Associate Executive Director of Childcare

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the work of the Merrimack Valley Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The incumbent will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all child care programs, in partnership with the Executive Director of Child Care. Ensuring high-quality service delivery, regulatory compliance, staff development, and operational excellence. Demonstrating strong knowledge and effective use of technology to support program management, data analysis, communication, enrollment systems, budgeting, staff scheduling, and continuous improvement initiatives. Leverages technology to enhance efficiency, strengthen family engagement, and support informed decision-making across the child care department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Hires, manages, directs, supports, and evaluates the Out of School Time Directors of the Merrimack Valley YMCA.  Builds effective relationships, mentors, and provides leadership to staff team members.
2. Assist all Association Out of School Time operations through a leadership structure, ensuring Association strategic priorities, policies, and procedures are followed and embedded into the Y culture.
3. Assures compliance with state and local regulations as they relate to program areas. Ensures that YMCA program standards are met and safety procedures followed.
4. In conjunction with senior leadership, develops, manages, monitors, and reports on the operating budget of the Out of School Time Programs.
5. In conjunction with the Marketing Team and Executive Director of Child Care, leads the marketing and distribution of program information. 
6. Essential technology expertise that will utilize, train, and upgrade all Child Care software in conjunction with the IT department.
7. Serves as support and consultant in program development, quality control, state and federal regulation requirements, accreditation, and new initiatives.
8. Responsible for Commonwealth of MA standards and accountability of these standards in all Merrimack Valley YMCA Out of School Time Programs.
9. Research, introduce, and implement new programs and initiatives, keeping the Out of School Time programs and related programs relevant and up to date.
10. Responsible for support, guidance, and mentoring for staff training, evaluations, staff recruitment and retention, and career planning.
11. Builds effective relationships, mentors, and provides leadership to staff team members, Committees, and community agencies.
12. Models relationship-building skills in all interactions with staff, volunteers, members, and the community.
13. Assists and promotes the Association’s philanthropic initiatives. 
14. Expands program within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans.
15. Responds to all agency, parent, and community inquiries and complaints promptly. Facilitates meetings with families at all sites as needed.
16. Oversight of all of childcare operations when needed.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Multi Team Leader):

Mission Advancement: Incorporates the Y’s mission and values into the organization’s vision and strategies. Ensures community engagement; promotes the global nature of the Y. Leads a culture of volunteerism ensuring engagement, inclusion, and ownership. Leads a culture of philanthropy.

Collaboration: Advocates for and institutionalizes inclusion and diversity throughout the organization. Initiates the development of relationships with influential leaders to impact and strengthen the community. Is recognized as an inspirational community leader who navigates complex political and social circles with ease. Communicates to engage and inspire people within and outside the YMCA. Ensures that a talent management system is in place and executed effectively.

Operational Effectiveness: Possesses penetrating insight and strong strategic and critical thinking skills. Invests resources in well-designed innovation initiatives. Creates a structure to deliver organization-wide results to achieve objectives. Develops and implements stewardship strategies. Determines benchmarks and ensures appropriate leadership to meet objectives.

Personal Growth: Creates a learning organization. Effectively drives change by leveraging resources and creating alignment to expand organizational opportunities. Shares authority and demonstrates courage and humility. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in human services, business, social services or equivalent preferred.
2. Six or more years of professional leadership experience in childcare services.
3. Knowledge and experience in all aspects of operations, including staff supervision and development, membership practices, program development and implementation, volunteerism, facility and property management and financial practices.
4. Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; track record of building authentic, constructive relationships with others.
5. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferre
6. Valid US Driver’s License

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.