Early Childhood Director

Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Observance of most national and Jewish

Job summary

The Isadore Joshowitz Early Childhood Center at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh seeks a visionary Director to lead year-round infant/toddler and preschool programs, guiding 125 children with a 31-member staff. This is a senior leadership role with regulatory oversight and strategic planning responsibilities.

The Director will ensure compliance with 55 Pa. Code, OCDEL, Keystone STARS, PKC grants, and Settlement actions while nurturing a warm Orthodox Jewish environment in alignment with Torah values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and/or Family Development; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum five years of teaching and leadership in early childhood.
• Strong regulatory compliance experience with Keystone STARS, PKC, and related standards.
• Excellent organizational, documentation, and oversight skills.
• Ability to maintain Orthodox Jewish environment and collaborate with leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall program leadership and strategic vision for ECC.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality assurance.
• Maintain STAR designation and lead CQI planning.
• Oversee PKC grant compliance and reporting.
• Recruit, supervise, and develop ECC faculty and staff.
• Engage families and community; oversee enrollment.
• Support operational planning, scheduling, and safety.

Skills

Leadership experience

Regulatory compliance

Early childhood education

NAEYC/STAR knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Keystone STARS documentation

Job description

Position Overview

The Isadore Joshowitz Early Childhood Center (ECC) seeks an energetic, organized, and articulate leader to serve as Director of our early childhood programs. This is a full-time senior leadership role requiring independent judgment, initiative, strategic thinking, regulatory expertise, creativity, and flexibility.

The Director serves as the Facility Person in Charge and leads a NAEYC- and Keystone STARS-accredited, year-round infant/toddler center and preschool serving approximately 125 children with a staff of 31.

The Director is directly accountable for establishing sustainable compliance and quality systems that ensure regulatory integrity, program excellence, and continuous improvement.

This role combines visionary educational leadership with rigorous regulatory oversight.

The Director will cultivate a warm, inclusive Orthodox Jewish environment while ensuring full and continuous compliance with:

• 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270 Child Care Center Regulations
• OCDEL Certification Requirements
• Keystone STARS Performance Standards
• Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Grant Requirements
• All provisions outlined in the Center’s Settlement Agreement and/or Corrective Action Plan

The Director shall establish, implement, and monitor written compliance and quality assurance systems to ensure sustained regulatory adherence, STAR-level maintenance, and Pre-K Counts program integrity.

Core Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership & Vision

• Oversee day-to-day operations of a year-round, play-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood program.
• Develop and implement a clear vision of excellence aligned with best practices in early childhood education.
• Partner with the Principal and Educational Director in strategic planning and school improvement efforts.
• Ensure strong classroom oversight, staffing coverage, and effective program management.
• Lead program growth initiatives and long-term sustainability planning.
• Foster a nurturing, inclusive, and mission-aligned Orthodox Jewish environment grounded in Torah values.

2. Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Implement and monitor all written procedures required under the Settlement Agreement and/or Corrective Action Plan.
• Establish structured internal compliance systems and sustainability safeguards.
• Conduct routine internal audits of staff files, child files, and operational systems.
• Maintain documentation evidencing corrective actions and sustainability measures.
• Ensure timely submission of required documentation to OCDEL and DHS.
• Maintain monthly documentation reviews and supervisory verification logs.
• Maintain professional, transparent communication with the DHS Certification Representative and PKC administrators.
• Ensure long-term sustainability of corrective systems beyond monitoring periods.

3. Keystone STARS Quality Leadership

• Maintain and advance the center’s STAR designation in accordance with Performance Standards.
• Lead Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) planning and implementation.
• Oversee ERS preparation and action planning.
• Ensure professional development plans align with STAR indicators.
• Monitor documentation required for designation renewal.
• Promote data-driven instructional improvement practices.

4. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (PKC) Grant Compliance

• Ensure implementation aligns with Pre-K Counts statutory and grant requirements.
• Maintain documentation for:
  • Child eligibility verification
  • Attendance tracking
  • Staff qualification compliance
  • Ongoing child assessment
• Ensure curriculum alignment with Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.
• Supervise classroom observations and instructional fidelity.
• Prepare for PKC monitoring visits and grant reviews.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to grant administrators.

5. Staff Leadership, Supervision & Professional Development

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, support, and evaluate ECC faculty and staff.
• Verify staff meet qualifications under §3270.31–3270.36.
• Conduct formal classroom observations and annual performance evaluations.
• Develop and monitor staff improvement plans when necessary.
• Ensure daily ratio and supervision compliance.
• Maintain documented systems verifying required staff training, including Pediatric First Aid/CPR and twelve annual training hours.
• Plan and facilitate ongoing professional development aligned with regulatory and STAR standards.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and instructional excellence.

6. Family Engagement & Community Building

• Build strong partnerships with families through proactive, transparent, and respectful communication.
• Serve as a visible and approachable leader regarding programming and student progress.
• Recruit and tour prospective families and guide enrollment processes.
• Strengthen retention through community-building efforts and a warm, connected ECC culture.
• Serve as a resource for families by providing referrals for evaluations and additional supports when appropriate.
• Represent Hillel Academy’s mission and values within the broader community.

7. Operational Leadership

• Assist with scheduling, calendar planning, and staffing logistics.
• Ensure effective communication between General and Judaic Studies faculty and support staff.
• Support school safety, supervision, and daily operational routines as a member of the administrative leadership team.

Required Qualifications

• Meet Director qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.31.
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and/or Family Development (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of five years of teaching experience, preferably in early childhood.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in an early childhood setting.
• Proven experience in regulatory compliance management.
• Experience with Keystone STARS documentation and designation maintenance.
• Experience managing Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grant requirements preferred.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and oversight skills.
• Ability and willingness to meet administrator standards required by Keystone STARS and NAEYC.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong Orthodox Jewish background and commitment to fostering an enriched Jewish educational environment.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Health insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Observance of most national and Jewish holidays.