Regional Director

First Learning•Buffalo, NY

14d

About The Position

The Regional Director oversees program quality, administration, compliance, and staff supervision across Care-a-lot Child Care centers. The role ensures centers follow company policies, New York State childcare licensing regulations, governmental requirements, and applicable state and national accreditation standards, including QUALITYstarsNY. The Regional Director supports high-quality, age- and developmentally appropriate programs centered on learning through play; oversees QUALITYstarsNY, training, and Aspire across centers; supports accreditation efforts and the implementation of systems such as the Pyramid Model; and helps integrate acquired facilities and hire administrative staff. The position uses data to measure center performance, communicates project updates and expectations, protects confidential information, and supports classrooms and employees as needed. The Regional Director may support centers when a Director or Assistant Director is absent and may serve in place of other staff as necessary. The role also requires ongoing professional development, including 15 hours of early childhood training within the first six months and each year thereafter. Additional responsibilities may be assigned by management.

Requirements

Knowledge of New York State childcare regulations.
Knowledge of child development, early childhood education programming, and national accreditation criteria.
Knowledge of and ability to supervise developmentally appropriate practices and age-appropriate activities.
Knowledge of first aid procedures.
Effective, professional, timely, courteous, and tactful oral and written communication skills.
Effective supervisory skills and ability to serve as a role model.
Ability to maintain positive relationships with children, co-workers, and parents.
Ability to use sound judgment and tact.
Ability to lead and motivate a team.
Ability to organize, problem-solve, and respond to emergencies effectively.
Knowledge of community resources.
Flexibility, especially in scheduling and practice to respond to program needs.
Creativity and patience.
Ability to lift approximately 30 pounds from the floor to a waist-high table.
Ability to reach a child 20–30 feet away within 30 seconds.
Ability to crouch to a child's height, maintain eye contact at the child's level, and sit on the floor for extended periods.
Good health confirmed by a physician's statement and proof of being free of tuberculosis.
New York State Registry clearance.
Criminal History Fingerprint clearance.
A bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field, or a NYS Administrator Credential, plus at least one year each of teaching and supervisory experience; alternatively, an associate degree in ECE or a related field, or a Child Development Associate credential, plus at least two years each of teaching and supervisory experience and a plan of study leading to a bachelor's degree or NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential.
Demonstrated commitment to and interest in professional growth through education, work experience, and involvement with the early childhood community.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience with office management or financial record keeping.

Responsibilities

Ensure centers adhere to Care-a-lot Child Care policies and procedures and New York State childcare licensing regulations.
Ensure centers comply with governmental laws and state mandates, including Health Department and CACFP requirements.
Maintain program quality in accordance with state and national accreditation standards, specifically QUALITYstarsNY.
Ensure centers implement high-quality, age- and developmentally appropriate, open-ended programs that support learning through play.
Oversee QUALITYstarsNY across all centers, ensuring compliance, readiness for recertification, and timely certification of new centers.
Oversee training across centers to ensure compliance with NYS/OCFS requirements.
Oversee Aspire for all centers, including monitoring accounts and onboarding new locations.
Select and train centers in an accredited curriculum.
Lead company efforts to achieve accreditation.
Evaluate and implement systems such as the Pyramid Model.
Support the integration of acquired facilities and the hiring of administrative staff.
Meet agreed-upon deadlines and provide timely project updates.
Use data to establish and regularly measure center performance.
Communicate frequently and effectively with staff and protect confidential information.
Provide staff support to classrooms and employees as necessary.
Participate in professional conferences, ongoing training, and educational opportunities to remain current in the field.
Complete 15 hours of early childhood training within the first six months and every year thereafter.
Support centers in the absence of the Director or Assistant Director.
Train administrative staff in their areas of responsibility and monitor their performance to assess training effectiveness.
Communicate effectively and directly with all staff.
Serve in the absence of other staff as necessary.
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by management.