Director of Early Childhood Education

At JCC Indianapolis, our mission is to provide inclusive experiences that lead to personal growth and community building. We embrace and serve a diverse community, bringing together the best of multiple generations, cultures, religions, skillsets and thinking. We also know that the more inclusive we are, the better our community will be. As an equal opportunity employer, we stay true to our mission by ensuring that the JCC can be anyone’s community.

We are committed to inclusion across race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. We celebrate multiple approaches and diverse points of view.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.

Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

About the Opportunity:

Being an ECE Director has been aptly compared to the wonderful children’s picture book Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. This story, based on a folktale, tells the story of a peddler who keeps adding caps to his head until he wears a whole stack of them. If each cap is a role, an ECE Director needs to wear many different roles at once. But the various roles all support the same goal: create, develop and maintain an environment in which children thrive, staff are engaged and families are supported. And while ECE teachers directly impact children’s experiences, as Director you impact children’s development outcomes by structuring the conditions that support teacher effectiveness. Virtually everything you do in your leadership role directly or indirectly influences the reputation and success of the program.

What you’ll be doing:

• Guiding teachers to do their best work
• Building, developing and nurturing a teaching team that supports the mission, vision and values of the program and the JCC
• Handling conflict with parents and families by deflecting frustration and building bridges
• Pitching in when needed and being a visible presence for staff and families
• Completing the administratively tasks effectively and efficiently
• Developing leadership skills in staff to ensure readiness for new opportunities
• Embrace and model the JCC Internal Service Standards of Respect, Gratitude, Communication, The Golden Rule, and Ownership/Accountability

What you bring to the table:

• Meet or exceed director credentials established by the State
• Experience both in the classroom in an ECE leadership role
• Commitment to excellence, compassion, transparency and integrity
• Ability to lead difficult discussions professionally and effectively
• Proficiency in supervising a large and diverse teaching team
• Enthusiasm, good humor, flexibility
• Commitment to making a positive difference in the life of a child, either directly or indirectly
• Embrace sloppy hugs, sticky fingers and macaroni necklaces with enthusiasm and joy

What we offer:

• Competitive salary
• Paid-time off to recharge and rejuvenate (including paid national & Jewish holidays, vacation and personal/sick time)
• Health & wellness benefits
• Retirement benefits
• JCC membership & discounts on childcare, fitness, wellness and cultural arts programs and services
• Professional development opportunities
• Great culture, great teammates, great work environment
• Beautiful campus on 43 acres

Work Environment:

Every day is different but also similar. Physical requirements of the position include the ability to lift, twist, bend, reach, kneel and crouch; to use typical office equipment including a computer, phone, 2-way radio, copier, laminator. While most work occurs indoors some days you take it outside to visit the playgrounds, aquatic park and garden.