Director, Eccles Lab School

Director, Eccles Lab School

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. All employees are expected to maintain a permanent residence in Utah as a condition of employment. New employees must provide a valid Utah residential address within 30 days of their start date.

The Director of the Eccles Lab School at Salt Lake Community College is responsible for the planning, development, leadership, and logistical oversight of a state‑licensed child care facility that is also a laboratory for college students in early childhood education. The School serves as the SLCC Taylorsville Redwood Campus childcare center for children ages 2‑5 of SLCC students, faculty, and staff.

The Director works cooperatively with the Family and Human Studies (FHS) academic department to meet its goals and objectives, directs operations, schedules and evaluates childcare staff, supports the development of children, and engages with community partners and stakeholders. The Director also serves on college and department committees, may teach college‑level courses, and participates in statewide child care improvement efforts. Responsibilities include health and safety compliance, emergency preparedness, kitchen management, budget oversight, contract administration, federal program coordination, accreditation maintenance, and liaison work between the college and child care licensing authorities.

• Plan, develop, and lead the Eccles Lab School, ensuring compliance with licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Organize, schedule, and supervise all childcare staff and programs.
• Maintain a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment for children, college students, faculty, staff, and families.
• Oversee the kitchen and food service operations, ensuring compliance with all relevant policies and regulations, and manage food budget and procurement.
• Prepare, monitor, and submit the laboratory budget; manage revenue and expenses; provide accurate financial reporting.
• Coordinate the Head Start program contracts and other sponsored child care activities.
• Negotiate and monitor fee agreements with families to ensure timely payments, and work with collections when necessary.
• Direct the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimbursement processes for all SLCC child care sites.
• Lead the maintenance of accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• Represent the college in liaison activities with child care licensing authorities and community partners.
• Provide support to college students for assignments, research, and letters of recommendation.
• Participate in continuous professional development and provide training for early care providers.
• Ensure health and safety standards, emergency preparedness, ADA compliance, and equipment maintenance across the facility.

• Knowledge of NAEYC accreditation requirements, Utah State licensing regulations, and best practices in early childhood education.
• Ability to develop and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum and educational programming for parents, students, and faculty.
• Experience in hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising childcare staff.
• Proficiency in managing budgets, tracking expenditures, and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with diverse populations.
• Ability to handle behavioral problems in children and facilitate mediation with families and staff.
• Computer literacy, including spreadsheets and word processing programs.

Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Family and Human Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.

Full‑time, paid experience working in a childcare center.

Must meet NAEYC pedagogical and operational administrator qualifications, including:

• Baccalaureate‑level higher education degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special education; OR
• Baccalaureate‑level degree in another major with at least 36 college credits in early childhood education,…