About Community Day Care (CDC)
Community Day Care (CDC) is a non-profit organization committed to providing high-quality childcare and early childhood education. We strengthen our community by empowering our educators and supporting family access to equitable, child-centered care.
CDC values difference and inclusion, creating environments where all members of our community feel they belong and are supported to thrive. At CDC, our core values include being a Great Place to Work, a Great Place to Learn, and operating with Fiscal Responsibility in everything we do.
Position Overview
The Site Director plays a pivotal leadership role in advancing CDC’s mission by overseeing the daily operations, licensing compliance, and pedagogical integrity of our site. Our program values an environment where children can explore, create, and expand their developmental knowledge by directing their own play.
This role champions CDC’s identity as a Great Place to Learn by supporting teaching staff in implementing developmentally appropriate, child-centered practices. Additionally, the Site Director ensures that families experience respectful, equitable, and responsive communication, while fostering a collaborative workplace that makes CDC a Great Place to Work.
This position is full time School-age programming. During the school year the School Age Program Director manages an after school program for children Young 5's - 1st grade. During the summer the School Age Program Director partners with a colleague to manage a full day summer camp for children post K - post 5th grade.
Key Responsibilities
The Site Director will:
- Operational Leadership: Oversee daily operations of the center, ensuring a safe, clean, welcoming, and high-quality environment that complies with State of Michigan licensing rules and CDC standards.
- Staff Management & Coaching: Recruit, onboard, supervise, and mentor teachers and support staff. Foster professional growth and a collaborative team culture.
- Curriculum & Quality Assurance: Implementation of the HighScope curriculum, following Michigan Out of School Time standards and Weikert framework ensuring active learning, youth empowerment, and robust developmental tracking.
- Family & Community Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for families. Lead orientations, address parent inquiries/concerns, and build strong, trusting community relationships.
- Fiscal & Administrative Stewardship: Manage site budgets, track expenditures, oversee supply ordering, and optimize enrollment to align with CDC’s commitment to Fiscal Responsibility.
- Compliance & Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date staff and child records, attendance, and health/safety logs required by licensing bodies.
- Crisis Management: Act as the lead decision-maker for on-site emergencies, behavioral interventions, and daily operational adjustments.
Job Requirements
Applicants must:
- Meet Licensing Qualifications: Possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field, and meet State of Michigan requirements for a Child Care Center Director (including required credit hours and/or administration credentials).
- Experience: Have at least 2–3 years of experience teaching in an early childhood setting, with 1+ years in a supervisory or administrative leadership role preferred.
- Curriculum Knowledge: Familiarity with the HighScope curriculum and play-based learning philosophy is highly desirable.
- Mission Alignment: Demonstrate a strong commitment to shared control, equity, inclusion, and child/youth empowerment.
- Skills: Exhibit exceptional organizational, interpersonal, conflict-resolution, and communication skills. Must be flexible, energetic, and highly professional under pressure.
- Clearances: Pass a comprehensive pre-employment background check, including fingerprinting and a central registry clearance.
Core Values in Action
At CDC, we expect all leadership staff to embody and model our Core Values:
- Great Place to Work: We empower educators through collaboration, transparent communication, continuous professional growth, and a deeply supportive work environment.
- Great Place to Learn: We champion high-quality, child-centered learning experiences that nurture curiosity, independence, and lifelong learning for both children and staff.
- Fiscal Responsibility: We steward our resources, time, and enrollment responsibly to ensure long-term sustainability and equitable access for families.
Perks & Benefits
- Childcare tuition assistance
- 100% employer-paid benefits after 90 days (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance)
- 4 weeks PTO including Spring & Winter break and paid holidays (after 90 days)
- Professional development and conference opportunities
Our Recruitment Process
Our hiring process includes:
- Phone screening
- Virtual interview
- On-site interview and classroom observation
- Fingerprinting & Pre-employment background check
Community Day Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, diverse ability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $51,000.00 - $54,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Working with children: 3 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (Required)
Work Location: In person
