Sub-Director / Cook

Elapdx; Portland, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Vacation Leave

Job summary

Explorer Learning Academy in Portland, OR is seeking a Sub Director to support the Childcare Director in leading a 5-star, high-quality learning environment for children, families, and staff.

Requirements include Oregon Registry Step 9 or higher, 2+ years leadership in early childhood, and proficiency with ProCare / Kaymbu and MS Office. Evening/weekend availability and a robust benefits package are provided.

Qualifications

• Oregon Registry Step 9 or Higher (Required).
• Minimum 2 years of early childhood education leadership experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of culturally responsive practices and inclusive curriculum design.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and childcare software (ProCare, Kaymbu).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as acting site leader in the absence of the Director.
• Ensure full compliance with state licensing regulations and contractual requirements (SPARK, PFA, ERDC, USDA Food Program).
• Oversee staff training hours and certifications (CPR/First Aid, Food Handler, Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse).
• Lead SPARK documentation, assessment tools, and site visits to maintain a 5-star rating.
• Maintain a culturally affirming, high-quality environment reflecting educational excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Culturally responsive practices

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Education

Oregon Registry Step 9 or Higher

Tools

ProCare

Kaymbu

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Reports To: Childcare Director
Location: Explorer Learning Academy - NE 8212 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97220
Schedule: Must be available to work evenings (up to 10:30 PM) and weekends

Base Salary: $58,000 - $62,500 annually (up to $12,000 performance bonus)

Position Overview:

The Sub Director will support the Childcare Director in ensuring the overall leadership, compliance, performance, and operational excellence of Explorer Learning Academy. This role requires a committed, detail-oriented, and culturally grounded leader who embodies excellence in all aspects of their work and helps sustain a five-star, high-quality learning environment for children, families, and staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Compliance

Serve as acting site leader in the absence of the Director.

Ensure full compliance with state licensing regulations and contractual requirements, including SPARK, Preschool for All (PFA), ERDC, and USDA Food Program guidelines.

Oversee staff compliance with required annual training hours and certifications (e.g., CPR/First Aid, Food Handler, Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse).

Lead and support all SPARK documentation, assessment tools, and site visits to achieve and maintain a 5-star quality rating.

Maintain and support a culturally affirming, high-quality, and luxurious environment that reflects attention to detail, and educational excellence.

Ensure that:

All classrooms and common areas are designed to be clutter-free, soothing, and conducive to learning.

Classroom design adheres to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, providing accessible materials, flexible spaces, and visual supports.

Indoor and outdoor environments are safe, welcoming, and well-maintained.

Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills.

Utilize technology systems such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ProCare, and Kaymbu to support operations, documentation, and communication.

Monitor digital records for accuracy, including child files, attendance, health/safety logs, and curriculum documentation.

Qualifications:

Oregon Registry Step 9 or Higher (Required)

Minimum 2 years of early childhood education leadership experience preferred.

Strong understanding of culturally responsive practices and inclusive curriculum design.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, quality-focused environment.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and childcare software (ProCare, Kaymbu).

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Availability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Proven experience with:

Staff recruitment and retention

Oregon's SPARK Quality Rating and Improvement System

Child Care licensing requirements

Implementing curriculum with fidelity (HighScope, Montessori-Inspired Environments, Second Step, etc.)

Contract compliance for publicly funded programs (e.g., PFA, CCI, ERDC)

Marketing

Program Oversight

Ensure full enrollment of 49 children (36 preschool, 13 infants/toddlers)

Maintain compliance with licensing standards and safety regulations

Lead SPARK documentation and site visits to achieve and maintain 5-star rating

Implement monitoring systems via ProCare and other tools to track child files, staff credentials, and program metrics

Staff Management

The Childcare Director is responsible for maintaining a fully staffed team of 10 core employees and themselves. The staffing structure reflects a balance of credentialed professionals across early childhood age groups and support roles, ensuring optimal adult-child ratios and consistent high-quality care.

Team Composition:

(2) Lead Preschool Teachers – Oregon Registry Step 8

(2) Assistant Preschool Teachers – Oregon Registry Step 7

(2) Infant Teachers – Oregon Registry Step 7

(1) Toddler Teacher – Oregon Registry Step 8

(2) Floaters – Oregon Registry Step 7

(1) Bus Driver – Must hold a valid driver’s license, complete Safety Set, and pass ODE background check

The director is responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of all staff members.

Each classroom team must meet Oregon Child Care Licensing adult-child ratios and Step-level requirements at all times.

Floaters will support across classrooms during breaks, transitions, and absences.

The Substitute Director/Cook provides operational and culinary support and must be prepared to assume administrative leadership when the Director is off-site.

Maintaining 100% staffing levels is a performance-based compensation indicator, evaluated quarterly.

Family & Community Engagement

Oversee the delivery of three annual Parent-Teacher Conferences per child

Ensure ASQ and ASQ: SE screenings are completed within 45 days of enrollment

Plan and host a minimum of six family engagement events annually

Monitor family satisfaction and ensure survey ratings are ≥ 85%

Educational Quality

Lead the fidelity implementation of HighScope, Learning Without Tears, and SecondSteps.

Monitor classrooms for intentional teaching practices and documentation

Support team with ongoing coaching, training, and mentoring

Strategic Enrollment Planning:

Develop and execute comprehensive enrollment strategies to attract and retain families

Analyze enrollment trends and adjust strategies to meet enrollment goals

Organize and conduct monthly open houses and facility tours for prospective families

Attend community events with a marketing table to promote ELA's programs

Distribute marketing materials monthly within the community to increase visibility

Marketing & Communications:

Create and manage daily social media posts to engage current and prospective families

Develop and implement marketing campaigns across various platforms (social media, print, digital)

Collaborate with the Owner/Executive Director to ensure consistent branding and messaging

Community Partnerships:

Establish and maintain relationships with local organizations, schools, and community groups to support enrollment efforts

Represent ELA at community meetings and events to build awareness and partnerships

Employee Benefits

At Explorer Learning Academy (ELA), we honor the value of leadership and the personal investment required to nurture high-quality early childhood education. Our benefits package reflects our belief in work-life balance, wellness, and long-term commitment.

Paid Time Off:

40 hours of paid sick leave annually, accrued in accordance with Oregon law.

Vacation Leave (Based on Tenure):

After 1 year of employment: 1 week (5 business days) of paid vacation

After 3 years of continuous employment, 2 weeks (10 business days) of paid vacation

Paid Holidays:

All federal programmatic holidays are observed with pay, including but not limited to:

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day & the day after

Christmas Day

Insurance Coverage:

Health Insurance – Comprehensive medical coverage

Vision Insurance – Annual eye exams and corrective lenses

Dental Insurance – Preventive, basic, and major dental care

Life Insurance – Employer-paid life insurance policy for added security

Oregon Registry Training Support:

All employees are expected to complete 30 hours of Oregon Registry-approved training annually. Training opportunities are supported by the program.

Tuition Reimbursement Program:

Eligible after one full year of employment

Reimburses up to $1,000 per year for out-of-pocket tuition expenses related to coursework applicable to Oregon Registry advancement

Lifetime cap of $5,000 per employee

Student Loan Repayment Assistance:

Available after three years of continuous employment

Up to $5,000 annually in tax-free student loan repayment support for qualified education loans

Intended to reduce the financial burden of higher education and support career sustainability in the early childhood field