Creating Kids at the CT Children's Museum
Location
New Haven, CT | United States
Job description
Summary
This hiring offers an extraordinary opportunity to lead a beloved, dynamic, and innovative multiple intelligences-based children's museum and childcare center in New Haven, Connecticut. Strong and creative leadership is sought to promote and advance quality childcare, creative learning experiences and literacy for young children, professional development for the local early childhood provider community, and operation of a community-focused children's museum.
The Connecticut Children's Museum Inc. is an independent non-profit organization comprised of two connected entities: the Connecticut Children's Museum and its community programs and Creating Kids Childcare Center. We are seeking an Executive Director to lead both entities, and to be a strong and trusted partner in the Connecticut childcare and early childhood education community.
The ideal candidate for this position has a demonstrated commitment to the mission of providing high quality early childhood education and enriching the lives of families and early childhood providers, and is a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader with strong non-profit management and fundraising experience.
Duties The Executive Director (ED) position is directly responsible for the success and growth of the Connecticut Children's Museum and Creating Kids Childcare Center, and is the primary champion and voice for our mission, vision, values, and programs. The ED is responsible for the leadership and management of CCM and CK human resources, financial and administrative operations, fundraising, programming, strategic planning, and the supervision of staff of both entities. The ED is an at-will employee and serves at the pleasure of the Connecticut Children's Museum, Inc. Board of Directors.
The essential functions of this position include:
- Provide policy and leadership to CCM and CK staff, and oversight of administrative, human resources, and financial operations while building the public profile and funding base of the organization.
- Enhance the organization's capacity to evaluate and address community needs and prioritize areas in which CCM and CK can optimize impact for young children.
- Pursue creative strategies to address future challenges to the regional early childhood education community and the organization.
- Serve as an ambassador for CCM and CK internally and externally, inspiring others to take bold action to address issues facing the early childhood education community.
- In partnership with the Board of Directors and staff, develop, implement, and communicate CCM's and CK's strategic vision among families, key partners, and stakeholders.
- Cultivate a productive working relationship with the Board of Directors through effective and responsive engagement with all members, both at and between Board meetings.
- Directly supervise and mentor CCM and CK staff.
- Serve as the pedagogical and operational administrator for CK, ensuring a healthy and safe environment, full enrollment in all age groups, full staffing with highly-qualified educators, strong curriculum implementation, and effective family engagement practices.
- Lead CK to meet all State licensing and NAEYC accreditation requirements.
- Oversee the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) program, schedule and evaluate workshop facilitators, and ensure curriculum resources are responsive to current needs.
- Oversee the organization's physical plant, including needed renovations and repairs.
- Manage the organization's website, updating as needed to provide current information.
- Provide strong financial management to ensure the funding for each entity is not only secure but growing; oversee all outlays to guarantee strong yearly financial performance.
- Ensure compliance with funder expectations and contractual and grant requirements.
- Explore new grant and donor opportunities, identifying and pursuing the potential to broaden and diversify CCM's and CK's funding base beyond the current support.
Requirements - Energy and enthusiasm for early childhood education work.
- At least five years of leadership and administrative experience in early childhood education and/or childcare.
- Experience providing high quality center-based childcare and early childhood education curriculum development.
- Substantial experience teaching and mentoring teachers, staff, and other childcare providers.
- Problem solving, planning, and organizational skills.
- Human capital management skills and leadership abilities, including flexibility in dealing with personnel issues, balancing the needs of the individual with the needs of the organization.
- Public relations and negotiation skills, and political sense and awareness.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with and advocate for young children, their families, and childcare providers.
- Integrity and fairness in working in a complex environment.
- Seasoned interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively and cooperatively within a team framework.
- Ability to listen well to a variety of perspectives, including Board, staff, families, funders, and outside stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience working with and in diverse populations, including diversity of race, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability, and other identities.
Nice To Haves - Advanced relevant academic degree.
- Strong financial capabilities and substantial management experience in a non-profit organization with comparable or larger budget.
- Strong knowledge of policy issues, including laws and regulations applicable to early childhood education.
- Demonstrated success in grant writing and fundraising.
Benefits Salary is commensurate with experience based on a competitive salary range of $90,000 - $110,000.
The benefits package for this role includes employer subsidy for health benefits, dental and vision insurance, and life and disability insurances, childcare discount, and generous paid time off.
The Connecticut Children's Museum and Creating Kids Childcare Center is an EEO employer. CCM and CK will not discriminate in the recruitment, selection, or advancement of employees on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Job tags
Salary
$90k - $110k
