Early Childhood - Center Director
Turtle Island Children's Center
Location
Montpelier, VT | United States
Job description
Summary
Turtle Island Children?s Center seeks a full-time Director to advance our program implementation, curriculum, and staff professional development. The Director is responsible for ensuring that all programs and staff are adhering to and furthering the principles and philosophy of Turtle Island, and providing high quality child care, a safe and clean environment, and an education in accordance with Vermont State childcare regulations, insurance, STARS criteria, and any appropriate Vermont Department of Education requirements. Our ideal candidate will have a breadth of experience and demonstrated success in the field of early childhood education; a preference for nature-based learning; exceptional written and verbal communication and strategic thinking skills; and the organizational skills to manage themselves and lead others to achieving the Turtle Island philosophy. The position is supported by a Leadership Team consisting of a Business Manager and Assistant Director, as well as a Mentors Program of senior teachers that provide support to the teaching staff.
Who We Are:
Turtle Island Children?s Center (TICC) is a nonprofit organization providing child-centered, creative, and collaborative care for up to 90 children aged infant through pre-early elementary. Located in a beautifully renovated farmhouse and annex building on spectacular grounds, Turtle Island borders the North branch of the Winooski River in Montpelier. A stone?s throw from the Montpelier Recreation Park, Turtle Island has a unique and vibrant natural setting, access to woods and river that lies just beyond Montpelier?s downtown Capitol district. Our program is centered around nature-based Emergent Curriculum and begins with a child?s natural curiosity and desire to explore and discover. Our staff use Emergent Curriculum to invite children to think freely; develop independence and confidence; and respect themselves, others, and the environment.
Turtle Island is a 501(c)(3) with an administrative staff of 3 and a direct service staff of 19 (FTE).
Duties The Director?s responsibilities include the following:
? Ensure high quality in all aspects of program implementation, in accordance with Turtle Island's mission and in compliance with Vermont Child care regulations and STARS criteria.
? Develop and maintain pre-qualified pre-kindergarten program in accordance with Vermont State requirements to maintain access to State funding for families through the Vermont Act
166 Universal Prekindergarten.
? Ensure all issues related to behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physical challenges and services for children and families are addressed and assessed promptly in the best interest
of the child.
? Respect all staff and children and encourage them to respect themselves, others, the environment, and the Turtle Island community. Work directly with children on an as-needed
basis.
? Oversee family-facing communications and content and advance consistent, compelling, mission-driven messaging across a variety of channels and styles ? from direct mail and emails, to newsletters, one-on-one meetings, event invitations, staff meetings, and prospective family outreach.
? Cultivate positive relationships within the Turtle Island Community and facilitate participation at the Center, including assisting the Development Committee that oversees TICC sponsored events and fundraisers.
? Ensure the enrollment process and procedures for prospective families is efficient and family friendly.
? Review the Development Committee?s strategy for and implementation of fundraising and donor efforts and communications for TICC. This includes:
o Annual fundraising plans.
o Written proposals securing support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
o Drafted reports to major donors.
o Plans for oversight of major fundraising events.
? In coordination with the Business Manager, Board Treasurer and Board President, develop a budget and coordinate plans to meet the Center?s goals in partnership with the board of directors and teachers.
? Develop and conduct a robust hiring and placement process to ensure high quality staffing and teacher support.
? Provide effective management, supervision, and direction to teachers, substitutes and volunteers as needed to execute high quality, consistent care throughout the Center. This includes the ability to track and maintain efficient and effective schedules to ensure adequate coverage in all groups to meet the needs of the children and State regulations at all times.
? Plan ongoing, high quality training and professional development for all teachers and administrators. Conduct semi-annual one-on-one teacher assessments to ensure all are
supported to meet their annual and long-term professional goals.
? Develop dynamic policies and procedures for staff, in coordination with the Board of Directors and review these policies annually to ensure relevancy and ease of execution. Effectively communicate policies and procedures to all staff and ensure they are implemented consistently and fairly.
? Oversee, in cooperation with the Board of Directors, all financial operations of TICC, ensuring timeliness and accuracy of reporting, adequate internal controls, and fiscal health
and sustainability.
? Support the Board of Directors in its governance role. Report regularly to the Board of Directors in a timely and accurate manner to inform on all relevant matters that may impact the sustainability of the Center financially, reputationally, or its mission. Provide reports and information to Committees as requested or appropriate, attend Board and Committee
meetings as relevant.
? Monitor the maintenance of the building and grounds, either through contracting with a property management firm or through oversight of a direct hire.
Requirements You may be the ideal candidate for this team if you?
? Find joy in educating the next generation of leaders!
? Believe in ?emergent curriculum? that has an emphasis on developmentally appropriate nature, science, arts, and diversity.
? Have significant experience working directly with infants through pre-kindergarten aged children in a childcare setting, including evidence of success and increasing levels of responsibility managing staff in early childhood care and education.
? Are a strong, persuasive communicator with impeccable attention to detail and experience communicating with child care staff, families and community members. Can convey the mission and vision of the Center clearly and consistently while tailoring your style for different audiences.
? Can think strategically about goals and outcomes, tailor your approach to the task and audience, and manage both the big picture and the little details to ensure measurable success. Can apply this ability to fundraising, staff professional development, implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum, and the Center?s fiscal management.
? Demonstrated sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of children, families, and staff with commitment to a diverse Turtle Island Community.
? Understand and are able to execute on tasks related to nonprofit management, marketing, finances, budgets, and strategic plans, including tracking goals and schedules for yourself and others.
? Can effectively manage administrative staff, teachers, substitutes, and volunteers.
? Have a friendly, professional demeanor.
? Meet Vermont state licensing requirements for a Director of a child care center with 60+ children.
- Have a BA or MA in Early Childhood Education, Human/Child Development, or related field.
- Have or be able to obtain a Vermont Early Childhood Teacher Certification, preferred.
? Able to comprehend and plan strategically to maintain and improve the Center?s ratings in the Vermont STARS program and meet the Vermont Child Care Licensing Requirements for a child care center of 60+ children.
? Have proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, including Excel and Word, as well as Google Suite.
Benefits The position is full-time (exempt), based out of Montpelier, Vermont. The Director will report to the Board of Directors. Salary is $60,000 - $75,000 (commensurate with experience), which includes generous paid time off, tuition discounts for children, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
Turtle Island Children?s Center is an equal opportunity employer.
Please send a resume, contact information for three references, and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address the qualifications listed above and particularly your experience with the types of responsibilities mentioned. Please also highlight any experience you might have with: teaching children aged 6 weeks to 12 years; training of child care providers; management of a nonprofit organization; and/or managing staff, substitutes, or volunteers. The Board of Directors will review candidates on a rolling basis, so if you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. No calls please.
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