Assistant Director

The Goddard School of Philadelphia (Spring Garden), PA; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Goddard School of Philadelphia (Spring Garden), PA is seeking an Assistant Director to support the daily operation of the school. You will work closely with children, teachers, families, and the leadership team to ensure a high-quality educational experience.

This hands-on leadership role spends 35% or more of the day in classrooms, serves as the Director on Duty, and helps implement the Wonder of Learning curriculum and COR Assessments while mentoring faculty and building strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field, per PA pathways.
• Alternate qualifications require related credits and classroom experience.
• Must meet Pennsylvania CPSL clearances.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily rhythm of the building as Director on Duty.
• Provide hands-on classroom support and step into classrooms as needed.
• Support a safe, inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.
• Assist with licensing, health and safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor and train faculty and build strong relationships with families and staff.
• Collaborate with leadership on policies and school operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Relationship-building

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

Bachelor’s degree in child development

Associate’s degree in related field + 2 years experience

Associate’s degree in another field + 30 related credit hours + 3 years experience

Job description

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

The Assistant Director supports the daily operation of the school while working closely with children, teachers, families, and the leadership team. This is a hands‑on leadership position, with 35% or more of the day typically spent in classrooms supporting children and faculty. The Assistant Director serves as the school’s Director on Duty, responding to classroom, staff, family, and operational needs throughout the day.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the school’s Director on Duty and oversee the daily rhythm of the building.
• Provide hands‑on classroom support and step into classrooms when additional support is needed.
• Support a safe, inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.
• Assist with implementation of the Wonder of Learning curriculum and COR Assessments.
• Support classroom activities and individualized, child‑centered learning.
• Mentor, support, onboard, and assist with training faculty.
• Build positive relationships with children, families, staff, and community partners.
• Greet families and respond to questions or concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies, particularly situations involving children.
• Assist with licensing, health and safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Support accurate record‑keeping and organized school operations.
• Assist with family events, education workshops, meetings, and community engagement.
• Collaborate with the leadership team on policies, school improvement, and daily operations.

Qualifications & Requirements

The Assistant Director must meet applicable Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requirements and the following:

• Pennsylvania Group Supervisor Qualifications — 55 Pa. Code §3270.35

Because this position spends significant time directly in the classroom, candidates must meet Group Supervisor qualifications through one of the following pathways:

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or human services; or
• Bachelor’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 1 year of experience working with children; or
• Associate’s degree in a related field plus 2 years of experience working with children; or
• Associate’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 3 years of experience working with children.

Additional requirements include

• Required Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) clearances.
• Completion of required Pennsylvania onboarding and annual training.
• If serving as a qualified substitute for the Director during an absence, the candidate must also meet applicable Director qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.34.
• Strong communication, relationship‑building, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to move comfortably between hands‑on classroom support and administrative/leadership responsibilities.
• Ability to handle crisis situations and respond immediately to emergencies.
• Ability to hear conversational speech, with or without a hearing aid.
• Ability to see and read newsprint, with or without corrective lenses.
• Ability to speak and be understood under normal circumstances.
• Ability to lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to use arms, hands, legs, and feet, with or without corrective devices, including the ability to evacuate the building during an emergency.

Reports to: Onsite Owner