Director Creative Commons Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

This position supports up to four (4) Directly Operated School-Based Early Education Centers while preparing for a future Site Director opportunity. The individual in this role must be able and willing to work at any of the designated Chicago Commons sites as assigned, based on organizational need.

With support from upper management, this role assists in overseeing all areas of center-based early education programming, including program leadership, instructional quality, family engagement, and compliance monitoring. The individual is directly responsible for program operations in the absence of the Site Director.

Chicago Commons Directly Operated Sites include:

• Guadalupano Family Center – Chicago, IL 60608

• Paulo Freire Family Center – Chicago, IL 60609

• Taylor Family Center – Chicago, IL 60647

• Nia Family Center – Chicago, IL 60624

Education & Certification Requirements

(To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education, early special education, or child development from birth to age 6. Level 2 Illinois Director Credential or higher.  Illinois Gateways Level 5 for ECE & Infant & Toddler. 

Or Bachelor’s Degree in a related field w/ 21 credit hours related to early childhood education, early special education, or child development from birth to age 6, teaching experience in an early childhood setting (0-6 years), and a Level 2 Illinois Director Credential or higher.  Illinois Gateways Level 5 for ECE & Infant & Toddler. 

A master’s degree in the early childhood field is preferred.

Experience & Training Requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of early education and developmentally appropriate best practices.
• Experience formulating and writing assessments and support plans. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills. 
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to use Office 365 suite. 
• Strong leadership skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must have outstanding people skills and ability to develop, grow, and maintain relationships with others.
• Must be able to take initiative, use sound judgement when making decisions.
• Must be detail oriented.
• Must be a self-motivated person who can work both individually and on a team.
• Must be able to serve as an advocate for children and families.
• Knowledge of Head Start and Early Head Start, Creative Curriculum, the Reggio Emilia approach, CLASS, and Teaching Strategies GOLD (preferred).
• Must be able to read and write English proficiently
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Essential Job Requirements & Duties

(These include but are not limited to the following. The company reserves the right to add to, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.)

• Collaborate with the management team in the development of site-based education and improvement plans as well as the agency’s child development philosophy and goals.
• Ensures compliance with all city, state, and federal regulations.
• Responsible for the management and operation of the site in the absence of the site director.
• Ensure appropriate classroom coverage to maintain required teacher-child ratios.
• Responsible for recruitment, registration and enrollment of eligible children including 10% of children with disabilities at agency sites; maintain at least a 10% waiting list for each site.
• Provide center tours to parents and partners interested in the program.
• Establish positive, professional relationships with Chicago Commons’ staff, the surrounding community, and funders.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with children and families using a strength-based approach that is respectful, supportive, and culturally sensitive.
• Ensures classroom teams are creating an atmosphere in which children develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.
• Assists with team lesson planning and reviews all lesson plans.
• Ensures all social emotional, developmental; vision and hearing screenings are completed with the 45-day timelines.
• Monitors ongoing observation assessments in Teaching Strategies GOLD and provide feedback to enhance child outcomes.
• Assists teachers in implementing IEPs/IFSPs and in differentiating planning and instruction for all children.
• Oversees site’s efforts for serving children with disabilities including referrals, provider’s observations and required documentation.
• Ensures the Reggio Emilia philosophy is implemented consistently and monitors consistent use of the Studios.
• Monitors education folders for children in assigned classrooms as designated by the Site Director.
• Maintain a quality program that meets NAEYC and ExceleRate GOLD requirements.
• Provides supervision and training of staff as designated by the Site Director.
• Complete annual performance evaluations for staff as designated by the Site Director.
• Collaborates with the Site Director in recruiting and hiring qualified staff members.
• Assists with new staff orientation/onboarding.
• Supports staff in developing and achieving goals as outlined in professional development planning.
• Ensures continuity of care in 0-3 classrooms.
• Assists with planning parent meetings and family events.
• Participates in family meetings, as needed.
• Collaborates with the Site Director to plan field trips and other special events.
• Prepares written reports as requested.
• Assists in working with facilities to ensure the center environment is clean and safe.
• Participates in Chicago Commons Leadership and Site Director meetings
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Employment Requirements:

• Successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening.
• Successfully complete all required DCFS criminal background checks.
• Provide proof of required education or credentials.
• Verify previous employment and work history.

Applicants may review information regarding disqualifying criminal offenses under DCFS Disqualifying Convictions: Section 385 Appx.A 

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Employment Conditions:

This job description is to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the duties as described. This job description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate commensurate to the position. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and Chicago Commons reserves the right to change this job description and /or assign tasks deemed appropriate.

Working Conditions:

(The unavoidable, externally imposed conditions under which the work must be performed, and which create hardship for the incumbent including the frequency and duration of occurrence of physical demands, environmental conditions, demands on one’s senses, and mental demands.) None known.

To learn more about Chicago Commons' benefits package, please click HERE.