Assistant Director of Early Childhood (Jacob Duman at Lake County JCC)

Reports to (title): Early Childhood Site Director

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director of Early Childhood is responsible for working with the Early Childhood Site Director on the management, supervision, planning, development, and growth strategies for the Jacob Duman Early Childhood program at the Lake County JCC. The Assistant Site Director plays a key role in helping support the vision, goals and strategy of the agency and ensures the highest quality program is offered to the community we serve.  The Assistant Site Director will develop strong, positive relationships with existing families and steward prospective families through enrollment and engagement.

Leadership

• Work with Site Director to review and create strategic plans that allow the program to meet agency goals. Meet regularly with supervisor to review and continually reassess strategic and tactical goals.

• Understand and communicate JCC mission and impact to staff and program participants.
• Partner with the Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp Director to develop and execute family and joint engagement opportunities to increase enrollment in both programs.
• Partner with the Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp Director to seamlessly transition between children/families between both programs.

Curriculum & Program Excellence

• With Site Director, ensure curriculum meets the highest standards of excellence in both general and Jewish early childhood education, ensuring compliance with DCFS and JCC
• Spend time weekly in specified classrooms; provide support, guidance and feedback to staff and ensure program environments are safe, secure and clean.
• Annually support EC Site Director in evaluating site performance, growth strategies, competition, customer feedback and pricing/product strategies.
• With EC Site Director ensure that the program provides a dynamic Jewish context for children to learn about themselves, Jewish values, their community and the world.
• Confer with teachers, Social Service staff, parents and specialists to be alert to the needs for early intervention: responsible for implementation of recommendations of Social Service team.
• Coordinate with the EC Site Director supervising and reviewing staff preparation of Parent-Teacher Conferences; participate in conferences when appropriate and call in Social Services when necessary.

Family Engagement

• Be a warm and welcoming presence daily for parents and children at openings, closings, drop off and pick up times.
• Actively recruit new families and sell program. Give tours and proactively seek opportunities to attend community gatherings where information can be shared, etc.
• Assist Site Director with Family Involvement Group (FIG) and room parent duties, ensuring that parents are actively involved in the school community. Build retention of families through creating community and connections for Lake County JCC families.
• Work with Site Director to plan and implement parent orientation and open houses.

Staff Management

• Assist Site Director in developing staffing plans for all programs throughout the year (approx. 9 classrooms). Support teaching staff with arranging and providing for all substitute coverage daily.  
• As needed and under the direction of the Site Director, interview, hire, train and supervise teaching staff. Create annual goals, staff development and training plans and evaluation processes (both formal and informal for specific classrooms under the guidance of Site Director).
• With Director, work to build collaborative and collegial teaching teams where everyone shares similar values, goals and objectives. When necessary, act as a mediator for staff teams; successfully transmit tools and strategies that will allow for strong team development and self-resolution of issues.
• With Site Director, plan and conduct staff meetings that are professional, regularly scheduled, well attended and provide staff development opportunities to best meet needs of staff. Create a collegial environment and build a warm community among all staff.
• Work with Site Director to plan and implement staff orientation and training.

Business Operations & JCC Partnerships

• Proactively develop and maintain collaborative relations with agency colleagues in order to create seamless program continuity, address challenges and develop effective implementation plans for increasing JCC’s impact those we serve.
• With Early Childhood and Day Camp Site Directors, as well as program colleagues from across the agency, develop and implement family programming and events to build community, foster education, and provide a link to the greater JCC Chicago agency. When possible, attend program and be an ambassador for Early Childhood.
• Work with Site Directors to oversee the site’s risk management and security plan and train staff.
• Maintain the overall function of Remini for the center. Train teachers as needed. Contribute to Directors weekly letter.
• Assist Early Childhood Site Director in budget oversight and compliance; proactively learn how to develop a budget and maintain it.
• Assist Early Childhood Site Director with month end accounting.
• With Early Childhood Site Director, provide oversight of accurate maintenance of children and staff records.
• Order food for center (snacks and lunches), as well as supplies.

Essential Job Duties (Physical duties):

• Lift/move children up to 40 lbs.
• Demonstrate physical stamina and agility required to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.
• Ability to operate equipment such as phone, computer keyboard, calculator and standard office equipment.
• Repetitive movement of arms and hands to operate computer, keyboard and mouse.
• Vision: must be able to distinguish between colors, shades and brightness with ability to focus.
• Move from sitting (chair and floor) to standing position easily and quickly.
• Stand for long periods of time and be able to run and actively engage physically with children.
• React with physical and mental alertness in emergency situations.
• Use hands for grasping classroom equipment and play material.
• Supervise children by sight and sound.
• Diaper children in accordance with DCFS and NAEYC requirements.

Days/Hours/Travel: 
Monday through Friday. 7.5 hours per day, varied based on opening/closing schedule as determined by Director. Occasional weekend and evening hours per program needs. Minimal travel for meetings, professional development.

Direct Reports (titles and FTE%):

N/A

Indirect Reports (titles and FTE%)

N/A

Compensation:

$60,000 - $66,000

Job Category:

Management

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Elementary Education or related field.
• Minimum of 21 hours in Early Childhood college course work.
• Master’ degree in Early Childhood Education highly preferred.

Experience:

• At least 2 years supervisory experience or program management in an Early Childhood environment.
• Experience working within NAEYC, DCFS and Municipal Health Dept. guidelines preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with emergent curriculum and outdoor classrooms.
• Experience within a Reggio Emilia inspired school, highly preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to demonstrate and lead with JCC Chicago’s Four Core Values: Self-Leadership and Accountability, Creativity and Innovation, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Customer Service.
• Outstanding customer service skills with a demonstrated passion for children and families.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with proven ability for follow up & follow through.
• Demonstrate the ability to learn to develop and maintain budgets.
• Be flexible and adaptable and able to work collaboratively with EC and agency-wide staff, parents and community members.
• Demonstrated intermediate level proficiency in MS Word, Excel with the ability to learn other technology as needed.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Jewish culture and values with previous Jewish programming experience.
• Ability and willingness to travel to various JCC Chicago program locations.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license for at least 24 months, proof of auto insurance (with a minimum $250,000 liability).
• Ability and willingness to travel to various JCC Chicago program locations.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license for at least 24 months, proof of auto insurance (with a minimum $250,000 liability).
• Must have the ability and willingness to work a flexible work schedule.

Employee Benefits: 

JCC Chicago offers an array of benefits to full-time union staff, depending on number of hours worked, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Participation in a retirement plan with matching contributions
• Life insurance and short/long term disability coverage
• Vacation time, sick time, and paid observance of secular and Jewish religious holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Uniquely JCC Benefits

• Free fitness membership at JCC Chicago community centers and aquatics facilities
• Meaningful discounts on JCC Chicago programming, including day and overnight camp, Early Childhood, and event rentals
• Professional development opportunities with the JUF/Jewish Federation
• Tuition Assistance Program