Barkley Early Learning Center Director
About The Position
Lead. Inspire. Make a Lasting Impact. At the YMCA, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. As a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, we’re looking for a passionate and experienced Early Learning Center Director to lead one of our vibrant early learning centers. If you’re an inspiring leader who loves building strong teams, supporting families, and creating high-quality early childhood experiences, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day. What You’ll Do As the Early Learning Center Director, you’ll serve as the heart of your center — guiding daily operations, develop staff, and ensuring every child receives safe, enriching, and developmentally appropriate care.
Requirements
- Minimum 3 years of experience working with youth ages birth–five
- Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience, including paid or volunteer roles
- Bachelor’s degree in youth development, child development, education, recreation, outdoor education, or a related field
- Educational and experience qualifications established by Department of Child Youth and Families (DCYF)
- Skills in budgeting, enrollment management, and program evaluation
- Proven success supervising, mentoring, and motivating diverse teams
- Strong understanding of positive youth development principles
- Excellent communication skills with youth and adults
- Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and teams effectively
- Ability to relate to diverse populations across social and economic backgrounds
- Prior leadership experience as a classroom lead, assistant director, or center director
- Believes in the power of community and is inspired to help children thrive during their most formative years.
Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations including scheduling, purchasing, meal coordination, and family communication.
- Ensure all programs meet or exceed state, county, and local licensing regulations.
- Maintain YMCA program standards and safety procedures, including ADA accommodations and mandated reporting requirements.
- Develop and manage program budgets; monitor enrollment trends and compile program statistics.
- Support billing processes for CACFP, DCYF WCCC, and other funding sources.
- Assess and expand programs to meet evolving community needs in partnership with the Association Director of Youth Development.
- Assist with marketing efforts and actively participate in fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
- Recruit, hire, train, and develop high-quality staff and volunteers
- Provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development.
- Foster a positive, motivating work culture where certifications are current and excellence is the standard.
- Cultivate strong partnerships with families through consistent communication and engagement activities.
- Collaborate with community partners and YMCA departments to enhance program impact.
- Model inclusive, relationship-centered leadership in every interaction.
- Foster a center environment rooted in trust, safety, and belonging
Benefits
- Purpose-driven leadership role with measurable community impact
- Supportive, collaborative culture
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- The ability to shape inclusive programs that empower children and families
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
