Child Care Assistant Director

Little Sprouts • Lawrence, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director, reporting to the School Director, is a full-time Exempt position located in Lawrence, MA. This role supports the Certified Teacher in ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. The Assistant Director assists in daily classroom operations, child supervision, curriculum implementation, sustainable education practices, and family interaction, while fostering strong relationships and a positive school culture. The position is guided by Babilou Family US's "Sustainable Education®" approach, which is rooted in research on child development, and the company's HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. The role involves independent judgment in decision-making related to school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality, and assists in the supervision and direction of school staff, including hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback. The Assistant Director acts as a management representative in the absence of the School Director and has authority to recommend personnel actions. The role requires specialized knowledge of early childhood education, regulatory compliance, and center operations, and involves administrative and leadership duties related to business operations, compliance audits, enrollment oversight, and center preparedness. The position supports operational functions tied to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics, and plays a primary role in maintaining school licensure standards and ensuring compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be EEC Director II Certified
• Experience working with young children in a childcare or educational setting
• Knowledge of child development and classroom safety standards
• Strong communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow lesson plans and support the Certified Teacher effectively
• Must be bilingual in Spanish and English
• Complete all assigned classroom tasks daily
• Maintain zero major safety incidents annually
• Adhere 100 percent to child safety protocols
• Document observations for at least 90 percent of assigned children monthly
• Respond to delegated parent inquiries within 24 hours
• Participate in at least two-family engagement events per year
• Complete 100 percent of annual training requirements
• Participate in at least one professional development activity per quarter
• 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 to engage with children and support staff.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasional assistance with children’s belongings.
• Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running, outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.
• Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs.
• Ability to follow and model all safety procedures.
• All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Previous experience working in ECE school leadership
• Receive positive feedback from the lead teacher and through observations

Responsibilities

• Assist the classroom teachers in delivering daily lesson plans and learning activities.
• Help ensure the classroom remains clean, organized, and safe.
• Support the implementation and oversight of sustainable education practices, including environmentally responsible routines, age-appropriate sustainability concepts, and stewardship habits within the classroom.
• Supervise children during activities, meals, transitions, and outdoor play.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining full responsibility to recognize, document, and immediately report any suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
• 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 all required training and maintain certifications.
• Collaborate with the teaching team for continuous improvement, including learning opportunities tied to sustainable education initiatives.
• Exercises independent judgment in daily decision‑making related to school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality.
• Assists with the supervision and direction of school staff, contributing to hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Acts as a management representative in the absence of the School Director, supporting the leadership of the overall school program.
• Has authority to recommend personnel actions, including staff assignments, scheduling changes, disciplinary recommendations, and staffing adjustments.
• Makes decisions that directly impact school operations, including compliance, curriculum implementation, and family communication workflows.
• Performs administrative and leadership duties that require specialized knowledge of early childhood education, regulatory compliance, and center operations.
• Regularly engages in non‑manual work related to business operations, including documentation, compliance audits, enrollment oversight support, and center preparedness.
• Supports operational functions tied to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics, demonstrating responsibility for key business outcomes.
• Holds a primary role in maintaining school licensure standards, ensuring the site's continual compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.

Benefits

• Up to 75% discount on your child's tuition, including tax-friendly tuition reduction options.
• Comprehensive health benefits package, including health, dental, & vision all effective from start date.
• Additional benefit selections, including pet insurance, are also available.
• Free subscription to First Stop Health for 24/7 access to virtual doctors.
• 401(k) plan with eligibility for a discretionary employer contribution each year (Must be 21+ to enroll. Eligibility to contribute starts after 60 days of employment).
• Pay increase opportunities related to job performance, updates in certification credentials, and degree completion.
• Opportunities for career advancement and ongoing coaching, including a dedicated Child Conference.
• Employee referral program available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED