Elementary Daycare Site Director

Job Description:

Childcare Site Director

Reports To:

Principal

Dept/School:

Assigned Campus(es)

Calendar:

As needed

Salary Grade:

Stipend (classified scale)

Date Revised:

4/21/2026

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor's or master's degree in ECE, child development, or a related field is typical. Some states allow a High School diploma/GED combined with substantial experience and training.

Experience: Usually requires 1 to 4 years of classroom experience working with children.

Safety Training: Current CPR, First Aid, and pediatric safety certifications are mandatory

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Essential skills include strong communication, strategic planning, staff management, and strict regulatory compliance (local/state/federal) to ensure a safe, high-quality learning environment

Performance Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

1. The primary goal of a Childcare Director is to provide a safe, nurturing, and high-quality educational environment for children while maintaining business operations.
2. Program Leadership & Administration: Developing curriculum standards, ensuring compliance with state/local licensing regulations, and managing the center's budget, enrollment, and facility maintenance.
3. Staff Supervision: Hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating teaching staff. Ensuring appropriate staff-to-child ratios are maintained at all times.
4. Family Engagement: Acting as the primary point of contact for parents, addressing concerns, communicating developmental progress, and organizing family events.
5. Operational Oversight: Managing daily schedules, purchasing supplies (educational and operational), and maintaining accurate records for children, employees, and licensing audits.
6. Crisis Management: Serving as the lead in emergency situations, ensuring adherence to safety drills, and handling health or behavioral incidents.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools/Equipment Used:

Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment.

Posture:

Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods

Frequent bending, kneeling, and sitting on the floor

Motion:

Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods

Ability to respond quickly in emergency situations

Lifting:

Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (40 pounds or over) and positioning of students with physical disabilities.

Environment:

The work environment is dynamic and requires balancing professional office standards with high-energy child-focused spaces.

Setting: A mix of a quiet, private office environment and the high-stimulation environment of a classroom or playground.

Sensory Input: The environment is often loud, bustling, and physically active, which can be overstimulating.

Safety/Hygiene: Constant awareness of sanitation protocols, child safety hazards, and the necessity to maintain a sterile and organized environment.

Public Exposure: As the "face" of the facility, the director operates in a high-visibility environment, under constant observation by parents, staff, and external inspectors.

Mental Demands:

The role requires high levels of cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence to manage competing priorities.

Decision-Making: The ability to make quick, informed decisions regarding child safety, staff disputes, or regulatory issues under pressure.

Emotional Resilience: Managing the high emotional intensity of working with young children, anxious parents, and staff experiencing burnout.

Communication: Synthesizing complex information into clear, empathetic communication for diverse stakeholders (parents, staff, board members, and regulators).

Multi-tasking: Constantly switching between high-level business administration (budgeting/HR) and on-the-floor troubleshooting (classroom support/conflict resolution).

Adaptability: Remaining calm and professional when faced with unexpected events, such as staffing shortages or facility maintenance emergencies

Notes:

The duties outlined are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment for this classification.