Description

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization’s work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN-We are never done learning and always seek to improve. We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. We UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun!

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

1. Enrollment: Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
2. Satisfaction: Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
3. Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
4. Education and Conversion: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
5. Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
6. Ownership: Staff and volunteers encourage members to “own” the YMCA, using words such as “we,” “us,” and “our association” (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Early Learning Workforce Development develops and coordinates the YMCA’s early learning career pathway plan that includes training and development opportunities for aspiring, novice, and experienced teachers, site coordinators, and center directors. In collaboration with early learning center directors and association leadership, the Senior Director will develop, implement, and oversee a cohort-model for hiring and onboarding teaching staff. This position will also be responsible for developing, leading, and managing the aspiring directors program for the YMCA and managing the association-wide substitute teaching pool. The Senior Director collaborates with Human Resources on leadership recruitment, retention, and pipeline strategies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Design and implement aspiring director program, with input from key stakeholders, developing the selection criteria for the aspiring directors program and overseeing the selection process for participants.
• Develop, implement, and oversee a cohort-model for hiring and onboarding teaching staff, in close collaboration with early learning center directors and association leadership.
• Manage the association-wide substitute teaching pool, serving as trainer and supervisor for all substitute teachers.
• Coordinate the delivery of leadership professional development to ensure current and aspiring YMCA early learning center directors have the knowledge and skills to be successful in their jobs and prepared for career pathways. 
• Develop and/or facilitate trainings on a range of early childhood topics, as needed.
• Monitor the quality of leadership development programming by collecting, analyzing, and responding to data to ensure expectations for the leadership development program are being met.
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative and professional relationships with staff across departments.
• Coordinate recruitment and retention efforts with Human Resources to ensure highly qualified candidates are available.
• Attend meetings as required for the program.
• Help lead community conversations regarding early childhood workforce strategies and solutions.
• Serves in ratio or as an interim childcare care/youth director as needed to cover PTO, vacancies, or leaves of absence. 

Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Association

COMPENSATION

$57,300 - $71,600 ; Annually, Full-Time

BENEFITS

• Free YMCA Family Membership & discounted program fees
• 50% discount off the regular rate for each child registered in a YMCA childcare program. Full-time YMCA employees working in a licensed childcare program will receive a 50% discount on all Early Learning (including infant room), School-Age, and Day Camp registrations.
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off, beginning at 4 weeks per year
• 9 Paid Holidays per year
• 10% retirement contribution upon eligibility, learn more here.
• 403(b) retirement savings account
• The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. More information can be found here.
• Paid Parental Leave
• Long term disability, basic life insurance and other voluntary benefits
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program and resources for you and your family
• Community Discounts, and more!

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood education, child development, a human services related field, or related. A combination of human services, community outreach experience or education will be considered.
• Prior experience and track record as an effective trainer.
• Prior experience with community outreach programs.
• Prior experience working as both an educator and a director in a licensed early care and education center.
• Intermediate to advanced computer literacy including: database management, data entry and reporting, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Effective and strong communicator. Ability to communicate clearly in English both verbally and in writing. Ability to write concise, informative written information in a timely manner as needed within the position.
• Ability to interact with people of all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles. Ability and desire to work with and care for infants, toddler, and preschool children. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• CPR Certification required within the first 60 days
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)
• Fingerprinting
• Negative T.B. skin test
• Valid drivers’ license

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work environment and 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.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. 
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of members, parents, and staff. 
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to exercise good judgment and willing to consult with supervisor as needed.
• Ability to make decisions and multi-task.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

TRAVEL:

25 - 50% of local travel within the state of Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel may be required for educational conferences or training.