Madison Childcare Manager

EMBE; Madison (SD); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

EmBe in Madison, SD is seeking a Childcare Manager to provide leadership and direction for EmBe childcare services at a designated site. You will oversee program quality, licensing compliance, health and safety, staffing, enrollment, family engagement, curriculum implementation, and fiscal oversight.

Reporting to the Director of EmBe Education, you will mentor staff, ensure accurate classroom ratios, manage operations, coordinate with licensing bodies, and drive program growth while upholding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field.
• Previous management experience in an early childhood setting or similar.
• Teaching experience in an early childhood setting or similar.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Professional, self-motivated, and self-directed.
• Computer skills and knowledge in Word, Excel and ProCare.
• Broad knowledge of community childcare programs.
• No staff member or volunteer will have a felony conviction on record within the past five years.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of all center operations.
• Ensure adherence to state and federal licensing requirements and reporting, as well as nutritional requirements.
• Schedule staff and maintain appropriate classroom ratios.
• Assist in resolving conflicts among staff members or children, promoting a positive work environment.
• Complete monthly management reports and participate in annual budgeting activities.
• Partner with site directors to ensure best practices and consistency between locations.
• Guide enrollment processes and communicate with families.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Excellent oral and written commu n? c?

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field

Tools

Word

Excel

ProCare

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Madison, SD 57042 – Position Title: Madison Childcare Manager – Status: Exempt – Department: EmBe Education Madison – Reports To: Director of EmBe Education – Date: 7/22/2026

Summary:

The Childcare Manager is responsible for providing management, leadership and direction for EmBe childcare services at a designated site. The childcare manager has overall accountability for the successful operation of the center and all aspects of its performance, including program quality, licensing compliance, health and safety, staffing, enrollment, parent and family engagement, curriculum implementation, fiscal oversight, nutrition services, and facility management. This position ensures high-quality learning experiences for students while fostering a positive culture for families and staff and advancing EmBe's mission and organizational goals.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensure EmBe brand, mission, vision, and values are reflected in all interactions.
• Reinforce and lead a culture of empowerment and continuous improvement. Mentor the attitude of honesty and mutual respect. Model professionalism, accountability, and personal responsibility to staff, children and customers.
• Provide overall leadership and oversight of all center operations, ensuring that all functions- including childcare programming, staffing, licensing compliance, nutrition services, health and safety practices, custodial services, and customer service are effectively managed and aligned with EmBe policies and standards.
• Ensure adherence to all State and Federal licensing requirements and reporting, as well as adherence to all State and Federal nutritional requirements.
• Provide professional support and guidance to all employees, encouraging ownership and accountability in all tasks
• Ensure the implementation and management of all childcare curriculums.
• Manage programs to maintain maximum capacity and attain appropriate classroom ratios.
• Schedule staff; coordinate absences to maintain appropriate classroom ratios.
• Assist in resolving conflicts among staff members or children, promoting a positive work environment.
• Serve in ratio where needed and while assessing programming quality in each classroom.
• Ensure consistent application of all EmBe policies and procedures.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations for staff.
• Complete monthly management reports and participate in annual budgeting activities.
• Provide required monthly statistics for financial documents.
• Implement procedures for fire and weather-related emergencies. Conduct regular practice drills as required.
• Report any conditions that create an unsafe situation for staff or children.
• Partner with the other site directors to ensure best practices and consistency between locations.
• Partner with EmBe leadership to identify and implement program growth opportunities.
• Conduct tours of the center for prospective families. Act as an advocate for services and promote enrollment.
• Guide parents through enrollment process, annual form updates; ensuring all childcare records are accurate and complete.
• Address parental concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of children and family information. No information shall be released by any staff member, past or present, concerning any present or former employee, member, donor, or family without written consent.
• Contribute to monthly parent newsletter and prepare parent communications as needed.
• Maintain active involvement in EmBe activities as they relate to the bigger picture organization, i.e. fundraising events, staff development, programming opportunities.
• Deliver new teacher onboarding process.
• Collaborate with teachers to create positive classroom environments, routines and behavior management strategies.
• Participate in recommended professional development training opportunities and adhere to licensing standards.
• Demonstrate initiative and propose ideas to demonstrate high level of problem-solving skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field.
• Previous management experience in an early childhood setting or similar experience.
• Teaching experience in an early childhood setting or similar experience.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be a professional, self-motivated, and self-directed individual.
• Computer skills and knowledge in Word, Excel and ProCare.
• Broad knowledge of community childcare programs.
• No staff member or volunteer will have a felony conviction on record within the past five years.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to see, speak, and hear.
• Frequent sitting and use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, or reach.
• Frequent standing and walking.
• Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.
Occasional need to climb, balance, kneel or crouch.
• Vision abilities include distance and close vision.

Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in an indoor classroom environment. Occasional outdoor exposure when weather permits.
• Noise level is moderate to loud due to equipment and children.
• Routine exposure to household sanitization and cleaning chemicals.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.