Assistant Director

Summary

Description

Summary/Objective:

The Assistant Director at the Mile High United Way Early Learning Center at Warren Village’s Alameda campus will oversee all areas of child health and enrollment, child and family integration, on-site administration of CACFP, and Director support. The Center serves children ages 6 weeks to 10 years old in a comprehensive, high-quality early learning environment. Teaching teams provide a supportive and nurturing learning environment with a strong emphasis on whole-child development, teacher training, and application of Conscious Discipline®. This center will be attached to a permanent supportive housing complex for low-income families.

The Early Learning Center (ELC) at Alameda, now serving families from both the on-site housing community and surrounding neighborhood, offers a unique opportunity to join a recently opened, mission-driven program focused on trauma-informed, inclusive, and family-centered care. We are seeking a reliable, joyful team member who brings a spirit of celebration, strong initiative, and consistent follow-through-especially in interdepartmental communication and meeting deadlines. This person will be integral to the continued setup and growth of the center, helping to refine systems, co-create universal support, and contribute to a solid foundation for long-term success. Ideal candidates will have experience in building family partnerships, understanding stacked funding sources (e.g., Head Start, CPP, CCCAP, UPK), and collaborating with staff across sites, including our sister program at Warren Village’s Gilpin ELC.

At Warren Village, we uphold organizational values of accountability, collaboration, empowerment, excellence, inclusion, and integrity. We agree to engage our work together with honesty and transparency, clear decision-making, continuous learning and improvement, a commitment to repair, community building, and collective growth and well-being. We recognize that our backgrounds are broad, and our talents are many, from different lived experiences. We value and leverage these differences to support and engage our communities.

 Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Staff Supervision and Development
  • Monitors and (indirectly) supervise staff, including oversight of teaching activities, addressing concerns, and providing feedback.
  • Directly supervises the learning center Cook and collaborates closely with the Food Service Coordinator, including recruitment, selection, development, and disciplinary action as needed.
  • Assists the Director in staff evaluations, performance improvement plans, hiring, onboarding processes, and compliance-related training.
  • Works with the Educational Coach to ensure data consistency, cover classrooms as needed and ensure compliance with licensing regulations and quality standards.
• Recruitment, Enrollment, and Family Orientation
  • Manages the enrollment process, including monitoring waitlist and classroom capacities, responding to inquiries, giving tours, processing applications, and maintaining accurate, updated family records.
  • Manages family communications with appropriate confidentiality, including notifying staff of new enrollments and withdrawals, and working closely with Family Services (in applicable cases) to ensure a seamless enrollment experience.
  • Partners with external agencies and the Family/Supportive Services teams to ensure complete student enrollment and eligibility criteria for funding sources like Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Denver Preschool Program (DPP), Universal Pre-K (UPK), State Funded Program (SFP), and Head Start are met. Competently stacks funding sources to ensure organizational cost-effectiveness while providing excellent service to each family.
• Health and Safety Management

• Maintains child health records, ensuring compliance with regulations and coordinating as needed with staff to ensure necessary accommodations.
• Serves as the primary administrator for medication management, including training staff and coordinating with the school nurse consultant.
• Ensures compliance with emergency procedures and drills, trains staff on these protocols and manages documentation and readiness.
• Mediates between parents and external service providers for special needs referrals, including IFSP, IEP, and other support services.
• Communicates the nature of illness and incident reports to parents daily.

• Nutrition and Food Program Compliance (CACFP/USDA)

• Ensures the learning center cook meets CACFP and Department of Health standards.
• Maintains accurate records, conducts training, and helps prepares for site visits.
• Helps with food purchasing by working in collaboration with the Food Service Coordinator, making sure menus are executed as planned by the Food Service Coordinator, and kitchen maintenance to meet compliance and health standards.

• Family and Community Engagement

• Provides resources and referrals to families, responds to parent concerns, and manages tuition payments.
• Communicates policies on pick-ups, illnesses, and other procedures.
• Assists in planning and facilitating family and staff events, ensuring clear and constructive communication through various channels.

• Operational and Administrative Duties

• Conducts monthly health and safety checks.
• Assists with budget management.
• Orders necessary supplies.
• Supports data reporting for grants and third-party revenue, ensuring consistency across enrollment and instructional databases.
• Functions as a director-on-duty as needed (managing daily staffing schedules and substitute coordination).
• Possess a working knowledge of and willingness to adopt Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG), Interrater Reliability, Creative Curriculum, Conscious Discipline, and all other frequently utilized screening assessments (ESI, DECA, ASQ).
• Reports required information to all external entities in a timely and accurate fashion (Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Child Care Licensing Rules & Regulations).

 Other duties as assigned.

 Competencies:

• Committed to Warren Village’s mission and culture. 
• Technology systems aptitude. Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.; and early childhood data systems (TS GOLD®, Creative Curriculum®, Conscious Discipline®, Brightwheel).
• Clear decision-making, problem-solving, and effective prioritization.
• Effective time management and ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Passion for early childhood education, curriculum design, and instructional improvement.
• Strong management, organization, and leadership skills.
• Ability to implement inclusive practices for diverse developmental, medical, and behavioral needs.
• Working knowledge of Colorado licensing requirements, state/federal regulations, and health standards.

Minimum/Required Qualifications:

• High school education or general education degree (GED).
• Valid State of Colorado Large Center Director Certificate.
• Three years of related experience, including at least one year in a supervisory role.
• Two years of computer experience, including database management skills – primarily using Brightwheel.

Preferred education, knowledge, and/or experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Social Work or related field or 8 years of related experience may be substituted for education. 
• Valid Colorado driver’s license.
• Experience with Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Denver Preschool Program (DPP), Universal Pre-K (UPK), State Funded Program (SFP), Teaching Strategies Gold®/Interrater Reliability, Creative Curriculum®, Conscious Discipline®, and trauma-informed practices.
• Experience with Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Child Care Licensing Rules & Regulations.
• Experience with Head Start, Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), ESI (Early Screening Inventory), and Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3/ASQ-SE2).

Work Environment: The working environment has an approximate balance of 50% office work (using a personal computer and other office equipment) and 50% movement inside/outside the center. This position frequently communicates with staff, families, children, community support agencies, consultants, and government agencies, which requires the ability to exchange accurate information. Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements such as weather, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. The employee may be exposed contagious and/or ill children and must be conscious of the health and safety of the children, their parents, school personnel, and themselves. 

Physical Demands: While performing the responsibilities of the position, must constantly be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time; occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. Frequently communicates information and ideas so others will understand; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Must have the ability to observe details at close range. 

Warren Village is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We recruit, hire, train, compensate, and promote individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Warren Village values diversity and encourages candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the application and employment process in accordance with applicable laws.