POSITION SUMMARY:
YMCA of the Twin Tiers – Bradford, PA
The YMCA of the Twin Tiers is seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Childcare Program Director to provide strategic leadership for a growing portfolio of child development programs serving families throughout our Pennsylvania service area. This leadership role oversees school-age childcare, summer camp, grant-funded programs, and our Early Learning Center, ensuring high-quality, safe, and impactful programs for children and families.
As a key member of the Bradford YMCA leadership team, the Senior Childcare Program Director will lead and develop the program staff, ensure compliance with all state licensing and safety requirements, manage program budgets and grants, and build strong partnerships with schools, community organizations, and local employers. This role also plays an important part in expanding YMCA childcare services to meet evolving community needs.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative and strategic leader with experience in child care program management, strong operational and financial oversight skills, and a passion for strengthening communities through high-quality programs for children and families.
At the YMCA, our mission and core values guide everything we do. We are welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing, and determined to make our communities stronger. This is an opportunity to lead meaningful work that directly impacts the lives of children, families, and the broader community.
OUR CULTURE:
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Provides strategic leadership for all Pennsylvania service-area child care programs including school-age childcare, summer camp, grant-funded programs (21st Century/Pre-K Counts), the Early Learning Center, and any other assigned childcare programs.
2. Supports Pennsylvania child care related Key Leaders and program leaders to assure effective operations, implementing best practices and sound safety strategies. Proactively identifies and addresses the root cause of systemic issues rather than symptoms.
3. Hires, lead, coach and evaluates assigned Directors in areas of planning, program implementation, curriculum, space usage, purchasing, enrollments, emergency procedures, event planning, and strategy for assigned programs to ensure high-quality child care operations and YMCA best practices are adhered to at all times.
4. Engage in continuous learning related to the regulations, safety protocols, and licensing requirements for all assigned child care programs. Ensures all state regulations are adhered to and maintained at all locations by continuously monitoring, auditing, evaluating and proving trainings as needed.
5. Coordinates a training and leadership program for all child care employees ensuring a consistent level of competencies and attention to quality and best practices including child abuse and safety training, risk management, and program specific curriculums.
6. Responsible for administering and ensuring accurate and appropriate reporting for all grants related to child care services including but not limited to 21st Century programs, Pre-K Counts, ELRC (CCIS), and CACFP food reimbursement programs. Develops and cultivates relationships with grantors, monitors and coordinates grant spending.
7. Works closely with the finance department to develop annual rates and fee structures, effective and accurate invoicing, and fee collection for fee-based programs and invoicing for ELRC reimbursements. Monitors monthly financial reports to assure that revenue targets are met and expenses are controlled, also monitors child care program collections reports to ensure timely payments and fiscal solvency.
8. Is an essential member of the Bradford branch key-leaders. Supports the branch to ensure a cooperative and inclusive culture between the branch departments and child care teams.
9. to ensure that the Y is identifying and meeting community needs effectively.
10. Establishes, develops, expands and maintains Corporate Child Care Partnership Program across the Pennsylvania service area.
11. Creates organizational policies & structures that remove barriers and foster equity and inclusion for all.
12. Ensures the operational growth of the YMCA through program expansion. Guides the organization to make tough choices about what to stop, start, and continue.
13. Evaluate program effectiveness through employee, parent, child and school evaluations and manage outcome measurement.
14. Maintains an appropriate relationship with school officials, community groups and organizations as a representative of the Bradford YMCA.
15. Participates in all required branch and association special events.
16. Takes a leadership role for the Annual Campaign. Recruits, onboards, and develops volunteers from diverse backgrounds for the annual campaign program. Works closely with Bradford Branch Executive in meeting the established annual campaign goals.
17. Carries out additional responsibilities and assignments deemed necessary by the Bradford Branch Executive.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
- Collaboration
- Engaging Community
- Communication & Influence
- Operational Effectiveness
- Philanthropy
- Developing Self & Others
- Fiscal Management
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in business management, youth development, communications, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Minimum 2+ years of professional childcare or youth development leadership experience
Experience managing programs, teams, budgets, and regulatory compliance
Strong communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills
Experience with grant administration, program evaluation, and community partnerships is preferred
Join the YMCA of the Twin Tiers and help lead programs that inspire youth development, strengthen families, and build healthier communities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
- The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
1. The following training courses are required before beginning work: Child Abuse Prevention; Bloodborne Pathogens; Slips, Trips, and Falls, Anti-Sexual Harassment.
2. Certifications required within 90-days of hire: New Hire Orientation.
3. YMCA business software training (ADP, SGA and DAXKO) training within thirty (30) days of employment.
Why Join the YMCA of the Twin Tiers?
- Lead impactful youth development programs serving families across the Pennsylvania service area
- Opportunity to oversee school-age childcare, Early Learning Center programs, summer camps, and grant-funded initiatives
- Be part of a mission-driven leadership team dedicated to strengthening communities
- Opportunity to build community partnerships and expand childcare services to meet regional needs
- Work for one of the most trusted nonprofit organizations in the country
BENEFITS:
- COMPLIMENTARY YMCA Family Membership
- Program/Child Care Discounts
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- Flexible Schedules
- Generous PTO package
- Long Term Disability (Company pays on behalf of the employee)
- Life Insurance (Company pays up to salary on behalf of the employee)
- Retirement Plan Options
The YMCA is an equal opportunity employment company. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, or arrest record. As an employer, we will try to reasonably accommodate employees with religious beliefs.
