Early Childhood Development Center Director

Plattsburgh YMCA • City of Plattsburgh, NY

1d

About The Position

The Plattsburgh YMCA seeks a mission-driven, highly organized Child Care Center Director to lead and oversee the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center, serving infants through preschoolers. The director is expected to understand and implement Developmentally Appropriate Practices and other early-childhood best practices. Familiarity with Continuity of Care Classrooms, emergent play-based curriculum, positive guidance, and Conscious Discipline is desired.

The director maintains high standards of quality and customer service while ensuring compliance with New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) and Department of Health (DOH) requirements. The role leads, supervises, and trains staff to provide a safe, positive, nurturing, and educational child-care experience. It also oversees center operations, budgeting, tuition payments, curriculum, quality assessments, developmental monitoring, family and community engagement, and facility maintenance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field.
• Meet all New York State Office of Children and Family Services requirements for a Child Care Center Director.
• Demonstrated understanding of child development, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, and center management.
• Proficiency with classroom assessment tools, including ITERS and ECERS.
• Oral, auditory, and written communication skills appropriate for interacting with children and adults.
• Ability to use typical office technology and applications, including Word, Excel, Google, Daxko, and Lillio.
• At least 3 years of experience working with children in a group setting, including at least 2 years in a teaching or supervisory role.
• Pass mandated background checks and clearances, including fingerprinting, SCR, medical clearance, and tuberculosis testing.
• CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications, and Directors Health and Safety Training, or obtain these within 30 days.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Previous experience as a Child Care Center Director preferred.
• Familiarity with Continuity of Care Classrooms.
• Experience implementing emergent, play-based curriculum.
• Experience implementing positive guidance and knowledge and skills in Conscious Discipline.

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with NYS OCFS and DOH standards and lead inspections and licensing renewals.
• Recruit, hire, train, and coach staff, fostering high-quality classroom practice and ongoing professional growth.
• Assist with creating and managing the center’s annual budget, monitor enrollment, payroll, supplies, and equipment targets, oversee the budget, and oversee tuition payments.
• Oversee planning and implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum emphasizing hands-on, creative, discovery-based learning, physical activity, and sensory exploration.
• Use assessment tools such as ITERS and ECERS to evaluate and improve classroom environments, interactions, communication, and staff performance.
• Ensure staff can recognize and support developmental milestones and create individual developmental plans when needed.
• Build and maintain relationships and ongoing communication with parents, and represent the center in the early childhood community and broader community.
• Oversee and coordinate cleaning and maintenance of the child-care facility, playgrounds, and grounds.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager