Job Description

Position Summary

Cultivate young minds. Engage families. Inspire teachers. Join a dynamic team dedicated to fostering a love of learning in young children within a fast-paced, warm, and welcoming Early Childhood Center (ECC). This role is a key leadership position responsible for helping create a nurturing, responsive environment where children, families, and staff thrive, and where Jewish values and traditions are an important foundation.

The Associate Director provides day-to-day oversight of the private preschool, private Pre-K, and public Pre-K programs, with close attention to detail and follow-through. In partnership with a supportive administrative team, this role oversees parent communication, staffing, coaching, and the overall experience for students, families, and teachers.

Lead with vision and compassion. The Associate Director partners in shaping and sustaining the school’s educational philosophy across: (1) private ECC classrooms that spark curiosity and engage children in emergent, schematic, and project-based learning while highlighting Jewish holidays, traditions, and values; and (2) public Pre-K classrooms where teaching teams follow the HighScope curriculum, with training provided. This role supports staff in meeting the needs of young learners while ensuring compliance with licensing requirements, developmentally appropriate practice, positive guidance, and reflective teaching processes.

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off; a retirement savings plan; employee discounts; and a free gym membership.

Compensation: $58,000 - $65,000

Essential Duties and Functions

• Supervise, mentor, and support educational staff to deepen their practice and understanding of teaching and learning.

• Support the creation of meaningful learning opportunities for children.

• Ensure learning experiences meet and exceed educational standards and support kindergarten readiness.

• Communicate effectively and efficiently with teachers, ECC team members, and parents.

• Create meaningful professional development opportunities throughout the year.

• Formalize teacher feedback, assessment, and supervisory communication.

• Provide classroom coverage as needed.

• Review weekly teaching intentions and provide timely feedback.

• Conduct age-group meetings on a regular schedule.

• Maintain strong knowledge of licensing requirements and identify compliance needs within classrooms.

• Ensure staff compliance with all applicable directives and policies.

• Support public Pre-K staff with HighScope curriculum implementation, assessments, and materials, and ensure compliance with requirements of the West Orange Board of Education.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the West Orange Board of Education and oversee public Pre-K after-school participation and schedules.

• Keep the ECC Director informed of key developments, needs, and concerns.

• Attend selected family events at the JCC outside of school hours.

• Maintain daily classroom ratio staffing and plan proactively for coverage.

• Monitor posts on the ECC communication app.

• Interview, train, and mentor new staff.

• Participate in and support Grow NJ Kids and the New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS).

• Maintain teacher assessment records and conduct check-in meetings as needed.

• Oversee transition planning and operations for the summer program.

• Follow up with prospective families as needed.

• Attend weekly administrative meetings.

• Maintain flexibility to open or close the ECC (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) and availability for occasional evening and weekend meetings and events.

Other Responsibilities

• Collaborate on teacher assignments and children’s placements.

• Communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with other JCC departments.

• Build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues, and community partners.

• Cultivate an environment grounded in a strong image of children and families, recognizing each person’s unique strengths.

• Promote an inclusive, judgment-free environment for individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, and address concerns with diplomacy and respect.

• Identify and share opportunities for professional growth for yourself and others.

• Maintain a positive and professional image of the ECC.

• Serve as a trusted and responsive point of contact for parents.

• Foster open communication across the school community.

• Help maintain the preschool environment and office.

• Assist staff with JCC systems as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Ability and willingness to actively participate in children’s play and care, including lifting and carrying children short distances; bending, stooping, kneeling, and sitting on the floor; and returning to a standing position without assistance. In emergency situations, ability to rise unassisted from a seated floor position in under 7 seconds is required.

• Regular daily use of a computer, including keyboarding and screen work.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

· Knowledge of emergent/co-constructivist, schematic, and project-based curriculum.

· HighScope knowledge preferred.

· Five or more years of early childhood experience in a progressive early childhood program, including at least three years of supervisory experience.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

· Demonstrated initiative and ability to plan, execute, and follow through on priorities.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Strong organizational and time management skills.

Qualified candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Early Childhood Director Leslie Fleischman at lfleischman@jccmetrowest.org .

JCC MetroWest is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.

Agency Information:

JCC MetroWest has served as a center of community life for 149 years, bringing people together through educational, social, cultural, and fitness programs. We are committed to keeping our community safe, healthy, warm, inclusive, and welcoming.

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