Child Development Center (CDC) Director - Fargo

Jeremiah Program; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 80,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Jeremiah Program is seeking a dynamic CDC Director to guide day‑to‑day operations of the Child Development Center in Fargo, ND. You will ensure a safe, inclusive learning environment and support child development while aligning with JP’s mission and licensing requirements.

You will lead educators, coach staff through regular feedback, manage budgets, and partner with JP leadership to meet program goals for families and single mothers.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in education or closely related field required or preferred
• Minimum 3+ years of people management experience
• 2+ years’ experience coaching others toward goals in an educational setting
• Possess or be willing to obtain CDC director certification and credentials

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day CDC operations with compliant, safe, inclusive learning environments
• Lead staff scheduling, ratios, and coverage, including substitutes when needed
• Develop and manage annual program budget with leadership, ensuring fiscal accountability
• Recruit families, maintain enrollment, and ensure timely enrollment records
• Monitor data collection and reporting on attendance and child progress with accuracy

Skills

Leadership & supervision

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder engagement

Education

BA/BS in Education or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

ABOUT JEREMIAH PROGRAM

Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. By investing simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her personal and professional goals and the education of her children, she simultaneously reauthors her family’s outcome as well her community’s - proof points matter. In 2026, JP actively served over 3,000 moms and children across nine cities in Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, MN; and St. Paul, MN. Learn more about JP at jeremiahprogram.org.

Brief Description

Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. By investing simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her personal and professional goals and the education of her children, she simultaneously reauthors her family’s outcome as well her community’s - proof points matter. In 2026, JP actively served over 3,000 moms and children across nine cities in Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, MN; and St. Paul, MN. Learn more about JP at jeremiahprogram.org.

Position Summary

The Child Development Center (CDC) Director guides day-to-day center operations and builds a relationship-rich, data-informed culture that supports child development. The Director maintains a safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environment, supports the growth of enrolled children, and ensures operations reflect the mission, values, vision, and purpose of the child development program. The CDC Director ensures compliance with center requirements, coaches and develops educators, and maintains a strong understanding of classroom practices, family needs, and center operations. In partnership with JP leadership, the Director uses data, feedback, and collaborative problem‑solving to design a center that responds to the needs of single mothers and their children. The ideal candidate will have experience managing an early childhood center and familiarity with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) childcare regulations.

Primary Responsibilities

CDC Operations

• Ensure CDC operations run smoothly and efficiently, with clear procedures, accurate documentation, and consistent adherence to licensing, health, safety, and supervision requirements.
• Prepare staff schedules, manage classroom ratios and time‑off requests equitably, and coordinate timely communication and coverage for teacher absences. May serve as a classroom teacher substitute when needed.
• Develop and manage the annual program budget with the Executive Director, balancing operating revenues, staffing ratios, and expenses while ensuring accurate financial tracking and responsible stewardship of resources.
• Recruit and enroll families and maintain enrollment to meet CDC goals through timely follow‑up, clear enrollment procedures, and current enrollment records.
• Collect, record, analyze, and report required program data, including attendance and developmental progress, and ensure teachers maintain timely, accurate, and confidential records in assigned systems.
• Leverage available volunteer and partnership resources that support CDC operational needs when applicable.
• Manage ongoing CDC finances, including collecting and recording family payments, coordinating with families and Family Services on subsidies and funding resources, and collaborating with the Campus Support Team (CST) Finance Team on accurate tuition billing.
• Maintain the Parent Aware quality rating by staying current on requirements, tracking progress toward re‑rating goals, and preparing documentation and future submissions.

Child Development & Early Childhood Education

• Lead and oversee the center’s instructional and developmental program through regular classroom observations and review of teaching practices, teacher‑child interactions, and learning environments.
• Lead the center toward the ambitious performance goals established by center leaders and the Sr. VP of Family Programming, supporting meaningful progress for every child in alignment with their developmental needs.
• Regularly analyze assessment results, classroom observations, and other program data with teachers to identify patterns, adjust instructional strategies, and support each child’s development and progress.
• Ensure required and recommended assessments are completed and that families receive timely, clear communication about their children’s development, progress, and support needs.
• Build trusting relationships with families across lines of difference, listen to concerns without judgment, and coach CDC staff in responsive, culturally respectful communication and collaborative problem‑solving. Serve as a liaison between families and CDC staff as needed.
• Conduct required screening of CDC participants using the ASQ tool and partner with teaching staff and families to develop, implement, and review individualized growth plans.

Team Management

• Recruit, onboard, and supervise CDC staff, establishing clear expectations and procedures that support Second‑Generation programming goals and licensing requirements.
• Formally supervise, observe, and evaluate all center staff, including classroom teachers, a classroom float, and a Center Coach, using clear expectations and evidence from practice to provide consistent feedback.
• Coach and develop all center staff through weekly coaching meetings and classroom observations, providing timely, specific feedback, modeling skills as needed, and following up on development goals.
• Maintain clear, timely, and objective records of staff feedback, observation data, development goals, and progress in the central tracker.
• Monitor implementation of the approved curriculum, including timely, developmentally appropriate lesson plans that use child data and interests to differentiate learning. Ensure teachers have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed for effective instruction.
• Partner with Second‑Generation leadership to strengthen the team’s knowledge and competencies and support teachers in applying feedback and professional learning to their daily practice.
• Facilitate focused teaching team meetings with clear agendas and follow‑through to strengthen collaboration, address classroom and operational needs, and ensure quality service delivery and regulatory compliance.

Program Leadership

• Model JP core values and build a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture by recognizing staff contributions, inviting feedback, and reflecting on how identity and power affect relationships and decisions.
• Collaborate with campus and CST leaders to provide strategic leadership and develop, communicate, and consistently implement policies and procedures that advance CDC operations and ensure coordinated services for program families.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and CST leaders to identify challenges and develop responsive, practical solutions that help the CDC meet the needs of single mothers and their children.
• Communicate program outcomes and input from participants, staff, and volunteers to inform program decisions at the local and national levels.
• Maintain regular, timely communication with Jeremiah Program moms and campus leaders, sharing relevant updates, seeking perspectives, and responding to concerns to strengthen program effectiveness.
• Educate internal and external stakeholders about CDC programs and needs through clear, responsive communication.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with program partners and community resources to support families and center needs.
• Stay informed of emerging policy issues and environmental, governmental, and community trends, and consider their implications for CDC operations and families.

Requirements

• BA/BS (Master’s degree preferred) in education or closely related field required
• 3+ years’ experience managing others preferably in an educational setting
• 2+ years’ experience coaching others toward achieving goals preferably in an educational settingPossess or be willing to obtain the required CDC director certification and credentials to perform role
• Passion for the Jeremiah Program mission and belief in the role that its early childhood educational model plays in fulfilling that mission
• Strong instructional leadership, classroom observation, and culture‑building skills, including the ability to assess lesson quality and support developmentally appropriate, individualized teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to use assessments and classroom data to support children’s progress toward age‑appropriate social, emotional, and academic benchmarks.
• Demonstrated ability to build a positive, collaborative staff culture through clear expectations, recognition, constructive feedback, and individualized coaching.
• Ability to engage others in shared priorities, organize work effectively, and follow through on commitments.
• Professional maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and “roll-up-my-sleeves” attitude
• Clear, timely, and responsive written and verbal communication skills, including active listening and the ability to navigate challenging conversations calmly and constructively.
• Ability to build trust across lines of difference, respect families’ and colleagues’ cultures and perspectives, and reflect on the effects of identity, bias, and power in early childhood settings.
• Ability to build and manage trusting, productive relationships with families, teachers, children, and other key stakeholders.
• A continuous growth mindset demonstrated by seeking, reflecting on, and acting on feedback and applying professional learning to improve practice.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to leverage those resources for the benefit of the CDC.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and accurate data entry, with the ability to learn and use administrative, licensing, curriculum, assessment, and communication systems effectively.

Salary & Benefits

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $80,000 and $91,000 commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. Additionally, we offer medical, dental, vision, and supplemental benefits as well as retirement plans and a generous paid time off package.

Summary

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.