Program Director

Concordia Place • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Director at Concordia Place’s Seeley center leads the program’s day-to-day operations and long-term success. The role ensures children receive a high-quality, developmentally appropriate experience; builds partnerships with families and the community; leads and develops a team of educators; and maintains compliance with city, state, and accreditation standards. The position reports to the Vice President of Program Services.

Concordia Place is a mission-driven organization founded in 1981 that provides multigenerational programs, including early learning, after-school, and teen leadership, in Chicago communities. Its mission is to create involved communities where neighbors can gather, learn, and grow, with a commitment to broadly inclusive opportunity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 24 credits in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Elementary Education, and 9 credits in administration, leadership, or management.
• Illinois Gateways Director credential level 2.
• Early Childhood Education Gateways credential level 5.
• Family Services Gateways credential level 5.
• At least 3 years of experience as a director or assistant director supervising classroom staff in an early learning, preschool, or school-age program serving at least 50 children.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Ability to stand, walk, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear regularly; frequently stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and frequently lift up to 30 pounds, including a child.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual Spanish/English.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and maintain city and state licensing, NAEYC standards and accreditation, and ExceleRate Illinois Gold Circle of Quality.
• Ensure the program and curriculum are whole-child focused, developmentally appropriate, and leading edge.
• Maintain current knowledge of early childhood research and best practices.
• Collaborate with parents to support parenting and a seamless transition between home and center.
• Cultivate parent relationships and support parent engagement efforts.
• Establish clear procedures and monitoring for enrollment, tuition billing, and record-keeping to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Partner with Concordia Place leadership and peers across sites and departments to share best practices, align programs, and deliver a consistent experience for families.
• Ensure facility program spaces reflect a Place of Excellence.
• Lead program recruitment and enrollment, including marketing, open houses, and other events for prospective families.
• Coordinate with marketing and communications to ensure full enrollment.
• Manage program operations within budget, keep tuition accounts current, and maintain full enrollment and appropriate staffing.
• Coordinate with staff to develop and execute fundraising strategies, including helping prepare grant proposals and center-based fundraising efforts.
• Promote the organization through community relationships, events, and online channels.
• Present programs to community groups and develop relationships with key community and program leaders and organizations.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard qualified staff to meet current and future program and organizational needs.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor staff through regular check-ins, classroom observations, and ongoing professional development.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct timely evaluations, and hold staff accountable for licensing, accreditation, and organizational standards.
• Address performance concerns promptly and fairly, including corrective action when needed.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative team culture that promotes staff well-being and retention.
• Ensure staff are fluent in Concordia messaging and branding.

Benefits

• 403(b) retirement savings plan with an employer match
• Vacation days
• Sick days
• One week paid winter holiday
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Floating holidays
• Employer-paid short-term disability
• Employer-paid basic life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Medical insurance with employer contribution
• Voluntary dental insurance
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Voluntary basic life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary Aflac plans
• Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program
• Employee referral program
• Childcare tuition discount for employees
• Quarterly in-service days and professional development resources for teaching staff

What This Job Offers

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