Playful Learning Institute Program Director

ZipRecruiter; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading non-profit in Massachusetts seeks a Director of the Playful Learning Institute to enhance early childhood education practices. This full-time role, focused on playful learning across districts, requires a BA and experience in educator coaching. Competitive salary and benefits offered, contingent on grant funding.

Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits

Supportive and inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience providing guidance to educators and leading professional development sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to support people deeply.
• Ability to use knowledge effectively to support professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of playful learning practices.
• Supervise and coach PLI coaches.
• Plan and deliver professional development for educators.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Collaborative problem-solving

Creative coaching

Digital technology navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Higher degree in early childhood education

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Playful Learning Institute

Pre-K to Third Grade Director of Playful Learning Institute

(Full-time, one-year term-limited role contingent on grant funding)

Position Available: August 2025

Mission: Neighborhood Villages envisions a future in which all families have access to affordable, high quality child care. In service of this vision, we advocate for child care policy reform and architect innovative, scalable solutions to address the biggest challenges facing child care providers and the families who rely on them.

About Neighborhood Villages: Neighborhood Villages is a Massachusetts systems-change non-profit working to create a future in which all families have access to affordable, high-quality early education and care. Collectively, NV's interlocking programs are designed to bolster the capacity of the early education and care system, in Massachusetts and across the country, to:

1) Recruit, retain, and develop a professional workforce of early educators and administrators,

2) Support educator professional development and program quality to promote excellence in education and ensure that children reach developmental and literacy milestones, and

3) Meet the full-scope wraparound needs of vulnerable children and families to ensure that they enter classrooms ready to learn and to thrive.

The Playful Learning Institute (PLI) Director position is an exempt level grant-funded full-time position, currently funded through June 2026 with the possibility for further renewal, with a direct reporting line to the VP of Program and Innovation at Neighborhood Villages. The Director will lead the development, implementation, and expansion of playful learning practices across Massachusetts elementary school districts. This role involves supervising a team of PLI coaches, collaborating with district leaders, and ensuring alignment between playful learning strategies and district goals. The Director will champion innovation in teaching and learning by promoting research-based, developmentally appropriate practices that foster joy, engagement, and academic rigor.

The Director of PLI provides comprehensive guidance, coaching and professional development support around the Playful Learning practices, which include the following:

• Read Aloud Text Talks
• Center and Studios
• Thinking and Feedback
• Writing
• Storytelling and Story Acting
• Community Meeting

The coaching model is overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It focuses on providing educators and administrators in participating districts with high-quality, customized support and development assistance in playful learning. The model encompasses various activities: coaching, facilitation, debriefing, assessments, and outcome measurement. The Director of PLI will be specifically assigned to work with schools in Massachusetts.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintains a working relationship with the DESE grant holder including arranging bi-weekly update meetings
• Supervise, train, and support the PLI coaches by providing up-to-date information on the districts they are coaching in and PLI
• Staying up-to-date with the latest trends in pre-k -3rd grade and driving developments within the PLI Team
• Work with educators and school administrators to establish specific and achievable targets for integrating playful learning experiences into the curriculum
• Model practices and demonstrate playful learning strategies in classroom settings
• Demonstrate proficiency in classroom observation and constructive feedback to educators using the PLI observation tools
• Communicate and engage school leaders to discuss trends and support playful learning initiatives
• Plan and participate in the delivery of professional development around playful learning in early childhood for educators and school administration
• Ensure the implementation of developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and research-based playful learning strategies
• Submit consistent documentation of the nature and duration of coaching sessions
• Conduct on-site visits to district schools
• Foster meaningful, collaborative relationships with educators and school administrators to enhance open, transparent, and productive communication channels
• Other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, higher degree in early childhood education, elementary and secondary education more specifically in pre-k to third grade
• Familiarity with working with adult learners and using creative coaching techniques to support them
• Ability to connect with educators on a personal level to build trust
• Demonstrated ability to know and support people deeply
• Ability to use knowledge, skills, and experience to communicate effectively while being a support in the educator's professional development
• Exceptional ability to manage time and handle multiple tasks and priorities
• Ability to embrace a positive, strengths-based approach working with teams
• Excellent communication, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving skills
• Strong ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Experience providing guidance and support to educators and leading professional development sessions
• Ability to navigate and use digital technologies to capture video footage and photos of classroom activities
• Must have the ability to travel to schools within MA

Compensation and Benefits: This position is one-year term-limited full time role contingent on performance and grant funding through June 2026. Neighborhood Villages is committed to providing competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with the professional qualifications and responsibilities of its staff. The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000

Neighborhood Villages does not discriminate based on , , , , expression, , , , marital status, , homelessness, or military status. We celebrate and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

Job Posted by ApplicantPro