Child Care Center Director

Description

What if your next job wasn’t just a role, but a place where you truly felt valued, inspired, and empowered? Imagine working for a company that’s dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering others, while fostering a family-like atmosphere that genuinely respects and appreciates every team member. Now, imagine that this company also offers A flexible hybrid work schedule

• Strong, guiding values that drive everything we do
• Outstanding benefits to support your well-being
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day
  
  

Does that sound like a place where you’d thrive?

If so, keep reading, because this is exactly what Westcliff University is all about. Here’s a glimpse of what makes our culture amazing: At Westcliff, we strive to be the best in all we do, celebrating and supporting each team member as we grow and succeed together. As a global leader in innovative education, we’re known for our transformative, tech-driven programs and our unwavering commitment to excellence, social responsibility, and diversity.

Our tagline – Educate. Inspire. Empower. – perfectly sums up our mission: to create opportunities for students and employees to achieve success through hard work and empowerment. Diversity and inclusion are at our core. At Westcliff, we embrace diversity in every form. Regardless of your race, gender, sexual orientation, family status, religion, ethnicity, national origin, physical ability, veteran status, or age – you belong here.

By joining the Westcliff team, you’ll have the chance to leave your personal mark on a growing institution, helping us shape the future of education while being part of a supportive and innovative community. Ready to feel inspired and appreciated while making a real difference?

Apply now, and let’s grow and succeed together!

Now Hiring: Founding Director – Westcliff Early Learning Academy

Are you a visionary educator ready to lead something extraordinary from the ground up? Westcliff Early Learning Academy is opening its doors to imagination, independence, and inspired learning—and we’re searching for a passionate Founding Director to shape our future.

As the Founding Director, you'll spearhead the launch of our brand-new early learning academy and craft a vibrant, developmentally rich environment where children thrive and curiosity reigns. This is more than a leadership position—it’s an opportunity to design the culture, vision, and daily rhythm of a school that will impact young learners for years to come.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the primary leader and point of contact for families, staff, and community partners.
• Cultivate a welcoming, joyful, and intellectually engaging environment for children and their caregivers.
• Oversee all operational aspects, including staffing, curriculum, health and safety compliance, and licensing adherence.
• Champion a high-performing and supportive culture that empowers educators to do their best work.
• Partner with Westcliff leadership to ensure programmatic consistency across classrooms while maintaining flexibility for innovation.
  
  

You’re a Great Fit If You

• Have a deep passion for early childhood development and the transformative power of play-based learning.
• Love building strong relationships and leading with empathy, transparency, and vision.
• Are excited by the challenge and opportunity of building something new—from philosophy to daily practice.
• Know how to navigate licensing, safety protocols, and administrative systems with clarity and confidence.
  
  

Westcliff Early Learning Academy is a place where children learn how to learn. Together, we’ll foster curiosity, celebrate individuality, and spark lifelong imagination.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction and assume management responsibility for Westcliff Early Childhood Education Academy’s services and activities.
• Manage and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for early childhood education programs, including grants; appropriate service and staffing levels; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Select, train, motivate, counsel, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to develop skills and abilities. Cultivate a positive, healthy, and professional work environment.
• Manage and participate in the development and administration of the program’s annual budget; direct the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; direct the monitoring of and approve expenditures; direct and implement adjustments as necessary.
• Provide leadership and direction and assume management responsibility for Westcliff Early Childhood Education Academy’s services and activities.
• Manage and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for early childhood education programs, including grants; appropriate service and staffing levels; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Select, train, motivate, counsel, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to develop skills and abilities. Cultivate a positive, healthy, and professional work environment.
• Manage and participate in the development and administration of the program’s annual budget; direct the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; direct the monitoring of and approve expenditures; direct and implement adjustments as necessary.
• Provide responsible staff assistance to the Dean of the College of Education; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Conduct a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommend modifications to the program, including policies and procedures as appropriate.
• Ensure the maintenance of a physical environment that conforms to the State Department of Social Services’ licensing standards for health and safety; conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance.
• Plan, organize, and direct the Academy’s curriculum to ensure it provides a quality child development program for children and students in teacher training.
• Supervise the maintenance of appropriate records for children, staff, and students.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce policies and procedures manuals for staff, students, and parents; prepare informational brochures.
• Analyze the needs of the children; supervise the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices and communicate the results to parents, staff, and faculty.
• Management of Staff and teachers at WELA and related vendors
• Interact with support services teams at Westcliff University (HR, Payroll, IT and Accounting), as well as Westcliff senior leadership team
  
  

Qualifications

• Knowledge of operational characteristics, services, and activities of an early childhood education program.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of early childhood education programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of early childhood development and program administration.
• Grant writing and funding principles and concepts.
• Strong knowledge of state Department of Social Services licensing standards of health and safety.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including DSS Title 22 regulations, CDE Title 5 regulations, State and County Health and Safety Codes, Playground Safety Regulations, and Federal Food Program for Children and Adults Regulations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have at least five years of progressively responsible teaching experience in a child development program, including at least one year in a lead or supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of of education and experience.
• Experience with Montessori and/or Reggio Emilia approaches is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Possession of First Aid, CPR for Infants, Children, and Adults, and a 15-hour course in Preventive CPR and First Aid certificates.
  
  

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis, unless otherwise contractually bound.