Early Education Center Director

GREATER SOMERSET COUNTY YMCA; Hillsborough Township (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free family membership

Nationwide access to YMCA locations

Discounted program fees

Sick leave & disability

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement plan (YMCA Fund)

Medical & dental insurance

Vision insurance

FSA

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

403(b) plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Greater Somerset County YMCA Hillsborough YMCA seeks an Early Education Center Director to oversee infants through pre-kindergarten programs, focusing on enrollment and staff supervision. The role requires directing program development, budget control, licensing compliance, and community partnerships.

You will lead a team of teachers and volunteers, ensure safety and quality standards, and support annual fundraising while upholding YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to children or business.
• 2–3 years related experience as coordinator or supervisor of an early education program.
• Completion of required safety and licensing trainings within 30 days of hire.
• NJ licensing knowledge a plus.

Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates Hillsborough YMCA early education program; expands services.
• Recruits, hires, trains, and evaluates teachers and volunteers; motivates staff.
• Manages budgets and ensures program fees are collected; supports healthy eating initiatives.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, local regulations and YMCA standards.
• Maintains facilities and equipment and ensures a safe environment for children.
• Builds relationships with licensing agencies, schools, parents and community groups.
• Maintains records and compiles program statistics; measures participation and effectiveness.
• Supports organization-wide events and annual fundraising; adheres to YMCA policies.
• Promotes YMCA values and mission to inform and engage members.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Program development

Community relations

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree in children or business

Job description

Description

An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150-year-old history, Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is a pillar of the community and has seven locations across three counties, which collectively serve upwards of 30,000 individuals. GSCY has 100 full-time and 950 part-time employees along with operating revenues to $22+ million.

The Y empowers everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from. To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, GSCY is committed to being an inclusive organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities. To learn more about GSCY, visit our website: http://gscymca.org

POSITION SUMMARY:

Hillsborough YMCA, a branch of Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY), is a modern facility that comes alive with programming for people of all ages. At the core of this is our commitment to youth development in which the Y is committed to providing a variety of programs that build the leaders of tomorrow. Hillsborough YMCA is currently seeking an Early Education Center Director who is responsible for the development, organization, implementation promotion and administration of a high quality YMCA early education program including infants through pre - kindergarten with a focus on enrollment as well as the supervision of early education staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Manages, directs and coordinates the early education program for Hillsborough YMCA. Ensures high quality programs and establishes new program activities. Expands program within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans.

2. Recruits, hires, trains, develops, schedules and directs teachers and volunteers as needed. Reviews and evaluates staff performance. Develops strategies to motivate staff and achieve goals.

3. Develops, manages and controls budgets related to the position. Ensures program operates within budget and that program fees are collected. Supports and budgets for healthy eating through coaching, mentoring, and monitoring menu quality.

4. Assures compliance with federal, state and local regulations as they relate to program areas, including ADA accommodations where appropriate. Ensures that YMCA program standards are met and safety procedures followed.

5. Provides for upkeep of assigned program facilities and equipment and ensures the physical environment supports healthy living.

6. Develops and maintains relationships with state childcare licensing agency, school administration, parent groups and other organizations and agencies related to assigned programs. Responds to all agency, parent and community inquiries and complaints in a timely manner.

7. Maintains proper records/department files.

8. Compiles and shares program statistics as required. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of and participation in program.

9. Assists with organization-wide events beyond scope of early education programming and other tasks as necessary

10. Provides staff leadership for annual fund raising campaign and committees as assigned.

11. Is responsible for complying with all Greater Somerset County YMCA Policies and Procedures.

12. Adheres and incorporates the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and educates members about the YMCA mission and goals.

Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree in any field related to children or business required
2. Two to Three years related experience preferred, as a coordinator or supervisor of an early education program.
3. Typical requirements within 30 days of hire include completion of: Child Abuse Prevention for Supervisory Staff; Working with Program Volunteers; CPR; First Aid; AED; Bloodborne Pathogens.
4. Fulfillment of state-specific hiring standards (if any) and completion of YMCA program specific certifications.
5. Working knowledge of the State of NJ Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing a plus .

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader):

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors' communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to supervise program activities.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, with occasional noise levels associated with working with school-aged children.

Benefits of working full-time at GSC YMCA include:

• FREE family membership to Greater Somerset County YMCA, including full access to all of our branch facilities including Bridgewater YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA, Princeton YMCA, Somerset Hills YMCA, and Somerville YMCA.
• FREE nationwide membership with access to over 2,500 YMCA locations across the country
• Discounted program fees
• Paid sick leave and short-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous 12% retirement contribution to the YMCA Retirement Fund after eligibility period (no employee contribution required)
• Medical and dental insurance with prescription coverage
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account for medical and/or dependent care
• 100% contribution towards life insurance and long-term disability
• Optional additional life insurance and dependent life insurance available at low rates
• 403(b) Smart Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off policy
• 7 paid holidays

Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

Salary Range: $60,000-$62,500