Early Childhood Program Administrator

Are you a passionate early childhood leader who believes every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place to learn and grow?

Location:

Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, Bay City, Michigan

Reports to:

Chief Executive Officer

Status:
Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: $53,000 annually, with higher starting compensation available based on education, credentials, and relevant experience.

Are you a passionate early childhood leader who believes every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place to learn and grow?

The Dow Bay Area Family YMCA is seeking an experienced Early Childhood Program Administrator to provide strategic leadership for our licensed childcare and preschool programs. This is an exciting opportunity to lead dedicated staff, build meaningful relationships with families, ensure licensing excellence, and shape high-quality early learning experiences that make a lasting impact on children in our community.

As a member of the YMCA's Senior Leadership Team, you'll play an important role in advancing our mission of strengthening our community through Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Our licensed early childhood programs serve children from infancy through age five across two locations in Bay City.

Dow Bay Area Family Y Child Development Center – Recognized as a  Demonstrating Quality  program by Great Start to Quality that is licensed for 105 children featuring seven classrooms, including a Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Preschool classroom.

Dow Bay Area Family YMCA Childcare at First Presbyterian Church – Rated as an  Enhancing Quality-Validated  program by Great Start to Quality that is licensed for 40 children with three classrooms located inside First Presbyterian Church.

Both locations utilize The Creative Curriculum to provide developmentally appropriate, engaging learning experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and school readiness. Our Early Childhood programs are licensed to serve 145 children and are supported by a dedicated team of 12 full-time and 35 part-time employees. The Early Childhood Program Administrator also serves as the Licensee for our YMCA School Age Programs including Before & After School Care and Summer Day Camps.

In addition to meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• YMCA Retirement Fund
• Paid Time Off and Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• FREE YMCA Household Membership

• Full-time, exempt position
• Generally Monday-Friday, eight-hour shifts between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Flexibility to work at least one evening each week until 6:00 p.m.
• Regular presence at both YMCA childcare locations: 225 Washington Avenue, 805 Center Avenue (First Presbyterian Church), Bay City

At the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, you'll join an organization that believes in investing in children, supporting families, developing leaders, and strengthening our community. You'll lead a well-established early childhood program recognized through Great Start to Quality, mentor a passionate team of educators, and help shape the future of early learning in Bay County.

• Passionate about early childhood education and child development.
• A collaborative, compassionate leader who inspires others.
• Organized, adaptable, and solutions-oriented.
• Committed to providing exceptional experiences for children, families, and staff.

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or another qualifying field under Michigan licensing requirements, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must meet Michigan Child Care Licensing qualifications for a Program Director.
• Minimum age of 21, as required by licensing regulations.
• Strong knowledge of Michigan childcare licensing rules and regulations.
• Successful completion of all state licensing employment requirements, including comprehensive fingerprinting and
  -background checks.
• CPR, First Aid, and AED certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Three to five years of leadership experience in a licensed childcare setting.
• Experience leading multi-site early childhood programs.
• Experience with Great Start to Quality, GSRP, The Creative Curriculum, licensing compliance, enrollment management, budgeting, and staff development.
• Experience building strong relationships with staff, families and community partners.

• Provide strategic leadership for the YMCA's licensed childcare and preschool programs.
• Foster a positive, engaging, and child-centered learning…