Director, Childcare Center Leadership

United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA; Scranton (Lackawanna County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Sick leave

Personal time off

Holidays

Health Insurance

Dental Benefits

Vision Benefits

401(k) Deferral

401(k) Company Contribution

Life Insurance

Credit Union Membership

Free Child Care

Employee Assistance Program

LifeMart Discounts

PSLF

Job summary

United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA is seeking a Director of Childcare to provide strategic leadership across three centers. You will drive program quality, regulatory compliance, and staff development while aligning with agency goals.

You will support Center Directors and hold departments accountable for outcomes. The role requires a strong, people-focused leader who can build teams, set clear expectations, and balance support with accountability.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide department-level leadership, establish clear expectations, and ensure consistent practices and outcomes across multiple childcare centers.
• Demonstrated ability to support, develop, and hold managers and staff accountable for performance.
• Understanding of childcare licensing, regulatory requirements, quality standards, and compliance practices.
• Ability to assess program performance, identify areas for improvement, analyze data, and implement effective strategies.
• Ability to understand budgets, monitor financial performance, manage resources, and identify opportunities for operational efficiency and sustainability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff, families, leadership, and community partners.
• Ability to assess complex situations, make sound decisions, resolve challenges, and provide effective guidance to Center Directors.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, follow through on commitments, and maintain accountability for department goals and outcomes.
• Ability to lead through organizational change, implement new initiatives, and respond effectively to evolving program and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, and accountability for UNC’s three childcare centers and their Center Directors.
• Establish consistent expectations, policies, procedures, and quality standards across all childcare programs.
• Monitor licensing, regulatory, contractual, health and safety, and agency requirements.
• Provide ongoing coaching, support, and performance oversight to Center Directors through regular meetings.
• Review center operations, staffing, enrollment, attendance, budgets, expenses, and KPIs to identify trends and opportunities.
• Monitor enrollment and capacity and maximize program sustainability.
• Develop and monitor department-wide goals, performance measures, and quality improvement plans.
• Conduct regular reviews and site visits to assess program quality, safety, documentation, and adherence to expectations.
• Support recruitment, retention, professional development, and succession planning for leadership and staff.
• Identify training needs and coordinate professional development opportunities for staff and leadership.
• Serve as a resource to Center Directors addressing staffing, family, operational, and programmatic issues.
• Collaborate with other UNC departments to align with agency policies, goals, and mission.
• Identify and implement improvements to quality, efficiency, family engagement, and sustainability.
• Lead department-wide initiatives and projects related to childcare services as assigned.
• Ensure effective communication among Center Directors, senior leadership, and departments.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Communication

Data analysis

Change management

Team building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Masters preferred

Job description

United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA is seeking a Director of Childcare to provide strategic leadership across three centers. You will drive program quality, regulatory compliance, and staff development while aligning with agency goals.

You will support Center Directors and hold departments accountable for outcomes. The role requires a strong, people-focused leader who can build teams, set clear expectations, and balance support with accountability.