OVERVIEW:

Washington Hebrew Congregation is a large Reform synagogue blessed with a range of educational offerings from newborns through every stage of life! We have two Early Childhood Centers – one located in NW DC, the other in Potomac, MD. This position is based at our Potomac, MD site. As a member of our full-time Education Team, the RJW ECC Director will have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse and strong team of passionate individuals.

At the Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Early Childhood Centers, we believe children are capable, competent, and full of wonder. We view learning as a process of construction, growth, and reflection. With an emergent curriculum that reflects the interests of the classroom, we allow children to be children and honor the learning that happens through play.

Our team of educators provide intentional experiences that spark questions, inspire creativity, and set the stage for positive interactions.

Jewish ethical values help provide a foundation from which we strive to nurture, support, and create connections with our children, families, professional staff, and community. Our inquiry-based educational approach, which integrates a Judaic and secular curriculum, embraces the very best of developmentally appropriate practice, preparing children for the 21st century.

Our ideal RJW ECC Director candidate has worked in and led progressive early childhood programs. They are motivated by the potential for significant growth, are self-motivated and detail oriented, and appreciate the impact of a diverse team. They themselves are eager to grow and learn – receiving regular supervision and mentoring. While never compromising our safety and licensing standards, they are willing to experiment, appreciating that the best ideas come when we are brave (and willing, sometimes, to fail)! They are prepared to partner with families as we help each child prepare to transition from our program into Kindergarten and beyond!

We are eager to find an enthusiastic, outgoing, and warm individual who strives for excellence. WHC is a professional environment with high expectations; we offer the support and resources to actualize our goals and uphold our standards. This position is a great chance for someone to explore, implement innovative ideas, and have tremendous impact.

The RJW ECC Director serves as a member of the WHC Education Team. This individual promotes and oversees the continued success of the RJW ECC in the ways listed below, as well as other ways according to the individual’s strengths and interests, taking into account the evolving needs of the school and community. We seek someone who loves this sacred work, has a strong desire to learn and grow in the position, and approaches their work with a high degree of professionalism.

Other things we’d love to see in a candidate?

o A love for children and desire to work meaningfully with them;

o Capacity to partner with and guide parents during pivotal moments in their family life;

o Eagerness to help a school grow;

o Experience motivating and supervising a team of educators;

o Comfort and creativity with promoting on Social Media;

o A sense of humor and humility;

o A desire to help imbue people’s lives with meaning through Judaism!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We know job descriptions list a lot of expectations and criteria. We do not expect to hire a unicorn! Instead, we seek to hire a human being. If pieces of this description excite you, please reach out. We are an equal opportunity employer with a desire to find the RIGHT person for this amazing opportunity. Think it might be you? Please let us know.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The RJW ECC Director’s key role involves leading the RJWECC’s daily operations, budget, programming, and culture. The Director will work as part of a team to help design and promote WHC’s ECCs, engage meaningfully with the wider community, and grow the school. The Director of the RJWECC is expected to model, lead, and promote professionalism, standards of excellence, and a promote a warm and welcoming environment. In addition to educational philosophy, the Director will help to ensure that the RJWECC is inspired by progressive Jewish values while also being welcoming to our diverse local community.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

· Establishing and implementing the vision of our early childhood programs in coordination with the ETECC Director (located in NW DC) and Director of Lifelong Learning;

· Serving as a highly visible and accessible leader who cultivates a strong sense of community among students, staff, and parents/caregivers;

· Reviewing, enhancing, and implementing the educational philosophies for the ECC, family events, and holiday celebrations in collaboration with the ETECC Director and Director of Lifelong Learning;

· Establishing, implementing, and monitoring long and short-term strategic plans for the ECC programs and curriculum;

· Developing and running professional development opportunities for the RJWECC team (when appropriate, in collaboration with the ETECC team);

· Promoting a nurturing, welcoming, and engaging atmosphere;

· Creating strong relationships and partnerships with preschool families;

· Recruiting new families to the school in order to promote growth;

· Developing and overseeing the RJWECC budget;

· Ensuring the school is always aligned with state regulations and the standards established by WHC’s leadership.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. They will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPENSATION:

A Master’s Degree in a relevant field or coursework related to this position is strongly preferred. Must have strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills with extensive administrative experience at the early childhood level, including the supervision of faculty and staff. A successful candidate will have knowledge of Jewish life, traditions and culture, and experience integrating these concepts in an educational setting – strong background in Reform Judaism is ideal.

Salary:$70,000-$85,000 based on qualifications and experience;

Benefits include pension contribution, health, dental, vision, vacation, sick and PTO.