Director of Operations

Why Work for Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day?

Play isn't just fun, It's fundamental! Children need playtime, it is crucial for healthy development. Children learn about the world by exploring ideas, manipulating objects, investigating creative materials, and problem-solving with others. Using imagination and creativity, children take on new roles and test new concepts. Wonders teachers use observation and planning to create learning experiences that are intentional and provide meaningful context for children to practice skills and express ideas.

Join the Wonders family of caring, dedicated, and fun educators!

Our Mission - To create and advance high quality, diverse educational communities that teach children the foundations of life‑long learning and social responsibility.

Since our inception in 1976, our goal has been to provide non‑profit, quality child care to working families. Over the years, we have grown from a single center in the basement of All Saint's Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland to multiple accredited early learning, extended day, and summer camp programs across the DC Metropolitan Region.

Our programs support today's workforce, while growing the workforce of tomorrow.

Our benefits package includes paid time off, holidays, winter break, medical with HRA, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, critical illness, accident insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, Wonders tuition discounts, and professional development training. Benefits eligibility is dependent on job type status.

We provide paid pre‑employment background checks, fingerprinting, medical exams, & drug screens as well as paid New Hire Orientation.

Wonders values its educators and leaders and we invest in our workforce by prioritizing compensation and nurturing meaningful careers. Our educators are regularly engaged in efforts towards continuous improvement in their skills and knowledge in the classroom. Approximately 80% of our annual budget is directed to staff compensation.

The Director of Operations is responsible for managing the daily operations of the organization and executing the implementation of Wonders' strategic plan. Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Wonders administrative team, the Director of Operations will provide leadership, strong fiscal management, and active oversight in aligning the goals of the organization. The Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory agencies, risk management, compliance requirements, and facilities management for multiple locations.

The Director of Operations will also be responsible for the management and oversight of the Wonders Professional Development Consortium.

Compliance and reporting:

• Lead and oversee all compliance and reporting activities to ensure proper state licensing, maintenance of certain business account records; adherence to federal, state, and local regulatory laws and reporting; compliance with insurance requirements, and otherwise manage all professional and contractual relationships, as appropriate.

Organizational leadership:

• Serve on the administrative leadership team, collaborating thoughtfully and enthusiastically in support of Wonders' mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that Wonders is current and conforms to federal, state, and local legal requirements, as well as best practices in the area of nonprofit management.
• Oversee all program emergency preparedness protocols.

Facilities and vendor relationships:

• Provide administrative leadership and oversee the relationships with Wonders' facilities management.
• Discern appropriateness of Wonders' contractual relationships with vendors, actively managing these relationships to ensure mutual understanding of responsibilities, accountability, fiscal responsibility and open, clear communications.
• Assess program needs and risks through management reports and regular site visits.
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency.
• Other duties or responsibilities as assigned.

• Effective team leader with a strong record of…