Overview

Launch is dedicated to ensuring a brilliant start for all children. Through our preschool, after school and summer programs, we provide equitable access to the highest-quality learning and care in a safe, enriching environment that prepares children for success in school and life. Our programs serve a diverse group of over 1300 children ages 3-12 and are located on-site in 9 Seattle public schools and 4 community centers. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, we serve as a proven model of effective programming and a passionate advocate for children, families and communities. Launch strives to live an anti-racist, inclusive existence, and welcomes diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives.

The Program Site Manager is responsible for managing the daily operations of their respective site and ensuring a safe, happy, and stimulating environment for children in accordance with Launch policies and procedures. This position plans, organizes, supervises and coordinates programs and activities that will enhance the personal growth and development of children and families in our care. This position reports to a Regional Program Director and supervises all preschool and after-school teachers assigned to the site.

Essential Job Functions

• Organize, evaluate, and oversee the school site to create a fun and engaging learning environment.
• Foster relationships by creating open and ongoing communication with families and school or community center administration.
• Provide a caring family-oriented environment where positive child/adult relationships are developed.
• Motivate, train, develop and oversee all on-site staff. Provide guidance and feedback to help team members strengthen knowledge and skills to accomplish individual and team goals.
• Maintain a monthly control system, which includes monitoring of billing and payments. Collect tuition, enroll children, maintain a set budget and keep receipts and records.
• Maintain WA State child-care license compliance at the designated school or community center site.
• Manage enrollment-related practices (responding to school inquiries, providing program tours, building enrollment, creating relationships with school families, etc.)
• Networking and building relationships and brand awareness within the community (hosting school events, attending community events, etc.).
• Facilitate and attend occasional family participate events and other events at night and/or on weekends (approximately 1 time per month).
• Conduct staff and family meetings (staff meetings are to be held weekly).
• Assist the Regional Program Director in the hiring and recruitment of new employees.
• Manage daily attendance of site staff and booking of substitutes.
• Handle inquiries and center tours according to policy. Convert inquiries to tours and tours to enrollments.
• Follow all organization policies and procedures and state of Washington licensing regulations.
• Perform classroom observations and provide teachers with meaningful feedback.
• Manage daily attendance of children. For preschool, attendance is entered daily in CHIPS data base system. For school-age, attendance is reviewed prior to bell-time against school’s roster and all children are accounted for within 15 minutes of arrival to the program.
• Role models appropriate behaviors and techniques working with children
• Prepare reports, document work and meet all reporting deadlines
• Attend meetings and provide progress reports as requested

Qualifications

Minimum Education, Experience & Training Equivalent

All Program Managers shall meet ONE OF THE FOLLOWING for state licensing qualifications:

• CDA or State ECE certificate, 30 hours of BASICS training and 10 hours’ child program management and 3 years’ experience.
• An Associate’s degree in any field, 30 hours of BASICS training and 10 hours’ child program management and 2 years’ experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or similar field, 10 hours training in child program management and 1-year experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, 30 hours of BASICS training and 10 hours’ child program management, and 1-year of experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• The ability to lead staff in implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum
• The ability to problem-solve, think strategically, and handle sensitive information and difficult situations tactfully and confidentially
• The ability to exhibit cultural humility when working with staff and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Strong critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• The ability to lead by example and routinely demonstrate behavior consistent with Launch’s values, or children, families, employees and mission.
• The ability to collaborate with on-site educators, colleagues, community partners and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality, on-site programs.
• The ability to communicate effectively, professionally and empathetically in both written and verbal formats.
• The ability to work effectively in a normal office environment; physical requirements include normal walking, sitting, bending, twisting, standing and reaching activities and the ability to regularly lift items weighing up to 25 lbs.
• The ability and willingness to travel to other Launch worksites as needed.
• Strong organizational skills, demonstrated by (but not limited to) a safe, clean and effectively managed worksite and compliance with Launch’s confidentiality policy regarding child, family and employee information.
• Proficiency with appropriate software, including MS Office and Procare.
• Demonstrate an eagerness to learn and enhance skills that promote Equity and Inclusion

Condition of Employment

• Ability to obtain and maintain criminal record clearance
• TB Clearance
• Food Worker Card
• First Aid/CPR
• Blood Borne Pathogens/HIV training
• Mandated Reported Training
• MMR Vaccination Record
• Must attend any required training

After Hire

• Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families Trainings
  • Medication Management
  • Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
  • Families Experiencing Homelessness
  • Abusive Head Trauma

Within Three Months of Hire

• STARS training credentials, or ability to become certified

The statement contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of the job. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas as deemed fit for the organization.