Assistant Director Early Learning

National Children's Center (NCC); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Children’s Center, Inc. in Washington, DC, is seeking an Assistant Director to help manage the Early Learning & Intervention Center, ensuring high-quality staffing, classroom administration, operations, and compliance with Head Start, OSSE licensing, and related funding requirements.

The role supports leadership, oversees daily operations, staff development, and licensing compliance, collaborating with cross-functional teams to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent coursework in ECE or related field.
• Five years of administration and supervision experience in an early childhood program.
• Experience teaching in a center-based early childhood program preferred.
• Knowledge of Head Start standards and licensing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with funders and regulators including Head Start, OSSE, and grants.
• Implement and utilize the site Data Management Information System.
• Collaborate with Health, Nutrition, Mental Health, Education, Family Support, Facilities, and Administration teams to maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Maintain all required state and local licenses for the ELC.
• Supervise classroom staff and coordinate with lead teachers on staff development and performance plans.
• Communicate clearly with staff to support procedures and continuous program improvement.
• Ensure classroom coverage and manage teacher time-off schedules.
• Conduct monthly reflective supervision meetings with supervisees.
• Promote interdisciplinary teamwork and update program policies and procedures.

Skills

Excellent communication

Staff supervision

Multitasking

Professionalism

Diversity & inclusion

Office software proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in ECE or related field

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

National Children’s Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that is one of the region’s largest providers of services for individuals with developmental disabilities, offering an array of services to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and adults in the Washington metropolitan area. Our mission is to provide a lifetime of opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SUMMARY

The Assistant Director is responsible for assisting in the day-to-day management of the early learning and early intervention center, ensuring quality and effectiveness in program staffing, and in classroom administration, operations and compliance, and providing all necessary reports for regulatory and funding compliance. The Assistant Director supports the overall leadership, management, and daily operations of the Early Learning & Intervention Child Development Center. This role ensures full compliance with NAEYC accreditation standards, OSSE licensing regulations, and federal requirements associated with Early Head Start, CACFP, subsidy programs, and other local, state, and national funding streams.

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

The ELC is located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in SE Washington, DC. The center hours are Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm. This position has an annual salary range of $80,000-$90,000 depending on the candidate's skills and experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure effective and full compliance with and reporting to funders and regulators, including Head Start, OSSE, DC Child Protective Services, NAEYC and various private grants.
• Ensure the implementation and utilization of the Data Management Information System at the site.
• Collaborates with all service areas including Health, Nutrition, Mental Health, Education, Family Support, Facilities and Administration. In collaboration with the ELC Administrative Team, ensure the ELC’s facility is a safe, healthy and effective learning environment for children, parents and staff.
• Ensure ELC maintains all required state and local licenses.
• Supervise classroom staff: assistant teachers, teacher aides, and temporary staff. Coordinate closely with lead teachers, instructional coaches and Executive Director related to staff development issues and performance plans.
• Communicate regularly and clearly with staff, ensuring their understanding of procedures, and their engagement in continuous program improvement.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director ensures coverage of classrooms and maintains and manages teacher time off schedules.
• Conduct monthly (minimum) reflective supervision meetings with supervisees.
• Ensure the practice of reflective supervision with all supervisees in order to support their work with children and families.
• Promote interdisciplinary teamwork among staff.
• Ensure that all program policies and procedures are documented fully and updated at appropriate intervals.
• Manage recruiting, hiring, orientation, and retention process for all ELC staff.
• In collaboration with other ELC leadership, develop written program plans with annual and long-range goals, objectives, and implementation plans
• Participate in collaborative work of the site leaders of the national group of ELC Centers, as appropriate.

Qualification Requirements

• Deep understanding of principles and practices of program management and staff supervision; including positive problem solving and effective management of conflicts.
• Highly organized and ability to multitask.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and communication style that demonstrates and fosters cooperation, respect, concern and openness to change
• Consistently embodies highest levels of professionalism.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and Early Head Start and Head Start programs.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice for early care and education.
• Knowledge of city and state licensing requirements.
• Ability to take a systems approach to work and develop appropriate systems to manage and monitor the work.
• Ability to utilize and provide reflective supervision.
• Familiarity with community culture and knowledge of community resources and services.
• Ability to work with diverse staff, families and varied community cultures.
• Advanced knowledge of computer software, including but not limited to Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent coursework in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or related field.
• Five (5) years of administration and supervision experience in an early childhood program, including teaching in a center-based early childhood program, public, private or charter school
• Prior program development, management, and evaluation experience preferred

NCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.