Who We Are and Our Story:

The Brooklyn Kindergarten Society (BKS) is the original “born in Brooklyn”. We were founded in 1891, and for 130 years, BKS has helped provide high-quality early childhood education to working families. BKS has grown up with the borough and continues to be a leader in equal access to high quality early childhood education. BKS sees its mission as providing an equal first educational step to some of our borough’s youngest learners. We provide full day, year-round academic experiences and care for children ages 2-5 years old. Our curriculum is play based and marries together reading, writing, movement and music, with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning. Our goal is to ensure that Brooklyn’s youngest learners have an equal first educational step.

Mission and Vision Statement:

Mission:

Brooklyn Kindergarten Society provides high-quality early childhood education and family support services, ensuring that children develop the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Vision of Excellence:

BKS offers children play based learning grounded in;

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Arts
• Mathematics

Children at BKS receive equitable educational experiences that allow them to develop a strong sense of character, cultural identity, and critical academic skills.

About the Opportunity to become Executive Director (ED):

The ideal candidate will be an innovative leader as well as an effective manager who can build collaborative teams and delegate responsibilities within a spirit of trust and cooperation. The ED is charged with the operational management of the centers; informing, engaging and collaborating with the Board; recruiting and hiring of deputy directors; increasing private fundraising and managing an $8 mm budget.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is supported by a team that includes site-based Directors as well as a robust and growing central office team consisting of educational, administrative, compliance, and financial leadership. The ED is responsible for nurturing relationships with the Board, staff, families, policymakers and funders, including government.

Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to progressive early childhood education (ECE), opportunity for all children, and the mission, purpose, and values of BKS. The ED should also have extensive managerial experience in ECE center-based operations, with broad experience in executing city contracts and working with the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). The Executive Director will be working with a vast array of funders and must be familiar with the ever-changing rules and regulations of contracting with the City and State of New York and with Head Start, among others. The ED must be familiar with New York State non-profit rules and regulations and have the experience to navigate through a matrix of governmental agencies.

 Qualifications:

• Ten or more years in (some combination of) government, nonprofit, education or other complex settings - including at least 5 years as manager of a team
• Prior experience reporting to or serving on a board
• Success in increasing an organization’s operating budget through effective fundraising
• Experience at budgetary and financial management as well as business acumen
• Evidence of the ability to navigate shifts in the education environment
• The ability to understand, support, and advocate for the work of educators
• Adept at relating to stakeholders such as governmental bodies, elected officials, foundation funders, and private philanthropists
• The agility to embrace and manage the changes needed to launch an established organization into the future
• Knowledge relevant to early childhood education generally and BKS specifically (i.e.: NYC governmental departments, personnel, regulations and requirements)
• Familiarity with multi-cultural, multi-program, multi-site organizations
• Seasoned at pursuing and managing productive partnerships with other providers
• A track record of enhancing services to improve outcomes
• Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, Educational Leadership, Early Childhood Education or related fields required. Valid NYS Teaching Certification in Birth-2nd Grade, 1-6 or School Building Leader (SBL) highly preferred
• 5 years teaching experience and at least two years of supervisory experience, particularly in Early Head Start or Head Start setting.

For more information we respectfully recommend consulting the website and watching the video at: www.bksny.org