Job Overview
We are seeking an energetic and visionary Child Care Center Director to lead our vibrant early childhood education community in Harrisburg. This dynamic role requires a passionate leader dedicated to fostering a nurturing environment where young children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. As the center’s chief administrator, you will oversee daily operations, develop innovative curricula, and ensure compliance with all licensing and legal standards. Your leadership will inspire staff, engage families, and promote a culture of excellence that supports the growth and development of every child.
Purpose: Responsible for the overall management and supervision of one or more programs at Dixon Academy; Ensures that the teaching team provides a safe and nurturing environment for children that encourage their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. The center director reviews important decisions with the Operations Director. They are accountable for the development of a quality program according to guidelines established by Dixon Academy and the development of positive relationships with families, children, and staff.
Essential Functions
Interaction Between Staff and Children:
· Interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully by smiling, touching, and holding children. Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, courteous manner within proximity of the child.
· Respect and observe children’s interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children’s play with language, toys, and activities.
· Communicate directly with each child, at the child’s level.
· Serve as a resource for staff to help them engage and communicate constructively with individual children during activities and routines, taking every opportunity to positively extend children’s thinking and actions.
· Be available and responsive to children’s needs, questions, and requests.
· Encourage and model social behavior and expectations, which are developmentally appropriate.
· Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.
· Supervise teaching children in facilitating transitions to and from classroom. Ensure teachers are attentive, flexible, and supportive of children and families during this time of change.
Curriculum:
· Supervise and lead staff in implementing the developmentally appropriate curriculum, which reflects observations and assessments of individual children and goals jointly developed with parents.
· Ensure staff designs an environment which responds to children’s individual developmental level, physical and emotional needs, and current interests.
· Train and provide feedback to staff on the variety and developmental appropriateness of material and activities offered. Ensure choices, foster social skills, and encourage children to think, solve problems, question, and experiment.
· Demonstrate respect for diversity by providing anti-bias, non-sexist language, images, and experiences, which reflect both center and global communities.
· Supervise team in planning a daily schedule, which provides a balance of activities: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, fine/gross motor, etc.
· Ensure teachers provide more than one option for group activity and maintain flexibility in changing planned activities, according to children’s interest.
· Train and supervise teachers as they document children’s accomplishments through anecdotal notes, documentation panels and/or portfolios.
Staff/Parent Interactions:
· Ensure all parents and classrooms visitors are acknowledged. Demonstrate a friendly, courteous professional demeanor.
· Ensure all parents’ comments and concerns are responded to with sensitivity, interest, and respect. Maintain confidentiality.
· Invite input from parents regarding their child’s development and care.
· Ensure all staff communicate verbally, in writing and through ProCare Connect with parents daily regarding the development and specific activities of the children in their primary care.
· Oversee the planning and facilitation of regular parent conferences to discuss orientation, transitions and developmental goals for their child based on appropriate assessment tools.
· Supervise, plan, and attend center and classroom events, including parent support groups and seminars.
· Share resources with parents through discussions, articles, parent boards, newsletters, ProCare Connect and community contacts.
· Convene and lead meetings with parents to discuss unusual incidents, concerns or sensitive information regarding the program or their child, under the guidance of the Operations Director.
· Address parent concerns in a timely manner. Keep the Operations Director informed of these concerns.
· Supervise teachers in orientating new parents to classroom routines, curriculum, and communication systems.
Physical Environment, Health, Safety and Nutrition:
· Maintain and follow all safety, emergency, and health rules of the center.
· Ensure that children are always supervised. Guide staff in developing skills to supervise the entire group and when working with a small group or individuals.
· Ensure the staff know the number of children in their group and are always maintaining ratios.
· Guarantee accurate attendance records are taken throughout the day.
· Ensure staff completes appropriate paperwork (i.e., accident, medication, and allergy reports).
· Supervise staff in encouraging children to utilize appropriate health safety and nutritional practices.
· Guide staff in keeping environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individuals in advance when supplies are needed,
· Assist staff with arranging space in clearly defined well organized activity areas.
· Supervise faculty in organizing a variety of materials on low, open shelves for children to use independently.
Professionalism:
· Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other staff members, children and families or Dixon Academy management and operations. Must not involve parents in center matters.
· Demonstrate knowledge of ages and stages of development. Understand and guide the team in the general area of physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development for relevant age groups.
· Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals and policies to parents, coworkers, and community.
· Model professional work ethic by reporting to work on time and maintaining consistent attendance, arranging, and communicating leave requests in advance.
· Demonstrate flexibility and openness to new ideas in childcare practices.
· Attend administrative and staff meetings, training sessions and other center events.
· Respond to center and organizational needs by attending district training, contributing to newsletter, or serving on a task force.
· Continue professional growth by attending courses, asking for feedback, and reading professional literature. Share information with parents and staff.
· Receive constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve. Give feedback in a respectful manner.
· Substitute in classrooms to maintain ratios.
Teamwork:
· Establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with co-workers.
· Assume additional classroom and center responsibilities as needed: kitchen, pets, children’s files etc.
· Ensure that daily responsibilities are completed; jobs are shared and taught to each staff member over time.
· Offer and share ideas and materials with co-workers.
· Lead and supervise teaching staff through communication, collaboration and discussion of individual children’s needs, services, and curriculum planning.
· Communicate directly, work to resolve conflicts quickly and avoid gossip.
· Exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements are based on first-hand knowledge and relevant to the interest of the children and programs.
Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to perform the essential job functions listed above, with or without reasonable accommodation, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and child care licensing regulations.
· Follow state, federal and Dixon Academy guidelines including immunizations, employment physical and required health and safety training.
· Ensure children’s safety while performing the following job functions:
o Ability to move throughout the center multiple times daily to supervise classrooms, common areas, outdoor spaces, and facility operations.
o Ability to sit and stand for extended periods while performing administrative duties, meetings, and classroom observations.
o Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach to engage with children, staff, families, and to address classroom or facility needs.
o Ability to lift, carry, and assist children weighing up to 35–50 pounds when necessary to ensure child safety.
o Ability to use hands and arms for typing, writing, operating office equipment, opening doors, and managing classroom or facility materials.
o Ability to visually observe children, staff, and environments to ensure compliance with health, safety, and licensing requirements.
o Ability to hear and respond to conversations, alarms, emergency signals, and child or staff needs throughout the center.
o Ability to work in environments with moderate to high noise levels typical of early childhood settings.
o Ability to tolerate exposure to common cleaning products, classroom materials, and outdoor elements during daily operations.
o Ability to respond quickly and calmly in emergency situations, including medical incidents, facility concerns, weather-related events, or licensing visits.
o Ability to maintain stamina and focus to manage operational, staffing, and programmatic responsibilities throughout the workday.
o Ability to travel between classrooms, outdoor play areas, and occasionally between multiple center locations as required.
Supervisory and Administrative:
Staff:
· Lead staff in interviewing and selecting new staff members.
· Oversee team in orientating new staff members to classroom routines, curriculum implementation and parent communication.
· Ensure a cohesive, positive staff is developed within program(s). Encourage and model positive, constructive, flexibility and openness.
· Oversee staff in conducting ongoing effective individual and classroom team meetings, including goal setting and goal implementation. Lead whole program team meetings.
· Conduct regular observations (monthly: informal, video surveillance, formal), of the teaching team and feedback sessions.
· Evaluate team using performance appraisals. Review appraisals with Operations Director.
· Under the guidance of the Operations Director, lead decision-making regarding staff development, coaching and progressive counseling.
· Enhance skills of staff through delegation as appropriate.
Families:
· Oversee staff in developing positive relationships with parents with an emphasis on customer service.
· Oversee teaching team as they partner with parents to seek external support resources for children. Identify children with special needs.
Program:
· Ensure all classroom lesson plans and developmental profiles are completed and meet Dixon Academy guidelines.
· Assess program: curriculum, environment, and teacher/child interactions.
· Lead staff in implementation of action plans to address and identify needs, including developing training plans for teachers.
Administrative:
· Ensure that proper classroom coverage, ratios are met, and under/over staffing is quickly remedied.
· Assist in center marketing through phone contact, center tours, community outreach, program implementation (i.e., summer camp), enrollment projecting, roster updating and family orientation to program.
· Ensure all program records and reports are submitted in a timely manner, as required.
· Coordinate classroom extra curricula activities, enrichments, and field trips, under the guidance of the Executive Director.
Enrollment:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective families, responding to inquiries via phone, email, website, and walk-ins in a timely and professional manner.
- Conduct engaging tours of the facility, highlighting program benefits, curriculum, and the center’s commitment to quality care.
- Maintain a warm, welcoming environment for all prospective and enrolled families.
- Distribute and explain enrollment packets, tuition information, policies, and required documentation to families.
- Guide families through the enrollment process from inquiry, Discovery Days, to start date, including follow-up communication and status updates.
- Accurately collect and review all required enrollment forms, medical records, and authorizations, ensuring full compliance with licensing regulations and center policies.
- Collaborate with the classroom teaching team to ensure smooth classroom transitions and appropriate student placements.
- Maintain up-to-date child enrollment records in ProCare and paper file systems.
- Track open enrollment slots and maintain accurate classroom rosters.
- Report enrollment status weekly to the Operations Director and assist in forecasting classroom needs.
- Support the implementation of marketing and outreach activities to attract new families (e.g., open houses, community events, social media).
- Ensure timely withdrawal documentation and exit interviews for departing families.
- Ensure tuition information (voucher CCRI or NC state funding, parent fees, private pay, military discounts, NC Pre-K funding, Meck Pre-K funding, EHS funding) is accurate billing setup is complete before a child’s first day.
- Ensure tuition contracts (vouchers CCRI or NC state funding, parent fees, private pay, military discounts, NC Pre-K funding, Meck Pre-K funding, EHS funding) are signed and uploaded into the correct systems as required.
- Work with the finance team as necessary to ensure tuition contracts are signed and the billing setup is complete before a child’s first day.
- Uphold confidentiality and sensitivity in all family interactions and data handling.
Required Education and Experience
Education/Formal training: Requires a BA/BS degree in Early Childhood Education or related field and currently holds a minimum of a Level III Early Childhood Administrative Certification.
Work Experience: Five (5) years of experience serving as a director in a licensed childcare program for one hundred (100) or more children.
Skills: Intermediate to advanced level experience with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook. Good oral and written communication skills; good organizational skills.
Physical Demands: Talking, sitting, bending, standing, lifting to forty (40) pounds, walking driving, moving small furniture, kneeling, computer keying and filing.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Physical, negative TB test, DCDEE background check clearance; valid driver’s license and insurance.
Join us in shaping the future by leading a dedicated team committed to providing exceptional early childhood education. Your leadership will create a safe, engaging space where children can explore their potential while families feel confident in their child's care and learning journey.
Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Experience:
- leading a 5-Star licensed Early Child Care Center Director: 2 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- DCDEE Qualifying Background Letter (Required)
- Level III Administrator Certification (Required)
Work Location: In person
