Early Childhood Assistant Director (Harlem Community Center)

YMCA of Rock River Valley•Rockford, IL

52d•Onsite

About The Position

The Early Childhood Assistant Director develops, leads, and oversees staff scheduling, ensuring all IDEC ratio and grouping regulations are consistently maintained. This position calls for a passionate and innovative individual capable of managing day-to-day operations while fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for children, families, and staff. With a strong commitment to outstanding customer service, organizational excellence, and the ability to effectively multitask, the Assistant Director ensures the center operates smoothly and upholds our core mission, culture, and values. No two days are the same in this role, but every day centers on supporting children, developing educators, and creating an environment where families feel welcomed and cared for. The role involves connecting with staff and classrooms, supporting children, families, and team members, partnering with the Center Director to lead and develop staff (hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, professional growth), stepping in as the designated leader when needed, monitoring enrollment, attendance, and staffing trends, creating a positive, relationship-focused environment, maintaining program excellence, ensuring classrooms and common areas are safe, clean, and welcoming, and supporting the team through unexpected situations by responding calmly to emergencies, addressing concerns promptly, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Requirements

At least 21 years of age, as required by IL DCFS Standards.
Meets director qualifications established by IL DCFS Standards and state law.
CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention training within 30 days of hire date.

Nice To Haves

One to three years teaching and/or program leadership experience preferred.
Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
Previous experience with diverse populations.
Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Develops, leads, and oversees staff scheduling, ensuring all IDEC ratio and grouping regulations are consistently maintained.
Manages day-to-day operations while fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment for children, families, and staff.
Ensures the center operates smoothly and upholds core mission, culture, and values.
Supports children, develops educators, and creates an environment where families feel welcomed and cared for.
Connects with staff and classrooms, ensuring children, families, and team members have everything they need for a successful day.
Partners with the Center Director to lead and develop staff, supporting hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, and professional growth.
Steps in as the designated leader when needed, helping solve challenges, answer questions, and keep operations running smoothly.
Monitors enrollment, attendance, and staffing trends, making adjustments to support quality programming and individual needs of children.
Creates a positive, relationship-focused environment by building strong connections with children, families, staff, and the community.
Maintains program excellence by supporting quality standards, enrollment processes, marketing efforts, and outcome reporting.
Ensures classrooms and common areas are safe, clean, and welcoming, overseeing supplies, facility inspections, and opening and closing procedures.
Supports the team through the unexpected, responding calmly to emergencies, addressing concerns promptly, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.