DOUGLAS FAMILY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AND THE ELAINE & GERALD WOLPE PARENTING CENTER DIRECTOR

Sinai Akiba Academy is a preeminent private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. Sinai Akiba Academy is undergirded by our school mission to engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, and nurture a community of ethical, critical thinkers who, shaped by our evolving Jewish tradition, walk through the world with confidence and humility.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of the Douglas Family Early Childhood Center (DFECC) & The Elaine and Gerald Wolpe Parenting Center (Parenting Center) at Sinai Akiba Academy supports the Head of School and the daily functioning of the Centers to support the learning and healthy engagement of all members of the Douglas Family Early Childhood Center & The Elaine and Gerald Wolpe Parenting Center communities. The Director is a member of the Senior Administrative Team and models forward-facing leadership and the ability to connect with diverse constituencies within the DFECC to successfully build and maintain partnership with a variety of constituencies and stakeholders. The Director is responsible for the oversight of the DFECC & Parenting Center Programs to support the physical, social, educational, and emotional health of students within the DFECC & Parenting Center. A vital facet of this role is transparent and thoughtful communication with DFECC and Parenting Center families to support each child, the family experience, and the Sinai Akiba Academy programs.

 DFECC Director Roles & Responsibilities

• Supervise the overall cultural, educational philosophy, and content of developmental curricula in accordance with Sinai Akiba’s core values and mission, state licensing standards/requirements, and Conservative Judaic practices
• Manage all California Community Care licensing requirements and implement government, educational, and safety standards
• Embody a strong Jewish identity, knowledge, and appreciation of traditions, customs, and values
• Oversee documentation and implementation of the DFECC General and Judaic Studies curricula
• Make decisions regarding faculty assignments, class compositions, and the distribution of work for the DFECC Administrative and Staffulty teams
• Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and supervise all DFECC Administration and Staffulty
• Support and sustain an employment climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a high-quality team
• Remain current and creative with professional development for DFECC Administrative and Staffulty teams continuing with existing professional development plans as well as staying abreast of new opportunities for team development
• Build relationships and maintain consistent communication with parents/families of enrolled and prospective students
• Work in partnership with the Admission department, including leading tours and interviewing incoming families
• Collaborate with the student services role to understand, children's social, emotional, and behavioral needs; be able to make recommendations and as needed working in partnership with parents to help every child grow academically, socially, and emotionally
• Maintain partnership with Temple clergy and the Director of Jewish Life to infuse Jewish values, holiday celebrations, and cultural experiences into the student experience
• Work with the Head of School, the Director of Finance & Operations, and the Director of Human Resources to set and adhere to a budget, HR protocols, communications strategies, and operational procedures
• Engage and serve as a member of the Senior Administration of SAA
• Work closely with the Head of School, Admission department, and fellow division heads to develop, promote, and execute retention strategies, ensuring the continuation of DFECC students into kindergarten to provide a smooth transition from the DFECC to the Lower School
• Participate in synagogue events (as requested by the HOS), serving as an ambassador for the DFECC
• Collaborate with and support the DFECC Assistant Director in ensuring the successful operations of the DFECC program with adherence to all licensing requirements and CAIS recommendations
• Actively participate in relevant professional development and networking opportunities with organizations including, but not limited to, Builders of Jewish Education (BJE), National Association for Education for Young Children (NAEYC) and the Early Childhood Directors Network, upholding the reputation and presence of the DFECC across local and national landscapes, and sharing ideas across institutions
• Oversee and directly supervise Support Services Coordinator, DFECC Assistant Director & DFECC Office Manager
• Other duties as assigned by HOS (and/or their designee)

Director of The Elaine & Gerald Wolpe Parenting Center Roles & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with and support the Parenting Center Assistant Director in ensuring the success of the program
• Meet regularly with the Parenting Center Assistant Director to address any concerns or conflicts, and collaborate on ideas for future planning
• Participate in decisions and planning in all areas of admissions, recruitment, retention, and internal and external communications
• Hire, train, and supervise teachers and Staffulty as needed
• Monitor budget and expenses
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure the program's marketing, development, and budgetary needs are being met

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience leading a school or educational program
• SAA’s DFECC and Parenting Center Director must be of Jewish faith, have deep knowledge of Jewish values and traditions, and demonstrate a love for Israel, in line with the core values of the school
• Experience collaborating with a leadership team
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Availability to be physically present when school is in session, and at Temple-wide and special events (including some evening and weekend programs)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Annual Salary Range: $125,000 - $175,000
• Excellent benefit package with a portion of medical paid by SAA
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• 403b and employer funded retirement plans
• Professional development opportunities

In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base annual salary range for this position: $125,000 - $175,000. Annual base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at SAA are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at SAA, your final annual base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full annual base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for SAA in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Applicants may submit their resume for consideration to Wendy Psalms at wpsalms@sinaiakiba.org.