Director - Mini Mavericks Learning Center

The Mesa College Day Care Association, an affiliate of Colorado Mesa University (CMU) serves the community and its students, faculty, and staff by providing quality childcare for children ages 6 weeks up to 13 years. This organization has two sites, each separately licensed: Little Mavericks Learning Center (LMLC), serving children 1 year up to 13 years, and Mini Mavericks Learning Center (MMLC), serving children 6 weeks up to 2.5 years. With a curriculum based on best practices and designed to expand children’s learning by engaging them in different activities, the Center provides experiences that enrich and enhance each child’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical and creative development. Within the Center’s daily schedule, each child has opportunities to create and explore his/her environment, learn problem solving, practice personal interaction skills and absorb concepts through first-hand experiences. The Center works closely with a variety of CMU departments that includes Early Childhood Education, Teacher Education, Nursing, and Occupational Therapy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for overall Mini Mavericks Center operations in collaboration with the Operational Director. This includes but is not limited to the following:

Planning, Oversight, and Funding

· In collaboration with the Operational Director develop long-range and annual Center goals and objectives for review and approval by the Board.

· Meet on a regular basis with the Board of Directors. In collaboration with the Operational Director prepare written updates for presentation to the Board.

· In collaboration with the Operational Director and CMU personnel seek external funding sources, including leading development of grant proposals.

· Monitor and control expenditures, order, and purchase of food, supplies equipment and other needs.

Partnership with Families

· Initiate a warm and open relationship with all families, to include a variety of parent events and social activities to facilitate parent communication. Design and disseminate monthly newsletters and calendars to inform parents of pertinent program information.

· Schedule conferences with parents and families held at least once per semester for all children. May holding additional conferences for any parent and family who may need additional support to verify that their child’s needs are being met. Provide community resource information to families regarding child development issues; this includes parenting skills counseling, guidance, resources, and referral as needed.

· Plan, coordinate, and schedule new children into the program ensuring a smooth transition and acceptance into their new environment. Conduct parent orientations to facilitate a new family’s entry into the program by discussing our philosophy, policies, and procedures.

Program Development

· Create, implement and monitor an educational curriculum for a quality childcare program. This includes meetings on a weekly basis with the teaching staff to plan the use of curriculum materials, equipment, and indoor/outdoor environment experiences. Such activities include cognitive, physical, sensorial, social and emotional, developmental and educational experiences. Ensure that curriculum reflects and is respectful of the cultures of the families and is developmentally appropriate for all children.

· Manage all scheduling for children’s daily program, including curriculum and extracurricular activities.

· Implement and maintain a nutritionally sound food program according to Federal Food Program guidelines and in alignment with the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Operations and Compliance

· Administer the Center consistent with written guidelines, policies, and procedures.

· Supervise approximately 40 teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, plus a large number of work-study students, substitutes and volunteers, including work assignments.

· Ensure staff qualifications and maintenance of minimum levels of education, certification, and personal health requirements to comply with State Licensing requirements. Schedule regular, formal in-service training.

· Coordinate and conduct monthly staff meetings. Conduct regularly scheduled meetings with individual staff members to maintain open communication about job responsibilities, goals, and objectives. Promptly follow-up on significant issues and action items as delegated to staff.

· Prepare annual written staff performance evaluations in collaboration with the Operational Director.

· Ensure all personal documentation for staff, children, and families are secure and shared only as legally authorized.

· In collaboration with the Operational Director review, interpret and execute Colorado State and Federal guidelines, including Licensing, Department of Education requirements, and Federal labor laws. Maintain Colorado Shines quality standards towards maintaining and improving quality rating. Prepare any documentation required to maintain quality standard levels or accreditation. Adhere to all guidelines that apply to the operation of a childcare center.

· Ensure the center’s physical space and equipment is well maintained and in good repair to create a safe and healthy environment for the children and employees. Annually, develop a maintenance inventory and coordinate with CMU Facilities department.

· Recognize and remove hazards to health and/or safety and notify proper personnel when necessary. Conduct frequent drills to comply with state licensing to train staff and children.

· In consultation with parents and nurse consultant, administer medication and treatment as authorized by or prescribed by a licensed physician within the guidelines of CDHS licensing.

· Document and inform parents and the Board of Directors of accidents, taking appropriate steps to isolate children who become ill while at the LMLC and make proper notifications of exposure to contagious illness.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, & EXPERIENCE:

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution. Baccalaureate degree preferred.
• Must be Large Center Director Qualified with a current valid Director Qualified certificate awarded from the Colorado Department of Human Services.
• Minimum of one year experience as a director of a licensed early childhood development program with supervisory/management responsibility or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of one-year direct classroom experience as a teacher with children between the ages of birth to 12 years.
• Must hold or must acquire within the first 30 days of employment, the following certifications required by the Colorado Department of Childcare Licensing for Center Directors, CPR and First Aid, Medicine Administration, Standard Precautions, Mandated reporter training, and others that may be required.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of young children, students, staff, parents, and community members.
• Must possess excellent internal and external customer service, interpersonal, problem solving, verbal and written communication skills.
• Must successfully complete a fingerprint-based CBI and FBI background checks.

· Demonstrated extensive knowledge of Early Childhood Development, the Colorado Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, and Rules, Regulations Governing Health and Sanitation in Child Care facilities, Colorado Shines, and PDIS.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

· Salary range $50,000-$53,000

· Employees receive free childcare, earn PTO, paid holidays, access to membership at Appleton Clinics, and may qualify for tuition waiver for classes at Colorado Mesa University.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $53,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Employee discount
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person
• School

Ability to Relocate:

• Grand Junction, CO 81501: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person