
Experience working within nonprofit, educational, or human service organizations.
Familiarity with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) regulations.
Familiarity with Keystone STARS and the Conscious Discipline social-emotional curriculum.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead the organization’s long-term Early Education strategy and growth plans aligned with YWCA strategic priorities.
Identify opportunities for expansion, innovation, new service delivery models, and geographic growth; conduct market analysis and assess emerging opportunities.
Establish measurable organizational growth goals and performance indicators.
Evaluate and strengthen systems, processes, and infrastructure to support scalability, sustainability, program expansion, and operational efficiency.
Champion data-informed decision-making and performance management systems.
Provide strategic oversight of enrollment systems and practices, including enrollment strategy, capacity planning, waitlist management, data integrity, compliance, and family experience.
Serve as executive liaison for facilities, operations, technology, and infrastructure needs affecting Early Education programs.
Identify revenue-diversification opportunities and support grant strategies, public funding opportunities, partnership investments, and business planning.
Collaborate with Finance and executive leadership on sustainability plans and analyze financial trends and growth opportunities.
Provide executive oversight of the Early Education annual operating budget and monitor financial performance, enrollment-driven revenue, and long-term sustainability.
Review and approve payroll processes and controls for accuracy, accountability, and alignment with organizational policies and budget expectations.
Develop strategic partnerships with school districts, funders, government agencies, community organizations, and higher education institutions.
Represent YWCA in regional, state, and community early education initiatives and strengthen organizational visibility and community engagement.
Advocate for children, families, improved access to high-quality early education, and the advancement of early education programs.
Supervise the Managing Director of Early Education and provide executive coaching and leadership support to the Early Education leadership team.
Build leadership capacity and succession-planning strategies while fostering innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and mission impact.
Research early childhood education trends and best practices; evaluate potential programs, service lines, and expansion opportunities.
Lead implementation of approved growth initiatives and develop strategic recommendations for executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Prepare and present reports, recommendations, and performance updates to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Monitor key performance indicators for enrollment, financial sustainability, compliance, staffing, and program quality.
Provide direct support to classrooms, educators, and students when operational needs arise, including classroom coverage and working in ratio when required.