Director of Operations - Early Childhood

Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains•Brookings, SD

22d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains’ early childhood education (ECE) programs across all locations. The role is responsible for high-quality educational services, regulatory compliance, program excellence, staff development, fiscal responsibility, and family engagement, while maintaining consistent standards and operational effectiveness across ECE sites. The Director leads program planning and improvement; oversees curriculum, assessment, and child outcomes; and ensures compliance with state childcare licensing, health, safety, and risk-management requirements. The role manages and develops ECE leadership staff, builds family and community partnerships, oversees budgets and funding support, and leads enrollment, recruitment, and retention strategies. The Director also prepares reports, maintains program data, leads ECE leadership meetings, and develops operational policies and guidelines. The position is full-time and exempt, based in Brookings, South Dakota, and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, education, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred, along with at least five years of progressively responsible ECE leadership experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, education, or a related field.
At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in Early Childhood Education.
Experience with childcare licensing, accreditation, and regulatory compliance.
Experience managing budgets, staffing, and program operations.
Strong knowledge of child development and early childhood education best practices.
Knowledge of state licensing regulations and quality standards.
Strong leadership, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to manage multiple sites and priorities effectively.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and childcare management software.
Ability to observe, interact, and communicate effectively with youth, staff, volunteers, and parents to support a safe Club environment.
Ability to stand, walk, or sit for extended periods during a shift.
Ability to safely operate general office equipment, including computers, phones, and copiers.
Consistent awareness of and responsiveness to the safety of Club members; the position is safety-sensitive.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Multi-site management experience.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for all Early Childhood Education programs across the organization.
Develop and implement a unified ECE vision aligned with the organization’s mission and goals.
Establish and monitor quality standards across childcare, preschool, and early learning sites.
Conduct site visits to evaluate program quality, compliance, classroom environments, and staff performance.
Maintain consistent policies, procedures, and educational practices across locations.
Develop strategic plans for program growth, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
Oversee curriculum implementation and alignment with state early learning standards and developmentally appropriate practices.
Monitor child assessment systems, evaluate developmental outcomes, analyze data, and use findings to improve program effectiveness.
Collaborate with site leadership to support high-quality instructional practices.
Ensure compliance with state childcare licensing regulations and oversee licensing visits, inspections, corrective action plans, and ongoing requirements.
Ensure accurate records and documentation, maintain compliance-supporting policies, and monitor health, safety, and risk-management standards.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate ECE leadership staff.
Develop professional development plans, ensure required training and credentials, and provide coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
Promote accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, leadership succession planning, and workforce development.
Promote positive relationships with children and families and address family concerns professionally.
Build partnerships with school districts, community agencies, and early childhood organizations; represent the organization in community and professional settings; and advocate for high-quality ECE services.
Develop and oversee ECE budgets, monitor expenditures, evaluate staffing plans and operational efficiencies, and support grant development, reporting, and funding opportunities.
Ensure programs operate within approved budgets while maintaining quality standards.
Ensure safe, healthy, and nurturing environments; oversee emergency procedures and crisis response plans; monitor health, sanitation, and safety practices; and resolve safety concerns and compliance issues promptly.
Develop strategies to increase enrollment and maintain healthy participation across ECE sites.
Monitor enrollment trends, waiting lists, program capacity, retention, and family satisfaction; set annual enrollment goals and evaluate progress.
Collaborate with marketing and Club leadership to promote ECE programs and build recruitment relationships with families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Oversee enrollment processes and ensure a positive experience for prospective and current families.
Represent the organization at community events, family engagement activities, and recruitment opportunities, and identify opportunities to expand ECE services.
Prepare reports for executive leadership, funding agencies, and regulatory bodies; maintain accurate program and performance data; lead ECE leadership meetings; and develop and update policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.
Use data and performance metrics to support organizational decision-making and growth.