Executive Director

Executive Director, Hilltop Child Development Center

Hilltop Child Development Center is a private, non-profit facility incorporated in the State of Kansas and supports childcare needs of the faculty, staff and students at the University of Kansas – Lawrence Campus and the Lawrence community. It is federally tax-exempted as a 501C-3 educational corporation. Hilltop is licensed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and accredited by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). Hilltop is a designated University Affiliated Corporation and receives some administrative and financial support from the University of Kansas.

Hilltop is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 17 voting members, 9 of whom must be Hilltop parents. The majority of the Board must be KU affiliated. A majority of the quorum of the Board shall be University personnel.

The mission of Hilltop is to provide an inclusive community where children learn from passionate professionals in a nurturing environment.

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, management and administration of the center, ensuring it provides a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate, academically rich environment for children. This role oversees curriculum design, staff management, operations, budgeting, and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations along with policies and procedures outlined by the Board of Directors and the University. The Executive Director ensures the center supports the educational mission of the university by providing high-quality childcare services to faculty, staff, students and community members, and by integrating opportunities for early childhood education students in direct learning experiences.

The Executive Director reports to and serves at the pleasure of the Hilltop Board of Directors. Due to the affiliated relationship Hilltop shares with the University, this position also has a dotted-line reporting responsibility to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at KU.

Hilltop is licensed to provide childcare for up to 447 children across two locations. Up to 314 children are enrolled in the main location in the heart of the KU campus and an additional 133 can be enrolled at the West facility which is conveniently located near graduate and research facilities for the University. Hilltop currently serves children ranging from 8 weeks to 12 years old. There are just over 200 employees (full-time and part-time positions) and an annual operational budget of $5.3 million.

This position is required to be on-site, sharing time at both campus facilities.

The University of Kansas is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Position Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Planning

1. Provide vision and strategic direction and planning for Hilltop’s multiple centers, aligning goals with the broader university mission, values and objectives.

2. Ensure high-quality education programs that support children’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

3. Collaborate with the Board of Directors and the University Leaders to assess the childcare needs of the campus community and develop programs and services to meet those needs.

4. Engage with faculty, academic programs, and research centers to create learning and research opportunities related to early childhood education.

5. Build and maintain relationships with the university, parents, community partners and regulatory agencies to promote the center and secure resources for continuous improvement.

Staff Management and Development

1. Recruit, select, train, supervise and evaluate a leadership and administrative team currently consisting of the Finance Director, two Directors operating each facility, two Program Coordinators, the Student Service Coordinator, the Food and Nutrition Services Coordinator, and two Administrative Assistants.

2. Provide oversight for all staff activities across the two sites, including the teaching staff members (full-time, part-time, and student aides and practicum students) and the kitchen staff members.

3. Ensure all Hilltop staff members receive, acquire, and/or maintain all training, credentials and certifications required to fulfill the responsibilities for their positions.

4. In collaboration with the administration team, provide a professional development and training plan that builds upon the skills and talents of the individual staff members, facilitates compliance with licensure, accreditation, and university expectations, and fosters a cohesive, unified, and mission driven team.

5. Establish personnel policies approved by the Board of Directors and adhere to KU Human Resources practices for affiliated employees.

Fiscal Responsibilities

1. Direct an annual budget of $5.3 million operating within the fiscal year of August 1 – July 31.

2. Propose to the Hilltop Board of Directors the annual budget and tuition rates for approval that supports sufficient funding for merit increases, operations, and capital projects. Tuition rates must also be submitted to the University for approval by May 1st of each year. The Board has a Finance Committee in place to assist with the preparation and presentation of the annual budget to the full Board.

3. In collaboration with the Finance Director, ensure appropriate checks and balances and internal controls are in place for all financial transactions, payroll, and expenditure approvals. Responsible for overseeing all financial transactions and accurate financial reporting annually to the Board.

4. Ensure compliance with all financial reporting expectations related to any external funding sources (grants, state/federal options, university and Student Senate funding). Reviews separation of duties to reduce risk.

5. Oversee the management of third-party payroll and benefits contract and the services provided to the workforce.

6. Assist the Finance Director with financial audits as required by the University.

Childcare Center Management

1. Maintain and oversee compliance with all Kansas Department of Health and Environment regulations and requirements and participate in annual licensing visit.

2. Maintain the National Association for the Education and Young Children accreditation which has a 5-year accreditation cycle and an annual reporting requirement.

3. Direct the enrollment management for Hilltop, honoring priority placement for the children of students and faculty/staff of the University. Market and manage enrollment to maintain budgeted tuition revenue. Publish transparent enrollment policies and procedures.

4. Lead a learning-centered mission, supporting Program Directors and Coordinators with the implementation of a curriculum and teaching model.

5. Partner with the Student Services Coordinator on the development and use of behavioral plans when needed and assist families with connection to community resources for additional assessment and guidance for children with individual needs.

6. Develop open, transparent, and prompt methods of communicating with families, including an annual Family Handbook, open houses, posted open office hours, and use of other communication tools such as a mobile app, email, and website.

Community and Parent Engagement

1. Be an active and visible presence in both Hilltop facilities, visit classrooms, greet families, and participate in Hilltop events.

2. Actively participate in the Student Affairs Leadership Team and develop collaborative relationships with Student Affairs and university colleagues.

3. Positively represent Hilltop Child Development Center within the University and with community agencies and stakeholders.

4. Promote a positive collaborative work environment that fosters professional development and growth. Provide ongoing coaching to support staff excellence.

5. Seek opportunities for Hilltop to participate in the University mission by providing practicum and student teaching placements for KU students.

Operations

1. Maintain Hilltop facilities to an exceptional level, prioritizing safe use of the buildings for children, families, and staff members.

2. Develop and maintain working partnerships with University Operational departments (such as, Facilities, Planning and Development; Facilities Services, and the University of Kansas Police Department) and well as establish contracted relationships for custodial services, lawn and landscape, and other facilities projects. Adhere to University process and procedures for requesting and approving routine services requests and other facilities related projects.

3. Implement procedures for maintaining life/safety equipment, camera, security and access systems, and the issuance of keys.

4. Ensure compliance with all university policies, state licensing requirements, health and safety regulations, and accreditation standards.

5. Keep an updated an emergency management plan ensuring staff and students are familiar with operating procedures.

6. Ensure access to various systems, facilities, and supplies is appropriately provisioned based on employee role. Ensures separation of duties within operational procedures.

7. Oversee Hilltop’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and meet or exceed the daily requirements of the program in providing nutritious, high-quality meals and snacks for the children enrolled at Hilltop.

Governance

1. Participate as a member of the Hilltop Board of Directors, attending quarterly full board meetings and monthly Executive Committee meetings.

2. Prepare a monthly administrative report for the Hilltop Board of Directors, including benchmarks on enrollment and staffing.

3. Have the Finance Director prepare monthly financial reports to the Board of Directors and participate as an active member of the Finance Committee.

4. Assist the Board of Directors with its responsibilities for annual policy review, annual Board member elections, and communication with Hilltop staff and families.

5. Maintain an active Teacher Board, representative of the teaching staff, to assist the Board with policy review, staff appreciation, and other goals and special events of the Board of Directors.

6. Involve the Executive Committee of the Board in the recruitment, selection, hiring and/or dismissal of all administrative team level staff members. The Executive Director and Finance Director positions require board recommendation for hire for approval by the University Chancellor and/or designee.

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development or related academic discipline with seven years of combined experience as a Program Director, Assistant Director, or Executive Director in a child development center with the ability to meet KDHE licensing criteria for a center with more than 100 children.

2. Teaching experience at the infant, toddler, or preschool level.

3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills as demonstrated in the application and review process.

4. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with others.

5. Staff supervision experience.

6. Experience managing budgets, operational plans, ensuring the financial stability of a childcare center.

7. Experience with supportive software systems for enrollment, payroll, billing and communication.

8. Strong communication, organizational and leadership skills with experience in engaging with diverse populations.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development OR Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development with Master’s degree in related field with combined experience as an administrator in a center licensed for more than 100 children.

2. Experience working in a university -affiliated childcare center or early childhood education program.

3. Experience with curriculum development.

4. Experience with a Board structure, either professional or voluntary experience.

5. Experience with NAEYC accreditation.

6. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with others.

Salary:

Minimum $110,000 annual salary.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).

Initial review of applications begins on March 19. Applications welcome until the position is filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $110,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Salary : $5 - $110,000