Head Start Preschool Site Director

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

The LA Y is the Center for Community Well-Being in Los Angeles, committed to building stronger communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all. We are focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle. The LA Y’s health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. Our mission is to provide services and resources that contribute to the well-being of our community. The LA Y operates 29 Centers and over 200 program sites across LA County.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, The Site Director serves in a leadership role and creates positive, nurturing relationships with children while building cooperative relationships with parents/caregivers, staff, and partners. Promotes and supports the potential of all youth in programs and facilitates peer-to-peer connections as part of the overall program experience. Provides direction for the staff to support children in the classroom, and implements program curriculum focused on mastering specific skills. Provides a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on building achievement and belonging in youth and relationships among youth and within families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops, organizes and implements high quality licensed infant/toddler Preschool program at assigned location. Ensures high quality programs through purposeful programming dedicated to building achievement and belonging in youth and relationships among youth and within families,
• Full understanding of licensing regulations (Title 22) and responsible for ensuring assigned location operates in full compliance at all times.
• Develops positive relations with community organizations as a YMCA representative. Assist with marketing efforts and achieving enrollment goals.
• Budget development, achieve enrollment goals, and secures necessary supplies and equipment for program activities within budget guidelines.
• Lead for on-boarding and training staff members as needed. Coordinating schedules and work flow to ensure program operates in a safe and efficient manner.
• Observes, coaches and provided feedback to staff members at assigned location. Provides feedback to supervisor regarding performance of staff members. Addresses performance issues in a timely manner.
• Ensures close visual supervision of children, following ratios based on specific program. No child is left unsupervised or staff alone with a child at any time.
• Help children manage behavior using a positive approach, including proactive strategies, redirection and using constructive discipline with natural and logical consequences.
• Actively supports the YMCA is committed to inclusion and compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) where appropriate.
• Responsible for planning and implementing program curriculum and activities that are focused on skill development, developmentally appropriate, consistent with the YMCA values, and established guidelines.
• Adheres to program standards including safety and cleanliness standards, maintains site and equipment, and maintains required program records in accordance with YMCA expectations.
• Make ongoing, systematic observations and evaluations of each child. Works with staff members to support each child’s development.
• Cultivates positive relationships and maintains effective communication with parents. Engages parents as volunteers and connects them to the YMCA.
• Attends and participates in fundraising activities, family events, program activities, staff meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Follows YMCA policies and procedures, including those related to medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention and emergencies. Follows reporting procedures and proactively responds to situations to ensure a safe environment for all involved.
• Understands and comply with current federal, state, local regulations, and YMCA policies and procedures and license program standards at all times.
• Maintains positive relationship with parents, other YMCA team members and community partners.
• Models relationship-building skills (including Listen First) in all interactions.
• Understands NAEYC programming and standards and can support the development and delivery of the standards with staff, administration and families.
• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
• Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility, in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
• Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
• All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The Y’s Leadership Competency Model is comprised of multiple leadership competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of cause driven leadership:

• Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Provide visionary leadership to the organization and ensure that all resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community.
  • Competencies Include: Change Leadership, Engaging Community, Philanthropy, & Volunteerism
• Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships and collaborations so that Ys can co-create solutions to pressing social needs.
  • Competencies Include: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, Inclusion
• Leading Operations: ensure relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so that we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community.
  • Competencies Include: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Fiscal Management, Functional Expertise, Innovation, Program/Project Management
• Developing & Inspiring Others: support the holistic development of self and others so that everyone can embrace the Y’s cause, sustain the Y’s culture, and inspire others to take individual and collective action to further our impact.
  • Competencies Include: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity

While all competencies are significant the following are critical to success in this position:

• Engaging Community
• Inclusion
• Functional Expertise
• Developing Self & Others

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• AGE: Eighteen years or older
• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in child development
• ECE/CD UNITS:
  • Required Degree must include: 3 Semester units in Administration or Staff Relations.
  • 3 Semester Units in Infant/Toddler.
• RELATED EXPERIENCE:
  • At least 5 years experience working with children 0-5 in a group child care setting.
  • Experience supervising adults, preferred.
  • Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
  • Previous experience with diverse populations preferred.
  • Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
• SPECIALIZED SKILLS:
  • Strong character values (respect, responsibility, honesty, caring)
  • Strong communication skills
  • Emotional maturity
• CERTIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor’s degree with a Current Child Development Site Supervisor Permit or Program Director Permit.
  • Current approved EMSA First Aid; Adult, Infant and Child CPR Certifications (8 hours), required.
  • Completion of child abuse prevention training prior to first day in program.
  • Basic Water Safety certification
  • 9 Hour course in Preventative Health Practices (PHP).
  • Y-USA Team Leader Certification, preferred
• IMMUNIZATION & PHYSICAL:
  • Current TB and physical exam.
  • Influenza (limited exceptions), pertussis, and measles vaccination.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
• Job is performed in indoor as well as outdoor environments throughout the year.
• Job does include water-related activities.
• Ability to lift 30-35lbs