Director of Early Childhood Education - JCCs of North America

Director of Early Childhood Education
Valley of the Sun JCC
12701 N Scottsdale Rd
Ste 201
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

The Director of Early Childhood Education (ECC) oversees all aspects of the Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center and early childhood education programming in accordance with the policies, goals, and objectives of the Board of Directors, CEO and CYS

Salary Range: $100,000 - $140,000

Educational Programming: Design, coordinate, and supervise ECC curriculum, programming, and enrichment activities for our ECC that aligns with our play-based, inclusive, and experiential mission. Facilitates the implementation and coordination of programming that facilitates the connectivity of our families to our community and our program, family events, education classes, etc. Work with lay leadership and staff to determine ECC educational objectives. Work with the ECC Parent Committee, attend meetings, and assist chairs in setting meeting dates, and prepare agendas and board reports. Execute tasks agreed upon with the committee. Work with other JCC committees and affiliates as appropriate. Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in JCCA, First Things First, Quality First, DHS and overall Jewish learning. Be a collaborative partner with community agencies such as Gesher Disabilities, Southwest Autism Resource and Research Center, and others, to ensure that we are continuously offering the highest quality care. Supervise and guide the implementation of an engaging and developmentally appropriate Jewish Early Childhood curriculum. This may include overseeing the integration of Jewish holidays, traditions, values (like Tikkun Olam), and Hebrew language into daily classroom activities. Educational Management Provide ongoing, consistent written and oral communication with parents. Make regular presentations to parents on topics related to the school, education, and Jewish parenting. Participate in scheduled parent committee meetings. Meet with parents when necessary to discuss concerns regarding their children and make referrals, as necessary. Motivate and educate parents about the JCC community, including creating connections and working towards a warm and positive experience for children and families. Supervise the enrollment process, including conducting tours for prospective parents. Ensure written information, letters, forms, packets, brochures, and pamphlets describing the ECC. program, including social media, is consistent with JCC's policies. Develop, maintain and update ECC Handbook and other policy materials. Oversee development of class schedule, size, and placements. Participate in ongoing JCC activities, celebrations, functions, and programs. Supervise and mentor teaching staff, conduct regular classroom observations, and provide constructive feedback to support professional growth. Human Resources Recruit, interview, and determine the selection, promotion, retention, or dismissal of all ECC personnel, in accordance with established protocol. Directly supervise all ECC teachers, personnel, and office staff. Conduct performance evaluations in accordance with established policy. Work with staff to facilitate professional competence and continued education in the ECC field, including providing in-service training. Develop relationships and maintain an active list of auxiliary professionals, such as speech pathologists, mental health specialists, occupational therapists, and pediatric neurologists to utilize for staff training or professional development and to recommend to parents when necessary. Conduct monthly staff meetings. Provide substitute teachers or arrange other programming when teachers are absent. Maintain a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates diverse high-quality staff. Experience working in a Jewish non-profit setting, preferably within an early childhood education context preferred. Licensing Comply with all licensing requirements as set for by the state and any other relevant local regulatory agencies; oversee the maintenance and submittal of records and reports as necessary and in a timely manner. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with Arizona Department of Health standards for childcare licensing preferred. Keep CYS regularly apprised of licensing audits, reporting any recommendations or deficiencies.

Financial/Business Management:

Advise and recommend tuition levels to CYS.

Establish the ECC budget and projections in collaboration with the CYS.

Prepare periodic reports for CEO, COO & finance committee, on enrollment statistics and overall school performance.

Supervise total administrative function, which includes task delegation, records, and payroll, in accordance with established administrative and licensing policy.

Schedule all the facility needs with the Facilities Director.

Working Relationships:

Accountable to the CYS in matters pertaining to school licensing, budget, and human resources.

Work closely with other VOS JCC Department Heads, to provide a comprehensive early childhood department within the greater VOS JCC community.

Represent JCC within the Jewish and general community.

Serve on committees and tasks forces as deemed appropriate.

Experience Required:

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in early childhood education preferred.

Minimum of five years' experience in the early childhood education field.

Solid background in employee supervision and program/school management.

Must have a strong understanding of Jewish culture, along with sound knowledge of Jewish customs and practices.

Ability to relate sensitively and appropriately to young children and families.

Ability to integrate the ECC program into the larger JCC community.

High level of integrity and discretion.

Excellent communication skills.

Able to work in a demanding environment and juggle multiple priorities.

Excellent computer skills.

Collegial, inclusive, and team-building style.

Core Competencies:

Mission Ownership: Demonstrates understanding and full support of the mission, vision, values, and beliefs of the JCC. Can teach those values to others. Leads his/her leadership team to identify unique educational mission and vision, including identifying innovative programs (strategies, initiatives, etc.), which are in line with the mission and vision of The J.

Interpersonal skills: Demonstrates the ability to lead others. Demonstrates skills of active listening and openly accepts criticism. Productively engages and resolves interpersonal conflict. When appropriate, holds others accountable in a productive, constructive, and kind manner.

Team Building Skills: Guides staff in the process of sharing best practices, identifying, and solving common problems. Works with leaders to regularly assess the health of teams and groups. Recognizes dysfunctional team behavior and redirects it into functional behavior. Creates and communicates vision, direction, and goals for the team.

Early Childhood Education Methodology: Has a core competency of methodologies and best practices of early childhood education including familiarity with age-appropriate practices, classroom management strategies, developmentally appropriate expectations, and curricular approaches.

Process Management: Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow.

Caring Community: Promotes JCC's commitment to building and sustaining a warm and welcoming culture. Acts as a model to staff; guides and empowers staff to engage in practices and build relationships with children, parents and members that support welcoming, excellent service and education, and meaningful, positive interactions. This is an exempt, full-time position. Nights and weekends will be required. Other duties may be assigned, and duties may change from time to time. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time

This is an exempt, full-time position. Nights and weekends will be required. Other duties may be assigned, and duties may change from time to time. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

$120,000 - $135,000

OUR FACILITY

Located on the 32-acre Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in North Scottsdale, the aesthetics and architecture of the building are unparalleled. We strive to provide an exceptional member experience in a friendly, well-maintained, state-of-the art facility.

Cardiovascular equipment, strength training machines, functional trainers and a complete free-weight area line the perimeter of our 50,000 square foot fitness facility. The center of our fitness facility contains a flexible, sport court/indoor gym, which is an ideal space for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. In addition, five different group fitness studios provide space for classes like dance/exercise, cycling, Pilates, TRX and functional fitness. The campus also has outdoor fields to accommodate softball, soccer, football and other outdoor recreational activities.

Well-appointed men's and women's locker rooms with Jacuzzi and steam room, a family changing room, and massage and spa rooms, complete the picture.

The center's Olympic size pool is home to our youth swim team and offers up to eleven lanes for your daily lap routine. Individual and group swim lessons for all ages and water aerobic classes, as well as competitive swim skill-building instruction are the heart of the aquatics program. We also offer a gated-children's activity pool, splash pad and Sunday Funday poolside events, terrific for the whole family.

The campus also features seven multi-use classrooms, a dedicated game room/teen lounge, arts and crafts room, teaching kitchen and state-of-the-art Early Childhood Center for infants through Pre-K, as well as an outdoor sports court/playground and amphitheater.

As a kosher campus, the onsite Cafe?; Milk and Honey serves a dairy and non-meat menu featuring American, Italian, Mexican and Israeli cuisine and also offers kosher catering. The cafe? and catering service are under the supervision of the Greater Phoenix Va'ad Hakashruth.

Ample, well-lighted parking is provided with special senior citizen parking added to our designated handicapped parking spaces.

The Campus offers multi-purpose social hall rental for private, community and Jewish religious events.

OUR PROGRAMS

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center (VOSJCC) offers a wide range of educational, cultural, social, fitness and recreational programs for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The VOSJCC promotes active and healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity for all levels and age groups. We offer personal training, swimming programs and a multitude of group fitness classes for all ages as well as a wide variety of youth sports and adult leagues.

Our Early Childhood Center provides a nurturing, play-based program with experienced, passionate teachers. Children learn about Jewish holidays, customs and values in a high-quality educational environment. Additionally, preschoolers have the advantage of participating in movement classes and swim lessons.

The Center's Youth and Camping programs not only nurture your child's thirst for knowledge and adventure, but they also provide a fun and safe place to learn fundamental values that will serve them well throughout life.

We engage the community through celebration, learning and shared experiences. Members have the opportunity to make the most of each day in a variety of ways; whether be by continuing their education, pursuing their fitness goals, taking a class, attending a lecture, or participating in a hobby. Our staff takes pride in creating innovative programs that enable all segments of the community to participate.

The arts are an integral and enriching part of life at the VOSJCC and provide a memorable venue for communal events and celebrations. Music, dance, theater, lectures and art classes are just some of the featured programs. Personal creative expression is encouraged through an array of cultural classes and programs throughout the year.