Child Care Program Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

• Employee Type FT Salary

Description

The Director of Early Learning & Child Care launches and grows the licensed child care program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit (BGCGD). Serving as the organization’s qualified Program Director of record, the Director leads the licensing process for new sites end to end, opens BGCGD’s first new site(s), and develops the relationships, partnerships, and locations that allow the program to expand to multiple sites across the region. This is a builder’s role: the Director is responsible not only for maintaining continuous compliance with state, local, and federal regulatory standards, but for creating and growing the program itself — securing locations, building enrollment pipelines, and developing a repeatable playbook so each new site opens faster and runs better than the last — in alignment with BGCGD’s mission to provide safe, high-quality youth development environments.

• Lead the licensing process for new sites end to end — application, facility readiness, policies, inspections, and approval — and serve as the qualified Program Director of record.
• Prepare, submit, and monitor licensing applications, renewals, and amendments through Michigan’s licensing agency and other applicable regulatory bodies.
• Conduct pre-inspection walkthroughs and coordinate required inspections with fire marshals, health departments, and licensing specialists.

• Identify and secure new locations and community partnerships, including with schools and other organizations, to expand access to high-quality care.
• Build enrollment pipelines and lasting community relationships that fill new sites and grow the program.
• Create the repeatable playbook that lets each new site open faster and run better than the last.

• Ensure every site meets all Michigan child care licensing requirements — staff-to-child ratios, staff training, health and safety, and recordkeeping.
• Maintain up-to-date license files, inspection reports, permits, and corrective action plans, and proactively ensure timely renewals.
• Serve as BGCGD’s point of contact with state licensing and other oversight agencies, and represent the organization during inspections and audits as needed.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise site staff and lead teachers, building strong teams that deliver developmentally appropriate, engaging programming.
• Train staff and site leaders on licensing rules, ratios, supervision standards, sanitation, safety, reporting, and documentation.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate program policies and day-to-day operations across all sites.
• Own enrollment, revenue, and operating budgets for each site, meeting utilization and financial goals.
• Provide regular updates to organizational leadership on licensing status, enrollment, site openings, and program performance.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in a child-related field, plus 18 semester hours in ECE/Child Development and 480 hours of experience; OR
• An associate’s degree in ECE/Child Development (including 18 semester hours), plus 480 hours of experience; OR
• A valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, plus 18 semester hours in ECE/Child Development and 960 hours of experience; OR
• 60 semester hours of college credit including 18 semester hours in ECE/Child Development, plus 1,920 hours of experience.
• 2 semester hours / 3.0 CEUs in child care administration, or an approved administrative credential (or the ability to complete this requirement).
• At least 21 years of age, high school diploma or GED, and ability to pass all required background checks and clearances for licensed child care in Michigan.

• At least 3–5 years of experience in licensed child care or early learning, including supervising staff.
• Hands-on experience with Michigan child care licensing — applications, inspections, and ongoing compliance.
• Experience managing a program or center budget, enrollment, and staffing.
• Knowledge of Michigan child care licensing regulations and requirements.
• Comfort with child care operations tools (such as Brightwheel) and MiRegistry.
• Strong relationship-building and partnership-development skills.
• Ability to manage multiple sites, deadlines, and priorities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, and ability to train and coach diverse staff teams across locations.

• Has personally opened a new licensed child care site — not just run an existing one.
• Brings an existing network of community and partner contacts to activate on day one.
• Has managed more than one site or program at the same time.
• Thinks like an operator and a developer — sees opportunities to grow and goes and gets them.
• Knows the metro Detroit market and the families and neighborhoods we serve.
• Travel to multiple BGCGD Club and program sites across the metro Detroit region.
• Ability to conduct on-site inspections, walkthroughs, and training sessions.
• Some evening/weekend availability as needed for inspections or site launches.

• Regulatory Compliance
• Relationship-Building & Community Partnership
• Staff Leadership, Training & Coaching
• Financial & Operational Management
• Problem-Solving
• Mission Alignment with BGCGD’s Youth Development Vision