Summit Children’s Program: Director Position Available

Posted by on October 22, 2004

Summit Children’s Program

Director Job Description
Summary:
The Summit Children’s Program (SCP), now in its 20th year, provides early childhood (toddler, pre-school, and pre-K) and school-aged care to local children and youth. Housed in the Summit Presbyterian Church in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia, the program is well known and well respected for its quality and progressive childcare, exemplary relationships with families and community members, and organizational and financial stability.

The Director of the Summit Children’s Program is a full time, year-round position. The SCP Director is responsible for the operation, administration, and development of programs which reflect the goals and objectives of the organization. Specific duties include overall administration, financial oversight, maintenance of the facilities and materials, program and curriculum development, staff supervision, and creation and maintenance of family and community relationships. Candidates should understand that, although the above responsibilities are integral to the position, many procedures and activities are already in place and administrative support is available and accessible. The Director of the Summit Children’s reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Qualifications:
1. Bachelors or Masters Degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
2. Five or more years of experience working in the childcare field, with three or more of those years involving administration, supervision, program planning, and financial oversight.
3. Knowledge and understanding of pre-school and school-age child development and related programming.
4. Familiarity with licensing and accreditation requirements and processes.
5. Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to oversee and coordinate budgets and finances.
7. Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, and mentor staff.
8. Strong spoken, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
9. Vision for the development of and strategic plan for the SCP program

Duties and Responsibilities:
1. General Administration
* Plan, schedule, recommend, and implement administrative procedures and responsibilities.
* Operate program in conformity with federal, state and local regulations and any addition licensing and/or accreditation entity with which compliance is required.
* Maintain a physical space and materials which ensure children’s safety, maximize child independence, cultivate a stimulating learning situation, provide an attractive and welcoming environment, and facilitate effective use of the space.
* Maintain detailed and accurate records and files pertaining to administrative tasks, facilities, finances, children and families, staff, and similar matters.
* Prepare regular and periodic reports such as those pertaining to enrollment trends, local child care policies and procedures, activity logs, etc.
* Attend internal and external meetings, as required.
* Regularly evaluate the SCP program in terms of compliance with mission and achievement of goals and objectives.
2. Health and Safety
* Plan and implement health and safety programs/curricula for the staff and children.
* Keep informed of the program’s legal responsibilities pertaining to health and safety, conduct on-going risk management programs, and keep abreast of insurance contracts.
3. Program Planning
* Oversee developmentally appropriate curricula which foster each
child’s maximum growth and achievement.
* Develop inclusive programs which address the needs and foster the development of all races, cultures, religions, genders, gender preferences, and when possible, physical differences.
* Keep abreast of and integrate research and new information in the fields of child care and development.
4. Supervision and Professional Development
* Establish and document staff policies and procedures.
* Orient staff to the above document(s) as well as program mission, philosophy, and governing regulations.
* Provide ongoing supervision of and communication with paid and volunteer staff.
* Schedule work assignments of program staff and recommend and implement changes in organizational structure.
* Advertise, solicit resumes, interview candidates, and hire staff for vacant positions.
* Observe, provide regular feedback to, and formally evaluate staff.
* Conduct regular staff meetings.
* With staff, plan and implement a program of professional development including relevant certification and accreditation.
* Personally attend relevant meetings, presentations, workshops, conferences, and other professional activities.
5. Budget and Finances
* Develop, oversee, and monitor all SCP financial activities.
* Prepare annual budget and recommend expenditures, revenue, and estimates for future budgets.
* Monitor budget and make recommendations or adjustments as needed.
* Develop or assist in the development of grant proposals, corporate and individual solicitations, fundraisers, and other income-generating activities.
6. Family Relations
* Register, recruit, conduct intake interviews with, and orient new families.
* Develop and implement formal and informal processes through which families receive current program policies, activity notices, staff updates, etc.
* Develop and implement mechanisms through which families receive updates regarding their individual children’s progress and program participation.
* Develop and implement mechanisms through which families can regularly make suggestions, voice concerns, volunteer for activities, etc.
* Plan, administer, and implement family participation programs.
* Design, implement, and respond to regular family surveys ascertaining their satisfaction with the SCP.
7. Community Relations
* Coordinate all public relations and marketing efforts including creation and distribution of brochures, placement of advertisements, maintenance of bulletin boards, nurturance of school relationships, representation of the SCP at community meetings and events, etc.
* Create and nurture ongoing relationships with individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community.
8. Board Relations
* Maintain regular relations with the Board of Directors in areas of concern to them.
* Attend monthly Board meetings for which Director’s Reports and Budget Updates are prepared and presented.

Contact:
Summit Children’s Program, at (215) 848-9766 or summitkids@aol.com