Child Development Center Director

Commander, Navy Installations Command•Honolulu, HI

About The Position

The Child Development Center (CDC) Director administers a medium or large developmentally appropriate early childhood program serving more than 200 children of eligible patrons. Depending on demand and funding, services may include full-time programs for children from six weeks through five years of age, emergency care, special needs care, an annex facility, and extended-hours care. The Director is accountable for employee performance, child safety, program quality, budgets, and facility operations in accordance with Department of War (DoW), Department of Navy (DoN), and local policies and standards. The Director establishes policies, procedures, goals, and review systems for the program; oversees developmentally appropriate curricula and activities; manages budgets and patron funds; and evaluates program effectiveness and cost efficiency. The role also oversees facilities, equipment, security systems, inspections, accreditation, and corrective actions. The Director works with employees, parents, volunteers, and installation command personnel to resolve issues and foster positive interactions among children and adults.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Special Education with an ECE concentration, Home Economics with an early childhood emphasis, Child Care Administration, or a related field, and four years of full-time experience working with children and/or youth; or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
For the education-and-experience combination pathway, education must include child-related coursework totaling at least 24 higher-level semester hours, and at least three years of full-time experience working with children and/or youth.
Mastery of child development theory, methodology, and practices, including physical, intellectual, social, and special education needs, and center management.
Mastery of child development principles and the ability to design and manage a complex program covering safety, security, disease prevention, employee training, developmentally appropriate activities, parent involvement, and facility management.
Knowledge of DoW, DoN, local, and state regulations, instructions, and procedures for military childcare.
Knowledge of federal and state laws governing detection and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Knowledge of facility design, functional use, and maintenance concepts related to military childcare.
Knowledge of financial, budget, and resource management principles and practices, and analytical and evaluative methods and techniques.
Skill in educating, counseling, and advising childcare professionals and parents, and assessing training and children’s developmental needs.
Skill in organizing and using community resources to augment the program and meet installation objectives.
Ability to analyze, plan, and adjust work operations across organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.
Ability to supervise others, exercise sound business skills, and provide positive personnel management.
Ability to communicate effectively in English orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal communication skills.
Must consent to pre-employment and random drug testing for this Test Designated Position.
Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunizations.
Must obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance as needed.
Must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment.
Must complete the Installation Records Check required for individuals providing childcare services on a DON installation or in a DON-sanctioned program; applicable disqualifying background findings affect suitability.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with military families and understanding of military lifestyles is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee program performance, employee accountability, and child safety at a medium or large CDC serving more than 200 enrolled children.
Establish policies, procedures, and program goals for developmentally appropriate individual and group learning activities that support children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.
Ensure curriculum development and implementation, and apply child development principles and DoN policies to program needs and evaluations.
Conduct studies and surveys to evaluate program effectiveness and cost efficiency.
Develop budget input, analyze budget variances, justify program resource needs, and plan for facility and equipment repairs or maintenance.
Oversee collection, accounting, and reporting of patron funds; ensure financial goals and appropriated and nonappropriated fund regulations are met.
Develop, administer, and evaluate ongoing developmental and educational activities for staff to implement.
Establish review systems to validate government needs and maintain or improve operational economy and quality; contribute to and oversee implementation of CYP standard operating procedures.
Ensure facilities and grounds are maintained according to DoW, DoN, and local standards; monitor CCTV, intercoms, telecommunications, security and egress points, and computer systems.
Resolve or report equipment and system issues through established protocols, including initiating trouble calls and responding to data calls.
Assess facility adequacy and needs; initiate work requests and coordinate approvals for maintenance, renovation, or construction; establish satellite locations when needed and monitor facility projects.
Interact professionally with employees, parents, volunteers, and installation command personnel; participate in resolving issues and promote positive interactions among participants and adults.
Monitor accreditation and DoW certification standing; use the Inspection Management System to document inspections, track evidence and corrective actions, and manage follow-up.
Inspect assets, including vehicles, and ensure ongoing maintenance is scheduled and completed.
Implement corrective actions for inspection or accreditation findings, prepare responses to inspection reports, and follow up to ensure discrepancies are fully resolved.
Comply with DoW, DoN, local, federal, and state policies, standards, regulations, and procedures applicable to military childcare.