Director, Childcare Facility

University of Alaska; Fairbanks (AK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement options

Annual leave

12 paid holidays per year

Tuition waivers for employees and for

Job summary

The University of Alaska seeks an experienced leader to oversee its child care center, guiding operations, staff development, enrollment, budgeting, licensing, safety, and program quality on campus.

You will recruit, supervise, and develop a team of teachers, build strong partnerships with families, and ensure a safe, inclusive, play-based program that supports young children’s learning and development.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible day care/child care experience and three years of management experience.
• Preference given to a Bachelor’s in education, early childhood education, or related field.
• Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Educational Leadership, or closely related field.
• Must pass state/federal background checks per Alaska childcare licensing standards.
• Current Pediatric CPR / First Aid / AED Certification (or ability to acquire within 30 days).
• Alaska Child Care Facility Administrator Qualifying Pathway options.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day oversight of center operations, staff, enrollment, budgeting, licensing and regulatory compliance, safety, and program quality.
• Recruit, supervise, and develop a team of teachers and staff while fostering a positive and inclusive workplace.
• Oversee a high-quality, play-based and developmentally appropriate program and build strong relationships with families.
• Ensure the center provides a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for children.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's in education

Master's in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Brightwheel

Procare

Job description

Are you passionate about creating a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment where young children can learn, grow, and thrive? UAF is seeking an experienced and dedicated leader to oversee our childcare center and support the children, families, and employees who make up our campus community.

In this role, you’ll provide leadership and day-to-day oversight of center operations, staff, enrollment, budgeting, licensing and regulatory compliance, safety, and program quality. You’ll recruit, supervise, and develop a team of teachers and staff while fostering a positive and inclusive workplace.

You’ll also oversee a high-quality, play-based and developmentally appropriate program, build strong relationships with families, and ensure the center continues to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for children.

This is a great opportunity to combine early childhood education, leadership, staff development, and family engagement while making a meaningful difference in the UAF community.

To thrive in this role, you will need strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage the day-to-day operations of a childcare program. You should be comfortable supervising and developing employees, managing budgets and enrollment, interpreting and applying licensing and regulatory requirements, and maintaining a safe and supportive environment for children and staff. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as you will work closely with families, university leadership, regulatory agencies, and community partners. The successful candidate will be adaptable, solutions-focused, and committed to providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate programming for young children.

Minimum Qualifications

Five years of progressively responsible day care/ child care experience and three years of management experience, including supervisory and leadership responsibilities, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Preference will be given to a Bachelor’s in education, early childhood education, or a related field.

Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Educational Leadership, or a closely related field.

Age & Verification: Must be at least 21 years of age and able to pass state/federal background checks per Alaska childcare licensing standards (7 AAC 57.300).

Certifications: Current Pediatric CPR / First Aid / AED Certification (or ability to acquire within 30 days of hire).

Alaska Child Care Facility Administrator Qualifying Pathway - Must meet state licensing administrator eligibility through at least one of the following:

• Alaska SEED Level 7 Certificate or higher.
• At least 12 semester hours of college credit in Early Childhood Development, Child Psychology, Elementary Education, or a related field (up to 3 credits may be in business/management).
• Current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
• Valid MACTE-accredited Montessori Certification.
• Approved national or state School-Age / Child & Youth Care credential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a childcare facility within a higher education or institutional setting.
• Alaska Early Childhood Administrator Credential (AK-ECAC) or National Administrator Credential (NAC).
• Proficiency with childcare management software (e.g., Brightwheel, Procare).

Position Details

This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 83, based on education and experience.

Application review will begin on October 1, 2026. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration; however, the recruitment will remain open until filled.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at [e-mail].

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report whichcontains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to, and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA

Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension. Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or [e-mail]/907-786-1214 or [e-mail].

UAF

Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus. Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or [e-mail].

UAS

Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus. Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or [e-mail].