Director, Early Childhood Learning

Join our team as our newly envisioned Early Learning Center Director!

Are you a high-impact, strategic-thinking, collaborative leader committed to educational excellence? Do you have a track record in providing visionary leadership, operational excellence, skillfully facilitating employee success and community engagement? If so, we want YOU to lead as Director for JCC Greater Boston’s Bernice B. Godine Early Learning Center as our newly envisioned Director and make a lasting impact on young lives and our vibrant community!

The Director is the senior leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of school operations, education, employee success and excellence, and community engagement. As the principal administrator, the Director ensures that the school provides a nurturing, high-quality educational experience while upholding the mission, values, and strategic vision of JCC Greater Boston. The Director reports to the AVP of JCC’s Early Learning Centers and is responsible for creating and leading a cohesive and high-performing team of professionals - including the Director of Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Coordinator, two Child Development Specialists, Office Manager, Enrollment Coordinator and over 40 class­room teachers – that maintains the highest standards of instructional practice, customer service, school administration, and employee relations and performance.

The Bernice B. Godine Early Learning Center, located in Newton, MA, is the largest of the JCC Greater Boston’s Early Learning Centers, and is a respected leader in early childhood education that meets each child's unique needs, foster curiosity and collaboration, and drive a sense of community. As the leader of our largest Center, the Director will play a key role in shaping the broader vision for early childhood education across JCC Greater Boston and ensuring the school is fully integrated into the larger JCC ecosystem.  

Key Responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership & School Oversight: Responsible for the overall oversight of the school, ensuring excellence in educational programming, staff leadership, operational management, compliance, and community engagement. Provide visionary leadership for the Bernice B. Godine JCC Early Learning Center, ensuring alignment with the JCC’s mission and goals.
• Educational & Program Excellence: In collaboration with the Director of Teaching and Learning, ensure the development and implementation of a high-quality, integrated secular and Judaic curriculum that aligns with Sheva Center Early Learning framework and Massachusetts Infant/Toddler and Preschool guidelines. Develop and implement ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers, ensuring they have the training, resources, and support to excel in early childhood education.
• Operations & Compliance: Ensure full compliance with Massachusetts EEC licensing requirements and all applicable regulations. Oversee the center’s health, safety, and child development standards, creating a secure and enriching environment for children and families. Establish efficient school operations, ensuring optimal staffing, classroom management, and program execution.
• Financial & Business Management: Develop and oversee the school’s budget, ensuring financial sustainability and strategic resource allocation. Ensure proper financial tracking, tuition collection, and payroll coordination in partnership with the JCC finance team.
• Family & Community Engagement: Build strong relationships with families, ensuring a warm, inclusive, and responsive school community. Serve as the primary point of contact for parent communications, addressing concerns and fostering positive relationships.
• Marketing & Outreach: Collaborate with the Enrollment Coordinator and Marketing department to implement effective marketing strategies aimed at attracting new students and maintaining strong enrollment. Partner with HR to develop and execute staff recruitment strategies to attract and retain high-quality educators.
• Organizational Commitment & Collaboration: Serve as part of the broader team of ELC Directors from the JCCs other ELC sites, collaborating regularly to align best practices, share insights, and contribute to the overall strategic vision of the JCC’s early childhood education programs. Work closely with Senior JCC leadership to integrate the ELC into the broader JCC mission and community offerings. Uphold and represent the JCC’s mission and philosophy in all aspects of leadership.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: The Director is directly responsible for supervising the Director of Teaching and Learning, the Office Manager, the Enrollment Coordinator, and the Child Development Specialists. Additionally, the Director provides support to the Director of Teaching and Learning in overseeing the Curriculum Coordinator. The Director also plays a key role in supporting all classroom supervisors in the supervision of more than 40 classroom teachers, ensuring a cohesive and well-managed educational environment.

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing! 

The JCC is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston's core values: Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation, which we hope resonate with all.

This full-time, salaried position offers a comprehensive benefits package, a supportive work environment and a competitive starting salary of $90,000 and $102,000 annually. The salary offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience, and JCC's internal equity.

About JCC Greater Boston

Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to its mission of creating a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse community by nurturing meaningful and lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends.

JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team!

To learn more about what makes JCC Greater Boston a wonderful place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.bostonjcc.org/careers/

JCC Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich a diverse environment, we actively encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

This position requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field with a minimum of five years successful experience in a management/leadership role and supervising a team:

• Experience overseeing school operations, staffing, and compliance
• Experience managing large teams (40+ staff members)

Master’s degree strongly preferred and must be willing and able to attain EEC Director II Certification.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet this minimum hiring criteria.

Skills and Abilities: This high-impact leadership role is an exciting opportunity for a strategic-thinking individual with experience managing a large school. Our ideal candidate is a strong leader with a clear vision who is capable of effectively overseeing budgeting, enrollment, and overall school success while shaping a positive, engaged, and high-performing school culture. Additionally, must have a demonstrated track record of operational excellence, and a commitment to education. Other requirements include:

• Must possess excellent interpersonal and active listening skills
• Must be an excellent communicator, both written and oral, and demonstrate this in work with parents, teachers and colleagues.
• Must have a record of successfully working well independently and with others, building/sustaining collaborative working relationships.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships; demonstrates a commitment to building strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders and the ability to build trust among teachers, families, and the broader JCC community.
• Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and decision-making skills will be critical in navigating change management and enhancing the school’s environment.
• Strong leadership & vision
• Strong financial & budgeting acumen
• Ability to maintain compliance with licensing and accreditation standards
• Strong organizational & operational management
• Track record of excellent judgement, problem-solving & decision-making skills; able to tactfully and effectively navigate sometimes difficult conversations.
• Adaptability & resilience
• Ability to lead organizational culture change, build trust, and foster a positive, collaborative work environment among staff to create a thriving culture of mutual accountability, respect, innovation, services and productivity.
• Must be able to create, articulate and advocate for a vision for the Early Learning Center and to demonstrate a passion for creating a caring and responsive community.
• Must be able to juggle many, sometimes competing, priorities, demonstrating excellent organizational and time management skills.
• A commitment to continuous professional growth is essential, including but not limited to leadership training, Jewish education, and the latest research and best practices in early childhood education.
• Should have knowledge of education and experience in educational theory, not necessarily limited to early childhood.

In addition to a rewarding career within our supportive, professional, mission-driven, values-driven, and family-centric environment, JCC Greater Boston proudly offers full-time employees a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive cost-sharing Health and Dental Insurance
• JCC Sponsored/Paid Health Deductible Reimbursement Account
• JCC Sponsored/Fully Paid Group Life Insurance/LTD Coverage
• Generous paid time off supporting a quality work-life balance
• Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan and ROTH contribution options
• Voluntary Supplemental Vision Insurance
• Additional Voluntary Supplemental Life/ADD coverage for you and your family
• AbilityAssist Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Norton Cyber Security Program
• LegalEase Insurance program

JCCGB Perks! This position is eligible for a free individual membership to JCC Greater Boston's top class fitness, recreation and wellness facility in Newton – offering virtual and in-person programs including indoor swimming, many fitness classes, and workout facilities, as well as discounts to many JCCGB events, classes, outdoor pool, and more! Complimentary individual membership includes: 

• Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman
• Access to group fit classes, Arts & Culture adult programming at member rates,
• Discounts on a variety JCCGB's fitness/wellness programs and services
• Free wellness events!
• Discounted child care at JCCGB Early Learning Centers and after-school program
• Discounted JCCGB camp tuition

Benefits are subject to review and change by the Organization, and plan documents are the primary determinant.

A Great Place to Work! JCC Greater Boston is consciously evolving as a great place to work! In our recent 2023 employee engagement survey, at least 88% of our staff gave us top ratings on:

• Supportive colleagues
• Team camaraderie
• How their managers treat them
• Individual autonomy
• Knowing what their work contributes to and how it impacts others
• Pride in working for the JCC
• Program and service quality
• Holding ourselves accountable    

Our staff and leadership bring experience, excellence, and commitment to everything we offer and we are dedicated to a culture where all our employees may thrive. Our culture is built on our values, driven by our mission, and nurtured through the expert contributions of our professionals.