Hands-On Assistant Director – ECE Leadership Path

The Goddard School of Fairfield (Little Falls Road), NJ; Fairfield (NJ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Affiliation with leaders

Paid time off

Training & development

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Job summary

The Goddard School of Fairfield (Little Falls Road) is seeking an Assistant Director to join our leadership team. This entry-level leadership role involves substantial classroom time, actively supporting teachers and students while developing administrative and leadership skills.

You will work closely with the executive team to mentor staff, ensure curriculum quality, and maintain high standards of safety and operations. Previous director experience is not required, and mentorship is provided.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of early childhood education experience
• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, or related field preferred; CDA or extensive relevant experience considered
• Lead Teacher experience strongly valued
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred, but NOT required
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask and take initiative
• Positive, dependable, professional, and team-oriented attitude
• Willingness to learn and grow into a leadership role
• Must genuinely enjoy working directly with children and teachers in classrooms

Responsibilities

• Spend significant time in classrooms supporting teachers and children
• Observe classroom practices and provide coaching and guidance
• Support implementation of our Wonder of Learning curriculum
• Assist with classroom management and behavior guidance
• Monitor classroom environments, curriculum displays, and learning documentation
• Model effective teaching practices and assist in classrooms as needed
• Conduct classroom health and safety inspections
• Support licensing compliance and quality assurance initiatives
• Monitor required classroom documentation and postings
• Maintain incident and illness logs
• Assist with emergency drills and safety procedures
• Serve as a daily resource for classroom teachers
• Assist with onboarding, mentoring, and training faculty
• Support classroom coverage and staffing needs
• Promote positive staff morale and a collaborative school culture
• Communicate professionally with families and faculty
• Assist leadership with daily operational and administrative responsibilities

Job description

The Goddard School of Fairfield (Little Falls Road) is seeking an Assistant Director to join our leadership team. This entry-level leadership role involves substantial classroom time, actively supporting teachers and students while developing administrative and leadership skills.

You will work closely with the executive team to mentor staff, ensure curriculum quality, and maintain high standards of safety and operations. Previous director experience is not required, and mentorship is provided.