Assistant Child Care Director

Bright Horizons • Des Moines, IA

18h • $59,000 - $64,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Bright Horizons is hiring a Child Care Assistant Director to help lead a welcoming, well-run early childhood center. Working closely with the Center Director, the Assistant Director supports daily operations and helps maintain standards for care, learning, and safety. The role includes supporting educational programming, mentoring teachers, and building relationships with families.

This position requires in-person work in an early education/preschool child care center in the Des Moines, Iowa area. Duties combine office, computer, and phone work with supervision of care delivery and employees throughout the center, family and prospective-family interactions, and occasionally serving as a supervising caregiver for brief periods, such as covering breaks or unscheduled absences. The position’s annual salary range is $59,000–$64,000, with actual offers dependent on factors including experience, education, training, certifications, geography, and other relevant considerations.

Requirements

• Pass required state and company background checks.
• Meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements.
• Hold an Associate degree or higher in early childhood education, education, or a related child development field.
• Have at least two years of leadership experience in a high-quality child care, daycare, or preschool setting.
• Have a strong understanding of center quality, compliance, health, safety, and licensing standards.
• Be able to work in person in an early education/preschool child care center in the Des Moines, Iowa area.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Uphold Bright Horizons’ mission, culture, and values to foster an inclusive environment and strong relationships with families, staff, and clients.
• Monitor program quality and ensure children’s learning is documented and visible.
• Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, health and safety protocols, and company policies.
• Fulfill mandated reporter requirements, including reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate State agency, informing the director, and ensuring teaching staff understand this requirement.
• Support daily center operations in partnership with the Center Director.
• Support educational programming and mentor teachers.
• Supervise care delivery and employees throughout the center, and provide brief supervising-caregiver coverage when needed.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools.
• Career development opportunities and free college degrees through the Horizons CDA & Degree Program.
• Caregiving support and resources for children and adults in the employee’s family.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree