Laboratory Site Education Program Director

Western New Mexico University; Silver City (NM); On-site; USD 50,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM, seeks an experienced administrator to provide leadership for NMCoEECE laboratory sites within the College of Education. The role oversees curriculum implementation, licensing and accreditation compliance, staff leadership, and continuous program improvement while fostering collaboration with students, families, faculty, and the community.

The position emphasizes program quality, educational standards, and ongoing improvement, with responsibility

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Education Administration, or a closely related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in curriculum development, program administration, and educational leadership.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead curriculum development and implementation across age groups and developmental needs, ensuring alignment with state licensing regulations and national accreditation standards and the program’s educational objectives.
• Establish and maintain program quality by implementing curriculum practices, program policies, procedures, and standards for laboratory sites; monitors outcomes and continuously refines initiatives to meet strategic goals.
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with children, families, staff, and the community; facilitate meaningful family and community involvement that supports program goals.
• Provide academic oversight and continuous improvement through goal-setting, data collection, classroom consultations, staff guidance, and periodic evaluations of program effectiveness; use findings to improve teaching, engagement, and developmental outcomes.
• Ensure compliance and accreditation readiness by maintaining required health, safety, licensing, and NAEYC standards; monitor adherence to applicable state and federal requirements and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum development

Communication

Data collection/analysis

Education

Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education

Education Administration

Job description

Provides leadership, direction, and oversight for the NMCoEECE Laboratory Sites in support of the instructional mission of the College of Education. Oversees curriculum implementation, educational quality, licensing and accreditation compliance, staff leadership, and continuous program improvement while fostering collaborative relationships with students, families, faculty, and the community.

Duties

• Lead curriculum development and implementation across age groups and developmental needs, ensuring alignment with state licensing regulations and national accreditation standards and the program’s educational objectives.
• Establish and maintain program quality by implementing curriculum practices, program policies, procedures, and standards for laboratory sites; monitors outcomes and continuously refines initiatives to meet strategic goals.
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with children, families, staff, and the community, facilitating meaningful family and community involvement and ongoing family participation to ensure responsiveness to evolving family needs through family engagement practices embedded in program implementation.
• Provide academic oversight and continuous improvement through goal-setting, data collection, classroom consultation, staff guidance, and periodic evaluations, while managing daily instructional support for laboratory site operations through observations, orientation, and support for authorized laboratory users to improve teaching, engagement, instructional quality, and developmental outcomes.
• Ensure compliance and accreditation readiness by maintaining required health, safety, licensing, and NAEYC standards; monitor adherence to applicable state and federal requirements and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
• Plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate the University laboratory sites as teaching and research laboratories that support the instructional mission of the College of Education.
• Supervise, recruit, train, evaluate, and develop staff; maintain clear and consistent communication internally and externally; model professional standards and ethics consistent with the university and program philosophy and expectations for staff performance.
• Represent and promote the NMCoEECE laboratory sites and program through presentations, professional organizations, community partnerships, marketing/outreach materials, coordinated events, and community outreach activities that advance best practices in the Early Childhood Education ecosystem and align with the NMCoEECE mission.
• Coordinate budget and resource planning with the Director of Operations by identifying supplies and equipment needs, supporting procurement/vendor identification, and collaborating on resource alignment with budget priorities and operational requirements.
• Stay current with emerging educational technologies and pedagogical approaches; evaluate and implement innovative strategies and tools to enhance program delivery and learning experiences.
• Serve as a liaison for accountability activities, including leading or supporting committees and other related activities as needed.
• Collaborate with College of Education, Early Childhood Faculty, NMCoEECE Leadership, and other stakeholders to coordinate pre-service student experiences, align laboratory experiences with Early childhood faculty expectations, and support grant/program development efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education/Background

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Three (3) years of experience in curriculum development, program administration, and/or educational leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher

Job Knowledge

• Strong understanding of educational standards, licensing, and accreditation practices ( NAEYC , NM licensing, state/federal standards).
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with educational software and technology tools; ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
• Creative thinking, problem-solving, and a passion for improving educational outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in program development and operations.
• Ability to supervise and train staff.
• Culturally responsive and able to engage a diverse community.

Working Conditions/ Physical Demands (With or Without Accommodations)

Work is performed in office and early childhood laboratory site environments and may require travel between University locations and within the community. Responsibilities may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and observing classroom activities. May be required to transport routine office and instructional materials.

Other Requirements

• Valid driver’s license, if required
• Ability to complete required training and certifications as applicable. (Within 30 days of hire)
• Certification in First Aid/ CPR required. (Within 60 days of hire)
• May be required to work holidays and during University site closures based on schedules and as required.

Location

Location Silver City-On Campus

Salary Range

Salary Range $58,656

Advertising Summary

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * What is the highest level of education attained?
  • GED
  • High School Diploma
  • Associates Degree
  • Bachelors Degree
  • Masters Degree
  • PHD
• * Do you have three (3) to five (5) years of experience in curriculum development, program administration, and educational leadership?
  • Yes
  • No