What are the responsibilities and job description for the LaCross Early Learning Center Director – Operated by United Way of Greater Charlottesville position at United Way of Greater Charlottesville?
The Director of the LaCross Early Learning Center (ELC) will serve as the founding onsite leader of a transformational demonstration model program of high-quality early care & education.
The LaCross ELC, located in the Kindlewood community, is a unique partnership among United Way of Greater Charlottesville (UWGC), the School of Education & Human Development at the University of Virginia (UVA-EHD), & Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA). The center will provide infants through pre-kindergarteners with high-quality, equitable early childhood education, prioritizing children & families who have historically had fewer opportunities to access these services. The center will be supported by multiple funding streams, including publicly funded programs. .
The Director will lead the day-to-day operations of the LaCross ELC while also advancing the center's broader demonstration, innovation, training, professional learning, & research goals. The person hired for this role will be responsible for ensuring the center operates with excellence, building & retaining a strong instructional team, implementing the UVA-designed educational model with fidelity, welcoming families, & serving as theprimary champion for the center in the broader community. The Director will work in close partnership with United Way leadership, UVA-EHD faculty & staff, Piedmont Housing Alliance staff, & other community partners to improve school readiness for children,promote the wellbeing of families, & support early childhood educators in the Greater Charlottesville area.
The Director must be a confident, collaborative, & mission-driven leader who can manage daily operations withan Assistant Director while working within a partnership structure. This role requires strong judgment, openness to feedback & learning, & respect for shared decision-making.
•Serve as the onsite leader & primary day-to-day representative of the LaCross ELC.
•Help build & sustain a center culture that reflects the shared vision of UWGC, UVA-EHD, & community partners.
•Work collaboratively with UWGC & UVA-EHD leadership to align daily operations with the center’s goals for access, quality, workforce support, family engagement, professional learning, & continuous improvement.
• Lead the center as a model demonstration site where educators, families, community partners, UVA students, faculty, staff, & other visitors may observe, learn from, & contribute to high-quality early childhood practice.
•Support UVA-EHD-led professional development, coaching, observation, research, evaluation, training, & practicum experiences as core features of the center.
•Oversee daily operations of the LaCross ELC in compliance with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards & Head Start Program Performance Standards where applicable.
•Maintain working knowledge of applicable public funding programs, which may include Head Start, the Child Care Subsidy Program, & Mixed Delivery (MD), & ensure compliance with requirements, documentation, & reporting as the center's funding model evolves.
•Manage enrollment processes, including applications, waitlists, eligibility determination, & enrollment capacity across funding streams,.
•Coordinate with UWGC staff on grant reporting, billing, compliance, & documentation for all funding sources.
•Manage the center’s operating budget in coordination with United Way leadership, the center’s governing structure, & consistent with approved budget & reporting expectations.
•Ensure full implementation of the UVA-approved curriculum & educational model, including STREAMin3, across classrooms & age groups.
•Work closely with UVA-EHD faculty & staff to support curriculum implementation, coaching, professional development, assessment, observation, & continuous quality improvement, including via VQB5, CLASS, & VKRP tools & systems.
•Use child, classroom, & program data to inform instructional decisions, professional learning, family communication, & continuous improvement.
•Ensure that educators have the time, support, & guidance needed to participate in required professional development, coaching, observation, & training.
•In collaboration with UWGC & UVA-EHD, manage all activities required to open the ELC on schedule in early 2027, including:
•Complete the Virginia child care licensing application, coordinate the building inspection process, & recruit, hire, & onboard the first wave of teachers & other staff, including the Assistant Director, in partnership with UWGC & UVA-EHD
•Establish all center operating systems prior to opening, including enrollment & waitlist management, applicable subsidy authorization workflows, family communication systems, CACFP food program documentation, & staff records
•Lead pre-opening enrollment outreach in partnership with United Way & community partners, with particular focus on connecting income-eligible families to subsidy authorizations before the center opens
•Coordinate facility readiness with Piedmont Housing Alliance, including classroom setup, outdoor space preparation, & health & safety inspections
•Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, & evaluate center staff, including teachers, assistant teachers, administrative staff, & support staff, in accordance with UWGC policies & the partnership governing structure.
•Build & retain a strong, mission-aligned instructional team that is committed to high-quality early learning, equity, family partnership, & continuous improvement.
•Provide regular supervision, performance feedback, & support to center staff.
•Supervise the center’s cook & related food-service processes, including meal planning, food ordering & supply management, in accordance with applicable nutrition & program requirements.
•Develop & implement an enrollment outreach strategy to promote the ELC across the Charlottesville community, maintain full enrollment, & manage a waitlist as applicable, in coordination with the center's governing body
•Collaborate with UW School Readiness team & external partners including UVA, STREAMin3, PHA, & other aligned organizations
•Develop & lead family engagement programming including orientation events, family meetings, family learning opportunities, & community events, in partnership with relevant organizations as applicable
•Help ensure that the center is experienced by families & the community as welcoming, responsive, respectful, & connected to the broader Charlottesville early childhood ecosystem
•Must be at least 21 years of age
•Meets one of the Virginia program director qualification pathways per 8VAC20-780-190, which includes one of the following: (1) graduate degree in a child-related field & six months of programmatic experience; (2) bachelor's degree or endorsement in a child-related field & one year of programmatic experience; or (3) 48 semester hours of college credit with 12 hours in child-related subjects & one year of programmatic experience
•Minimum of five years of experience in early childhood education, with at least three years in a programdirector, site director, or senior leadership capacity overseeing staff, operations, budgets, & compliance in a licensed child care setting
•Demonstrated experience leading a center-based early childhood program serving infants &/or toddlers, including responsibility for licensing compliance, staff supervision, family engagement, & budget management
•Demonstrated knowledge of Virginia child care licensing standards (8VAC20-780) & familiarity with applicable federal & state early childhood funding programs & their associated compliance requirements
•Demonstrated ability to lead collaboratively within a partnership structure & work effectively with families, educators, & community partners
•Familiarity with the CLASS observation tool (training available)
•CPR/First Aid/AED certification required within 30 days of hire (training available)
•Medication Administration Training (MAT) certification required (training available)
•Must successfully complete a criminal background check & Child Protective Services check prior to hire & periodically according to state licensing standards
•Must comply with all current Virginia child care licensing health requirements, including tuberculosis (TB) screening & any other applicable pre-employment & ongoing health documentation, in accordance with applicable regulations at the time of hire
Preferred Skills•Experience operating or leading a Head Start, Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), or MD
•Familiarity with Virginia quality improvement frameworks including VQB5, STREAMin3, & VKRP
•Obtain & maintain CLASS Observer certification as applicable to the role & program requirements
•Knowledge of subsidy programs including the Child Care Subsidy Program & Virginia's MD program
•Experience working in a community-based organization or nonprofit setting
•Strong community engagement & public relations skills
•Experience supporting curriculum implementation, coaching, professional development, & continuous quality improvement
•Experience working in a university partnership or demonstration program setting
•Ability to create a welcoming environment for families, educators, students, visitors, researchers, & community partners
Other•This position is mostly onsite, Monday through Friday, at the LaCross ELC in Charlottesville, VA. The Director is expected to be present at the center during operating hours & maintain consistent visibility for staff, families, partners, & licensing compliance purposes.
•Occasional local travel may be required for community events, partner meetings, or training.
•This is a full-time, onsite position. The ELC Director is expected to be present at the center during all operating hours & maintain consistent visibility for staff, families, & licensing compliance purposes