Early Childhood Programs Manager

Description

Job Title: Early Childhood Programs Manager

Department: Learning and Public Engagement

Reports To: Vice President of Learning and Public Engagement 

Supervises: Education Program Guides 

FLSA Salary Classification: Full-time, Exempt    

Availability: Primary schedule of standard business hours with occasional evening and weekend availability required to support the department and organizational needs. 

Created: May 2024

General Summary: Develop and manage the Garden’s Early Childhood programs, primarily the nature Pre-K, serving as the primary administrator. This includes continual program development, instruction, evaluation, and parent communications. Perform in a leadership capacity in collaborating with Garden staff to provide high-quality innovative, mission-based STEM programming. Work to create a safe, accessible, and stimulating environment for all learners.  

Essential Duties:

• Responsible for the oversight and management of the Garden’s early childhood programs, primarily the nature Pre-K. Manage the day-to-day activities including supervision of the planning and implementation of the children’s daily activities, supervision of staff, appropriate maintenance of the nature Pre-K, accurate records of attendance, emergencies, and parent conversations/conferences. 
• Supervise the Early Childhood Education Program Guides including recruitment and selection, job assignments, performance feedback, staff development, and training in keeping with the Garden’s policies and procedures. Coordinate with the Learning Programs Manager to create the schedule of education staff for all programs.
• Establish and maintain procedures following the State of Alabama Childcare Facilities recommendations. Create a communication plan to keep parents informed utilizing Brightwheel and Class Dojo.
• Collaborate with the Manager of STEM Curriculum and Programs to create lesson plans focused on nature play and Montessori principles. Carry out curriculum indoors and outdoors incorporating the natural world and seasonal changes, spending at least 70% on outdoor instruction. 
• Prepare items to be used in the day-to-day curriculum/clean up materials at the end of class day with the emergency information, medical release information, current email list, assistance from the education support team. 
• Perform consistent safety and risk assessments, looking forward to continual ways of improvement.
• Manage and report on budgets for early childhood programs and plan to meet or exceed program revenue and expense targets. Provide monthly budget updates against the goal to the VP of Learning and Public Engagement. 
• Engage in professional interactions with allied institutions, serve on internal and external committees as requested, and attend meetings and conventions, as appropriate. Participate as needed in regional and national early childhood environmental education conferences for professional development and presentations. 
• Implement and interpret program surveys that capture both behavioral and demographic data. Work with the VP of Learning and Public Engagement and others to support learning research through grant proposal writing, preparation and post-award implementation, and reporting. 
• Operate Seeds to Sprouts family program and support early childhood STEM Camps, ages 4-5. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or related field with at least 5 years of experience in early childhood programs or at a childcare facility. Or an associate degree in child development or early childhood education with 5+ years of experience in early childhood programs or a childcare facility. Must have demonstrated experience in logistics, budget management, and leading education programming. 

Newly employed staff must submit a physical examination report completed prior to employment that provides evidence that they are free of communicable disease, including active tuberculosis and physical and mental conditions that could affect their ability to perform assigned duties as required by the State of Alabama. Employee must become certified and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR (classes provided). Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license, which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report.  

Success Factors:

• A commitment to, and ability to effectively convey, the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants with genuine passion that also embraces and exemp