Director WIU Infant and Preschool Center

Position: Director of the WIU Infant and Preschool Center
Job Description:

APPOINTMENT: August 1, 2026

RESPONSIBILITIES: To fulfill responsibilities of the WIU Infant and Preschool Center Director role, including providing day-to-day supervision, instructional coaching, planning and implementing all operational aspects of the lab site including the budget and all coordinating grants, assisting with ECACE support for Macomb workforce members including serving as the onsite mentor teacher for necessary observational/field hours, serving as a community liaison and committee attendee for the Macomb area early childhood community as well as a partner to the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, and ensuring all compliance and instructional tasks are completed for a high quality early care and education site.

The Director will also be responsible for fundraising and securing philanthropic support, as well as ensuring that diverse family engagement is implemented regularly.

RANK & SALARY: 10-month appointment. $44,000 - $46,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Western Illinois University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS). These benefits include:
Health Insurance plans, (HMO's, OAP's, QCHP, and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long-Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts (HAS, MCAP, and DCAP), 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: paid time-off, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Waiver programs, and discounts to the local YMCA.

For a full list of benefits as a WIU employee, please visit our Benefits Homepage: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

For questions on benefits, or eligibility, contact our benefits team at HR-Benefits or by calling .

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3 or more years working as a Gateways Level 5 or PEL qualified early childhood teacher (Birth-Grade
  2) in a linguistically diverse school or community based setting;
• Understanding of Illinois' birth to three and 3-5 early childhood systems;
• Familiarity with the ECACE scholarship and current legislation evolving that supports the Early Childhood Workforce Pipeline;
• Basic understanding of the Gateways system and credentials;
• Experience working with community and family organizations;
• Ability to organize multiple-tasks and be a self-motivated and independently efficient worker;
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and digitally managed communication skills, as well as interpersonal communication skills using a trauma informed and culturally/linguistically responsive approach;
• Public speaking/presentation experience, including comfort with virtual presentation platforms;
• Recognize, value, and use team approaches and philosophy;
• Be able to listen, acknowledge, and encourage students through the process of attending higher education, while also serving as an incumbent worker;
• Be able to treat all students, children, and family members with kindness and respect regardless of any and all characteristics, including cultural and linguistic differences, race, religion, gender or gender identity, socioeconomic status, and family make-up;
• Recognize personal belief systems and bias while serving our student population and working with multiple team members, including graduate assistants and student workers;
• Awareness of the unique challenges faced by and assets of students that are also incumbent workers;
• Possess basic technology skills including use of all Google Suite tools;
• Ability to use technology to provide optimal mentoring services;
• Possess ability to complete appropriate documentation and operational duties in a comprehensive and timely manner;
• Preferred experience as a lead teacher or leadership role within a school or community organization/non-profit.

For a degree to be…