Assistant Director

The Goddard School of Fairfield (Little Falls Road), NJ; Fairfield (NJ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Affiliation with leaders

Paid time off

Training & development

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Job summary

The Goddard School of Fairfield (Little Falls Road) is seeking an Assistant Director to join our leadership team. This entry-level leadership role involves substantial classroom time, actively supporting teachers and students while developing administrative and leadership skills.

You will work closely with the executive team to mentor staff, ensure curriculum quality, and maintain high standards of safety and operations. Previous director experience is not required, and mentorship is provided.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of early childhood education experience
• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, or related field preferred; CDA or extensive relevant experience considered
• Lead Teacher experience strongly valued
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred, but NOT required
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask and take initiative
• Positive, dependable, professional, and team-oriented attitude
• Willingness to learn and grow into a leadership role
• Must genuinely enjoy working directly with children and teachers in classrooms

Responsibilities

• Spend significant time in classrooms supporting teachers and children
• Observe classroom practices and provide coaching and guidance
• Support implementation of our Wonder of Learning curriculum
• Assist with classroom management and behavior guidance
• Monitor classroom environments, curriculum displays, and learning documentation
• Model effective teaching practices and assist in classrooms as needed
• Conduct classroom health and safety inspections
• Support licensing compliance and quality assurance initiatives
• Monitor required classroom documentation and postings
• Maintain incident and illness logs
• Assist with emergency drills and safety procedures
• Serve as a daily resource for classroom teachers
• Assist with onboarding, mentoring, and training faculty
• Support classroom coverage and staffing needs
• Promote positive staff morale and a collaborative school culture
• Communicate professionally with families and faculty
• Assist leadership with daily operational and administrative responsibilities

Job description

Benefits:

• Bonus opportunities
• Affiliation with leaders in the early childhood education industry
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement

Pay:

$23.00 per hour

Schedule:

Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM

Benefits:

Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Professional Development Opportunities, Supportive Leadership Team

About Us

The Goddard School of Fairfield is a nationally recognized early childhood education program serving children from infancy through Pre-K. Our school has earned numerous recognitions, including Circle of Excellence status, Cognia Accreditation, and recognition as one of the top-performing Goddard Schools nationwide. Our On-Site Owner, Executive Director, and Assistant Directors work closely together and are actively involved in daily school operations, classroom support, and faculty development.

Position Overview

Are you an experienced early childhood educator ready to take the next step beyond the classroom? Or someone with some leadership experience looking to continue growing your skills? We are seeking an organized, motivated, and relationship-focused Assistant Director to join our leadership team. This is an ENTRY-LEVEL LEADERSHIP POSITION ideal for an experienced Lead Teacher ready to transition into administration or an emerging leader seeking additional experience and mentorship.

IMPORTANT: This is a hands-on leadership position that involves spending a significant portion of each day IN THE CLASSROOMS. While administrative responsibilities are part of the role, this is NOT primarily a desk or office position. Our Assistant Director works directly alongside teachers and children throughout the day, observing classrooms, supporting curriculum implementation, assisting with classroom management, providing teacher guidance, and helping maintain high standards of quality and safety. The ideal candidate enjoys being actively involved in classrooms, building relationships with faculty and children, and supporting teachers while developing their administrative and leadership skills.

Previous Assistant Director experience is NOT required. We value initiative, strong classroom experience, professionalism, and a willingness to learn. You will receive guidance and mentorship from an experienced leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

Classroom Support & Educational Leadership

• Spend significant time in classrooms supporting teachers and children
• Observe classroom practices and provide coaching and guidance
• Support implementation of our Wonder of Learning® curriculum
• Assist with classroom management and behavior guidance
• Monitor classroom environments, curriculum displays, and learning documentation
• Model effective teaching practices and assist in classrooms as needed

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Conduct classroom health and safety inspections
• Support licensing compliance and quality assurance initiatives
• Monitor required classroom documentation and postings
• Maintain incident and illness logs
• Assist with emergency drills and safety procedures

Faculty Support & School Operations

• Serve as a daily resource for classroom teachers
• Assist with onboarding, mentoring, and training faculty
• Support classroom coverage and staffing needs
• Promote positive staff morale and a collaborative school culture
• Communicate professionally with families and faculty
• Assist leadership with daily operational and administrative responsibilities

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of early childhood education experience
• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, or related field preferred; CDA or extensive relevant experience considered
• Lead Teacher experience strongly valued
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred, but NOT required
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask and take initiative
• Positive, dependable, professional, and team-oriented attitude
• Willingness to learn and grow into a leadership role
• Must genuinely enjoy working directly with children and teachers in classrooms

Why Join Our Leadership Team?

• Transition Into Leadership: An excellent next step for experienced teachers ready to grow beyond their own classroom.
• Hands-On Role: Remain actively involved with children and teachers rather than spending your day behind a desk.
• Mentorship: Learn alongside an experienced, supportive, and highly involved leadership team.
• Professional Growth: Develop skills in curriculum oversight, faculty coaching, compliance, and school operations.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a nationally recognized school where leadership works together and supports one another.

Ready to Grow Your Career? If you love early childhood education, enjoy supporting teachers, and are ready to begin developing your leadership skills while remaining actively involved in classrooms, we would love to hear from you!