The Early Childhood Assistant Site Director is responsible for working with the Early Childhood Site Director on the management, supervision, planning, development and growth strategies for the Early Childhood program at Beth Emet JCC in Evanston. The Assistant Site Director plays a key role in helping to support the vision, goals and strategy of the EC department 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.
At JCC Chicago, we are focused on growing good kids, building communities, and educating ourselves on the past to make a difference for the future. The largest JCC in North America, JCC Chicago offers a life-affirming journey that builds on the richness and power of Jewish values and continues to reimagine them for a more connected, inspired community.
JCC Chicago is an equal opportunity agency that offers career opportunities, internships, and volunteer roles for all. We are guided by Jewish values – Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), Kavod HaBriyot (Respect for All Human Beings), Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving kindness), Learning, and Innovation. Join us as we build community, support individuals and families, and grow hope through Jewish connections for everyone.
Leadership
- Work with Site Director and the ECS Management Team to review and create strategic plans that allow EC to meet agency goals. Meet regularly with supervisor to review and continually reassess strategic and tactical goals.
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 Site Director ensure that the program provides a dynamic Jewish context for children to learn about themselves, 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 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 assists Site Director to 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 Beth Emet families.
- Work with Site Director to plan and implement parent orientation and open houses to best represent Beth Emet to families.
Staff Management & Engagement
- Assist Site Director in developing staffing plans for all programs throughout the year including substitute coverage.
- Responsible for interviewing, hiring, training, payroll and assisting with supervision of 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 management staff in order to create seamless program continuity, address challenges and develop effective implementation plans for increasing JCC’s impact those we serve. This includes Community Engagement and Apachi Evanston Day Camp staff.
- Work with Site Director to oversee the site’s risk management and security plan and train staff.
- With the Administrative Aide, maintain the overall function of Kaymbu for the center. Train teachers as needed.
- Assist Site Director in budget oversight and compliance.
- Provide oversight of accurate maintenance of children and staff records.
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 requirements.
Days/Hours/Travel:
Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend and evening hours per program needs
Salary:
$55,000 - $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Elementary Education or related field.
- Minimum of 23 hours in Early Childhood college course work.
- Master’ degree in Early Childhood Education highly preferred.
Experience
- At least 2 years supervisory experience in an Early Childhood environment.
- Experience working within 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.
JCC Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, marital status, apparent or non-apparent disability, veteran’s status, or unfavorable discharge from military service in accordance with state and federal laws.