Job Title:Assistant Center Director

Reports To: Center Director

FLSA Status:Exempt

Approved:July 15, 2025

Summary:

Works with Director of Early Childhood and Center Director as a team to develop, provide leadership for, give direction to and supervise all early childhood professional services and programs of the Center. Assists in assuring compliance with JCYS, DCFS, Federal, State and local guidelines. Assists with the overall leadership of the Center and takes over as the key staff member in charge in the absence of the Center Director and Director of Early Childhood.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES: include but are not limited to the following;

• Works as part of a team in developing, administering, supervising and evaluating the early childhood programs and professional services of the Center.
• Works with the team to create developmentally appropriate programs with goals and objectives that meet and further the agency’s mission, membership and community needs, accreditation standards and licensing requirements.
• Establishes and maintains warm, professional relationships with parents, staff and agency colleagues.
• Recruits and selects educational staff for the Center
• Supervises and evaluates early childhood staff.
• Provides leadership in the training and development of the early childhood staff.
• Develops, implements and administers parent activities.
• Works with key staff, parent committees, JCYS Committees and community leaders to develop, implement and evaluate strategic plan for JCYS early childhood programs serving the northwest community.
• Works with the Director and Family Development Specialist to assist families and teachers when a child situation arises requiring intensive services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university, Master’s degree preferred, with a degree in early childhood education, education, child development, or nonprofit management.
• Must be Director Qualified in accordance with DCFS guidelines.
• Five years’ progressive, successful experience in management or leadership in the field and training.
• Experience working in early childhood education is a plus. This experience should not be measured in time alone; quality of previous experience as well as its similarity to the needs of the current position should be a determining factor.
• Familiarity with the Jewish Community is desired.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business and financial reports. Strong business correspondence skills with ability to write reports and effectively present information, including numerical data. Ability to respond to questions from groups of managers and members of the community. Ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations and listens and get clarification. Ability to effectively present information to the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, members of management, public groups, and/or board.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

Knowledge of Database software; Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

Analytical - Synthesize complex or diverse information; collect and research data; use intuition and experience to complement data; design work flows and procedures.

Design - Generate creative solutions; translate concepts and information into images; use feedback to modify designs; apply design principles; demonstrate attention to detail.

Problem Solving - Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; Skillfully gather and analyze information; develop alternative solutions; work well in group problem-solving situations; use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Project Management - Develop project plans; coordinate projects; communicate changes and progress; complete projects on time and budget; manage project team activities.

Technical Skills - Assess own strengths and weaknesses; pursue training and development opportunities; strive to continuously build knowledge and skills; share expertise with others.

Interpersonal

Customer Service - Manage difficult or emotional customer situations; respond promptly to customer needs; solicit customer feedback to improve service; respond to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Interpersonal Skills - Focus on solving conflict, not blaming; maintain confidentiality; listen to others without interrupting; keep emotions under control; remain open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Teamwork - Balance team and individual responsibilities; exhibit objectivity and openness to others' views; give and welcome feedback; contribute to building a positive team spirit; put success of team above own interests; Build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; support everyone's efforts to succeed.

Leadership

Visionary Leadership - Display passion and optimism; inspire respect and trust; mobilize others to fulfill the vision; provide vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.

Change Management - Develop workable implementation plans; communicate changes effectively; build commitment and overcome resistance; prepare and support those affected by change; monitor transitions and evaluate results.

Delegation - Delegate work assignments; match the responsibility to the person; give authority to work independently; set expectations and monitor delegated activities; provide recognition for results.

Leadership - Exhibit confidence in self and others; inspire and motivate others to perform well; effectively influence actions and opinions of others; accept feedback from others; give appropriate recognition to others.

Managing People - Include staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; take responsibility for subordinates' activities; be available to staff; provide regular performance feedback; develop subordinates' skills and encourage growth; solicit and apply customer feedback (internal and external); foster quality focus in others; improve processes, products and services; continually work to improve supervisory skills.

Organization

Business Acumen - Understand business implications of decisions; display orientation to organizational success; demonstrate knowledge of market and competition; align work with strategic goals.

Cost Consciousness - Work within approved budget; develop and implement cost-saving measures; contribute to surplus; conserve organizational resources.

Diversity - Demonstrate knowledge of EEO policy; show respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educate others on the value of diversity; promote a harassment-free environment; build a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treat people with respect; keep commitments; inspire the trust of others; work with integrity and ethically; uphold organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follow policies and procedures; complete administrative tasks correctly and on time; support organization's goals and values; benefit organization through outside activities; support affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking - Develop strategies to achieve organizational goals; understand organization's strengths and weaknesses; analyze market and competition; identify external threats and opportunities; adapt strategy to changing conditions.

Self-Management

Judgement - Display willingness to make decisions; exhibit sound and accurate judgment; support and explain reasoning for decisions; include appropriate people in decision-making process; make timely decisions.

Motivation - Set and achieve challenging goals; demonstrate persistence and overcome obstacles; measure self against standard of excellence; take calculated risks to accomplish goals; complete job assignments without direct supervision.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritize and plan work activities; use time efficiently; plan for additional resources; set goals and objectives; organize or schedule other people and their tasks; develop realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approach others in a tactful manner; react well under pressure; treat others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accept responsibility for own actions; follow through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness; look for ways to improve and promote quality; apply feedback to improve performance; monitor own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meet productivity standards; complete work in timely manner; strive to increase productivity; work quickly.

Adaptability - Adapt to changes in the work environment; manage competing demands; change approach or method to best fit the situation; effectively deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Dependability - Follow instructions, respond to management direction; take responsibility for own actions; keep commitments; commit to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; complete tasks on time or notify appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteer readily; undertake self-development activities; seek increased responsibilities; take independent actions and calculated risks; look for and take advantage of opportunities; ask for and offer help when needed.

Innovation - Display original thinking and creativity; meet challenges with resourcefulness; generate suggestions for improving work; develop innovative approaches and ideas; present ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Considerations:

The considerations described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Psychological: Highly visible position with high degree of public, co-worker and Board of Director contact. May feel stress from the variables that go into meeting the demands of this position.

Safety: Actively support the safety program in order to effectively control and reduce accidents. Obey the practical safety rules, regulations and procedures established by the safety program that are pertinent to the activities conducted by the department. Promptly report to the COO and Facilities Director or member of the safety committee all unsafe actions, practices or conditions observed.

Work Environment: Work usually takes place in clean, pleasant, and comfortable office conditions. However, while performing the duties of this job; the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be a list of all responsibilities, duties and requirements.