Staffing & Scheduling Manager

First Roots-Wild Roots•Hinesburg, VT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Where great planning helps great teachers do their best work. Are you someone who loves solving the puzzle when there are a dozen moving pieces? Do you naturally think ahead, spot potential problems before they become emergencies and stay calm when Plan A suddenly isn’t going to work? First Roots – Wild Roots is seeking a thoughtful, resourceful and collaborative Staffing & Scheduling Manager to oversee staffing and scheduling across our three early childhood programs. This is not your typical scheduling position. It’s a unique early childhood leadership role that combines workforce planning, problem-solving, decision-making and time spent directly in our programs — all with one important goal: Making sure our classrooms have the people and support they need to thrive. At First Roots – Wild Roots, we know great programs depend on great educators — and great educators need thoughtful systems behind them. As our Staffing & Scheduling Manager, you’ll look at the big picture across FRWR, anticipate staffing needs, balance competing priorities and develop solutions that work for the organization as a whole.

Requirements

Experience in staffing, scheduling, workforce planning, operations management, early childhood program administration or a related field.
Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Confidence making decisions when there are competing priorities and more than one possible solution.
The ability to recognize patterns and turn them into practical solutions.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Comfort using scheduling systems, spreadsheets, databases and other administrative technology.
The ability to maintain confidentiality.
The ability to meet and maintain BFIS requirements to serve at minimum as a Substitute.
The ability to travel between our Hinesburg and Essex Junction locations.
Enjoy solving puzzles involving people, schedules and competing priorities.
Ability to stay calm when plans change.
Comfortable making a decision when there isn't one obvious answer.
Communicate clearly, kindly and confidently.
Instinct to ask: “How can we make this work better?” when seeing recurring problems.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a licensed early childhood program preferred.

Responsibilities

Own staffing and scheduling across FRWR.
Develop and maintain staff schedules across our three programs.
Evaluate staffing needs based on child attendance, employee availability, qualifications, ratios and program priorities.
Respond to call-outs, early departures and changing needs by determining the best coverage solution.
Decide when to use substitutes, flexible staff or move qualified employees between classrooms or programs.
Create coverage plans for PTO, meetings, onboarding, coaching, professional development and planning time.
Communicate schedules and changes clearly and consistently.
Maintain a 2–4 week staffing outlook and anticipate potential coverage challenges.
Identify staffing risks before they become emergencies and develop solutions.
Balance competing needs and make routine staffing decisions independently.
Analyze call-outs, substitute use and recurring staffing challenges to identify patterns.
Recommend improvements to staffing practices, scheduling systems and workforce capacity.
Partner with Program Directors and the Director of Operations & Administration on staffing needs and solutions.
Serve as a flexible organization-wide resource, providing direct classroom or program support as staffing needs require — approximately 15–20 hours per week.
Help cover a classroom, step in during a meeting or break, support onboarding or go where help is most needed.

Benefits

120 hours of PTO per year, prorated from start date.
Three additional paid closure weeks each year — February, July and December.
Paid holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & the day after).
Employer-paid group health insurance.
$1,200/year Employee Benefit Health Reimbursement Account.
Dental and vision coverage available, including 50% employer contribution toward single dental coverage.
Employer-paid short-term disability insurance.
$25,000 employer-paid life insurance.
Up to $500/year tuition reimbursement.
Paid professional development.
Childcare tuition benefits.
Relocation assistance for eligible candidates, including up to $1,000 toward moving expenses and potentially up to 90 days of rent-free housing, based on availability.
Monthly staff lunches and bagel days.
Coffee and snacks.
Branded L.L.Bean gear.
Pickleball.
Access to walking trails.
Our Zen room.
Our in-ground pool!