Job Description
Job Description
Summary
We are seeking a Program Director at our child care center in Woodstock, Vermont (The Mill School)! This salaried position will require a commitment of ~40-45 hours per week. The center hours are 7:30am-4:30pm. Hour flexibility is required. Depending on staffing, the Program Director may have to step into the classroom as a Teacher.
The Program Director provides day-to-day leadership, ensuring a safe, nurturing, developmentally appropriate program and a positive workplace culture. The Program Director is responsible for licensing compliance, staffing leadership, curriculum implementation, family partnership, and smooth center operations.
To learn more about us, please visit www.themillschool.com.
Program Director Requirements
1) The Program Director must qualify as a teacher associate, which requires at least twenty (20) years of age, a high school diploma or successful completion of a GED, and one (1) of the following
qualifications:
- At least a Vermont Early Childhood Career Ladder Level Three (3) Certificate; or
- At least an associate degree from an accredited college with a major or concentration in Early Childhood, Child or Human Development, Elementary Education, or Child and Family Services and at least twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children from grade three (3) or younger; or
- At least a Certificate of Completion from the Registered Child Care Apprenticeship Program; or
- At least a Child Care Certificate from the Community College of Vermont and at least twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children from grade three (3) or younger; or
- At least successful completion of twenty-one (21) college credits with an early childhood or school age focus and at least twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children from grade three (3) or younger.
2) The Program Director must complete or has completed the required management course within one year of employment start date AND either:
- Has the Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step One Certificate; or
- Has successfully completed a three-credit college course in program management for early care and education or school age care and education, or in staff supervision related to early care and education for children, and a three-credit college course in curriculum
Duties
Responsibilities include:
- Lead with integrity and professionalism, ensuring a positive atmosphere for staff, children, and families
- Licensing compliance and program administration, including managing ongoing compliance and ensuring program policies and procedures are implemented consistently
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date program and staffing documentation inBFIS(Bright Futures Information System) as required, including the Program Director’s required BFIS Quality Credential Account maintenance and documentation processes.
- Ensure required education/training/experience documentation for the Program Director is maintained as required (including BFIS documentation expectations connected to initial licensure).
- Ensure program policies and procedures are implemented consistently (health/safety, supervision, release of children, emergency preparedness, etc.).
- Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and supervise staff in alignment with program philosophy and licensing expectations
- Create and manage staffing schedules that maintain required coverage and classroom support.
- Support classroom coverage as needed to maintain quality and stability, while keeping the Program Director’s primary leadership functions on track.
- Set, implement, and monitor curriculum and teaching practices across classrooms to ensure consistent quality.
- Provide coaching, modeling, and feedback to help staff deliver developmentally appropriate experiences and strong teacher-child interactions.
- Support inclusive practices and ensure children with differing needs are supported through appropriate adaptations and collaboration with families and relevant professionals.
- Build strong relationships with families; promote respectful, timely, and solution-oriented communication.
- Lead enrollment/onboarding processes and ensure families receive and understand program policies (including nutrition/meal policies).
- Support smooth transitions for children and families; help address concerns early to support continuity of care.
- Ensure guidance practices are positive, developmentally appropriate, and consistent across staff.
- When a child exhibits an ongoing pattern of challenging behaviors, consult with families and appropriate professionals to develop and implement an effective behavior plan and align staff practice.
- Ensure center-wide adherence to safety and sanitation expectations, safe sleep practices, medication administration expectations, emergency and evacuation procedures, and incident response.
- In collaboration with the licensee, ensure staff receive licensing-required orientation training (including required content areas such as supervision, safe sleep, child abuse reporting, emergency procedures, medication requirements, etc.).
- Ensure staff have Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDPs) on time, updated as required, and that annual professional development expectations are met and documented through Northern Lights/BFIS processes.
- Ensure staff job descriptions contain required elements, and that staff receive written annual performance reviews (and that recommendations are reflected in professional development planning).
- Establish and maintain a system for staff communication so that staff responsible for a child/group have necessary information to provide consistent care and education.
Requirements
- Ability to foster a positive, welcoming, and supportive work environment
- Strong people leadership: coaching, feedback, conflict resolution, accountability, team culture building
- Excellent communication with families and staff (clear, calm, professional, timely)
- High organization: scheduling, documentation, systems-building, follow-through
- Comfort with licensing compliance, recordkeeping, and continuous quality improvement
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive personnel and family matters appropriately
- Sound judgment and a steady presence in fast-moving situations
- Ability to receive constructive criticism and improve based on such feedback