Assistant Nursery Director

Brown Missionary Baptist Church; Southaven (MS); On-site; USD 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown Missionary Baptist Church seeks an Assistant Nursery Director to implement approved plans, support staff and volunteers, and provide direct childcare as needed. In the Director’s absence, maintain continuity of operations while escalating decisions to the Director.

Responsibilities include coordinating schedules, ensuring screenings, and safeguarding child safety with adherence to church policies and procedures. On-site work during services and events is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and caring experience in nursery settings.
• Background screening and child-protection training as required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with opening/closing nursery areas, prepare classrooms, and organize supplies for services and events.
• Execute Nursery Director-approved lesson plans and activities; monitor progress and report to the Director.
• Coordinate volunteers and nursery leads; ensure screenings and training are completed before placement.
• Provide direct childcare following safety policies and assist with parent communication and administration.

Skills

Organizational skills

Dependable attendance

Sound judgment

Patience

Communication with families

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Child Development Associate credential (preferred)

Tools

Email

Google Docs

Google Sheets

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant Nursery Director reports to the Nursery Director and carries out the Directors approved plans,

activities, assignments, and ministry procedures. The Assistant ensures assigned tasks are implemented

effectively and efficiently, supports the Nursery Leads and volunteers, provides direct childcare as needed, and

communicates progress, concerns, and resource needs to the Director. In the Directors absence, the Assistant

maintains continuity of previously approved operations without assuming independent decision-making.

Role and Responsibilities

The Assistant Nursery Director reports to the Nursery Director and is responsible for carrying out planned

activities, assignments, and daily nursery operations as directed. In the Nursery Director’s absence, the

Assistant helps ensure that established plans and procedures continue and communicates matters requiring

decisions to the Nursery Director. The Assistant does not independently make hiring, compensation, policy, or

program changes. Performs other related tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Nursery Director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Nursery Operations and Director Support

Assist with opening and closing nursery areas, preparing classrooms, and organizing supplies for scheduled

services, programs, and approved events.

Execute the Nursery Directors approved lesson plans, ministry activities, work assignments, and operational

instructions; monitor completion and provide timely status updates to the Director.

Track inventory, request supplies before foreseeable shortages, and route purchases and facility needs

through approved channels.

2. Staff and Volunteer Coordination

Communicate the Nursery Directors approved schedules, room assignments, task lists, and coverage

arrangements to the three Nursery Leads and assigned volunteers; report vacancies or proposed

adjustments to the Director for approval.

Verify that assigned workers and volunteers have completed required screening and training before

placement in childcare duties.

Reinforce the Directors approved expectations and help orient volunteers to established procedures.

Document concerns and refer personnel or operational decisions to the Director. If safe coverage is

unavailable, pause intake as needed to protect children and immediately notify the Director.

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Continued

3. Direct Childcare and Ministry Activities

Provide attentive, developmentally appropriate care, including comforting, feeding, diapering, toileting

assistance, and support for safe transitions.

Use approved Bible stories, songs, prayer, play, and learning activities appropriate to the children's ages and

developmental abilities.

Use positive redirection and nurturing guidance. Do not use corporal punishment, humiliation, intimidation,

or other prohibited discipline.

Follow authorized allergy, feeding, and individualized care instructions; elevate concerns and support needs

to the Director without diagnosing children or exceeding assigned training.

4. Child Safety, Health, and Reporting

Maintain active supervision, required caregiver-to-child ratios, and BMBC-approved adult-coverage

safeguards; do not leave children unattended.

Follow secure check-in and check-out procedures, verify authorized pickup, and maintain accurate child

counts during all transitions.

Apply approved infant safe-sleep practices, including back placement for sleep, a firm and flat approved

sleep surface, and a sleep space free of loose bedding and soft objects. [1]

Follow handwashing, diapering, cleaning, sanitizing, illness-response, and allergy-control procedures; remove

unsafe equipment from use and report hazards.

Respond to injuries, illness, and emergencies within training; activate emergency assistance when needed.

Administer medication only when authorized under approved policy and training.

Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate external authorities as required by

law, complete required follow-up, and notify designated church leadership without delaying or substituting

for the external report. Do not conduct an independent investigation. [2]

Promptly document incidents and near misses, preserve factual information, and follow emergency

evacuation and family-reunification procedures.

5. Parent Communication and Administration

Welcome families, explain nursery procedures, and communicate respectfully about children's care, routines,

and concerns; elevate unresolved or serious issues to the Director.

Maintain accurate attendance, caregiver schedules, incident records, supply records, and assigned reports in

approved systems.

Protect child, family, volunteer, and employee information. Share information only through authorized

channels and obtain required permission before using photographs or videos.

Carry out approved family engagement activities, administrative assignments, and other related tasks as

assigned by the Nursery Director. Refer proposed changes or exceptions to the Director for approval.

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Qualifications and Working Expectations

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent and at least one year of relevant experience caring for infants or young

children in a church nursery, childcare, or early childhood setting.

Demonstrated Christian character and a commitment to BMBCmission, beliefs, ministry standards, and the

well-being of children and families.

Ability to complete required background screening and child-protection training before beginning assigned

childcare duties.

Current infant/child CPR and first-aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification before assignment to

direct-care duties; maintain required renewals.

Strong organizational skills, dependable attendance, sound judgment, patience, discretion, and the ability to

communicate calmly with families and caregivers.

Ability to use email, calendars, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and approved church check-in or recordkeeping

systems; training may be provided for church-specific systems.

Preferred Qualifications

A Child Development Associate credential or coursework in early childhood education, child development, or a

related field; experience coordinating volunteers, supporting a ministry leader, maintaining childcare records,

or working in a church nursery; and experience supporting children with varied developmental needs.

Schedule and Work Environment

Work is primarily on-site and includes assigned Sunday services, midweek programming, evening or weekend

activities, and designated special events. The Nursery Director establishes the schedule in coordination with

Human Resources. The employee must be ready for duty at the assigned reporting time and accurately record

all time worked. The setting includes noise, frequent interruptions, and exposure to routine childhood illnesses

and bodily fluids.

Physical and Functional Requirements

Essential duties involve standing, walking, bending, kneeling, sitting at child level, and safely lifting, carrying, or

assisting infants and young children during routine care and emergencies. The employee must be able to

actively supervise children, respond promptly to safety needs, and use approved protective equipment and safe

handling methods. Essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation;

assistance and equipment should be used as appropriate.

Professional and Ministry Expectations

Model compassion, teamwork, accountability, and respect. Follow the Nursery Director’s instructions, BMBC

policies, and established nursery procedures; protect confidentiality; maintain appropriate boundaries;

participate in required meetings and training; and promptly communicate safety or operational concerns.

Perform additional duties as assigned by the Nursery Director.