Assistant Childcare Director

Socket.dev; Dedham (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) employer match

Life insurance & disability coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Tuition/professional development Reimb

Career growth & development

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

Babilou Family US is seeking an Assistant Director to support the Certified Teacher and maintain a safe, nurturing environment for children across our early education programs. You will lead classroom operations, supervise staff, implement Sustainable Education practices, engage families, and help ensure licensing compliance while contributing to school culture and growth.

The role emphasizes leadership, curriculum implementation, budgeting, training, and collaboration with the school leadership

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
• Director state credentials and strong knowledge of state regulations and licensing standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage budgets and drive enrollment growth.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily classroom operations and supervision.
• Support safety, compliance, and quality standards.
• Oversee and support family engagement and communications.
• Lead and mentor staff, including hiring, training, and performance feedback.
• Act as a leadership representative in the absence of the School Director.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Communication

Child development knowledge

Education

Director state credentials

Job description

Are You Ready to Make an Immediate Impact?

Babilou Family US is part of the global Babilou Family network and brings a local, community-focused approach to early childhood education through our Little Sprouts, Building Blocks, and Heartworks schools. We are looking for a proactive and collaborative team member who will support our mission and contribute meaningfully to this role.

As an Assistant Director, you will play a vital role in supporting the Certified Teacher and ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. You will assist in daily classroom operations, child supervision, curriculum implementation, sustainable education practices, and family interaction while building strong relationships with colleagues and contributing to a positive school culture.

Our work is guided by our educational approach, Sustainable Education®, which bridges research and daily practice to help children thrive and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re in what we like to call the science of children. Everything we do is rooted in research about how young minds grow— how they learn, connect, and build the skills that last a lifetime. We also lead our HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. This guiding framework fosters an environment where educators, children, families, and partners feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow.

What We Will Achieve Together:

• We will provide children with a safe, organized, and nurturing classroom environment.
• We will support high quality learning experiences guided by daily lesson plans.
• We will integrate sustainable education practices into daily routines and learning experiences.
• We will build strong and trusting relationships with children, families, and staff.
• We will maintain consistent safety, compliance, and quality standards.
• We will support your professional growth through training and ongoing collaboration.

What you’ll do:

Classroom Support

• Assist the classroom teachers in delivering daily lesson plans and learning activities.
• Help ensure the classroom remains clean, organized, and safe.
• Support the implementation and oversight of sustainable education practices, including environmentally responsible routines, age-appropriate sustainability concepts, and stewardship habits within the classroom.

KPIs

• Complete all assigned classroom tasks daily
• Maintain zero major safety incidents annually
• Receive positive feedback from the lead teacher and through observations

Child Supervision and Development

• Supervise children during activities, meals, transitions, and outdoor play.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining full responsibility to recognize, document, and immediately report any suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
• Support individual developmental needs and help children achieve age-appropriate milestones.

KPIs

• Adhere 100 percent to child safety protocols
• Document observations for at least 90 percent of assigned children monthly

Family Interaction

• Greet families and support daily communication as directed by the Certified Teacher.
• Participate in conferences and family events when requested.

KPIs

• Respond to delegated parent inquiries within 24 hours
• Participate in at least two-family engagement events per year

Professional Development

• Attend all required training and maintain certifications.
• Collaborate with the teaching team for continuous improvement, including learning opportunities tied to sustainable education initiatives.

KPIs

• Complete 100 percent of annual training requirements
• Participate in at least one professional development activity per quarter

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Exercises independent judgment in daily decision-making related to school operations, staff support, safety, and classroom quality.
• Assists with the supervision and direction of school staff, contributing to hiring, training, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Acts as a management representative in the absence of the School Director, supporting the leadership of the overall school program.
• Has authority to recommend personnel actions, including staff assignments, scheduling changes, disciplinary recommendations, and staffing adjustments.
• Makes decisions that directly impact school operations, including compliance, curriculum implementation, and family communication workflows.
• Performs administrative and leadership duties that require specialized knowledge of early childhood education, regulatory compliance, and center operations.
• Regularly engages in non-manual work related to business operations, including documentation, compliance audits, enrollment oversight support, and center preparedness.
• Expected to manage time independently to fulfill leadership responsibilities without reliance on a set number of hours worked.
• Supports operational functions tied to revenue, occupancy, staffing ratios, and school-wide performance metrics, demonstrating responsibility for key business outcomes.
• Holds a primary role in maintaining school licensure standards, ensuring the site’s continual compliance with state regulations, safety policies, and accreditation guidelines.

Required & Preferred Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
• Director state credentials
• Strong knowledge of state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage budgets and drive enrollment growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business (optional but beneficial).
• Prior experience leading school-level operational improvement or quality initiatives.
• Director state credentials

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business (optional but beneficial).
• Prior experience leading school-level operational improvement or quality initiatives.
• Director state credentials

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

Work Environment

• Active classroom environment with regular interaction with children, families, and team members
• Movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces throughout the day
• Collaborative setting with consistent communication and teamwork

Physical Requirements

• The Assistant Director role requires active involvement in both administrative and classroom environments. To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, the following physical abilities are required:
• Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75 percent of the workday.
• Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day to engage with children and support staff.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasional assistance with children’s belongings.
• Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running, outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.
• Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs. Ability to follow and model all safety procedures.
• All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

What we offer:

• Up to 50% child care tuition discount.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective on your first day of employment.
• Free First Stop Health membership, providing 24/7 access to virtual primary care, urgent care, and short-term mental health support.
• 401(k) retirement plan with annual discretionary employer match contribution.
• Optional life insurance and short/long-term disability coverage, helping provide financial protection and peace of mind.
• Performance-based pay, including increases tied to certification and/or degree completion.
• Career growth and professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and our dedicated CHILDConference.
• Generous paid time off and holiday benefits, including an annual Winter Break closure between Christmas and New Year's so employees can enjoy additional time with family and friends.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering confidential resources and support for mental health, financial wellness, work-life balance, and other personal needs.
• Employee referral bonus program, because great people know great people! Earn bonuses for helping us build an exceptional team.
• Additional lifestyle and fringe benefits, including tuition and professional development reimbursement, pet insurance, and other programs designed to support you and your family.

Closing:

Babilou Family US is part of a global network of 1,100 early education and child care centers. We provide quality early education and child care across 42 New England schools. Through the experience and talents of nearly 900 early education professionals and in partnership with nearly 4,000 families, we are on a meaningful journey to create optimal learning spaces where children ages 0-5 can learn, grow, and thrive.

Our teams, whether at our home office or inside our schools, are change makers – they inspire, create, model, and most importantly make thisa great placeto work.AtBabilou Family USwe are consistently recruiting,retaining, and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity within the communities inwhich weoperate.Our focus on equity and inclusionallowsus to develop a broader scope of ideas and approaches, offering a collaborative and dynamic educational experience for the youngest members of society.