Child Care Development Director

Join The Gateway Family YMCA – Five Points Branch staff team. Located in Union, New Jersey, the Five Points Branch is a full-service facility with an exciting future on the horizon. Currently serving over 3,200 members, the Five Points Branch hosts services within the areas of Youth & Teens, Aquatics, Preschool & School Age Childcare and Summer Day Camp.

The Gateway Family YMCA Child Development Center is a high-quality early childhood education center dedicated to fostering youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. As part of our commitment to excellence, we participate in Grow NJ Kids to ensure continuous quality improvement and high-quality learning experiences for children and families. Additionally, we are proud partners of the Preschool Expansion Program. collaborating closely with the local school district to provide equitable and high-quality early childhood education.

We seek a passionate leader who upholds our core YMCA values while ensuring program excellence and strong collaboration.

The Child Development Director will provide leadership and oversee the day-to-day operations for our Child Care Center with a focus on program quality, enrichment and value. Responsibilities will include program growth and retention, staff development, curriculum implementation, Grow NJ Kids implementation, budget management and State Licensing requirements. This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood, Child Development or related field. Must meet Director level and head teacher level licensing requirements.
• Experience in early childhood education with at least 2 years’ experience in a leadership role.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Grow NJ Kids and early childhood quality rating systems.
• Creativity and strong commitment to program quality and participant engagement.
• High ability to recruit, retain and coach staff, while fostering a positive team atmosphere.
• Familiarity with New Jersey childcare licensing regulations and accreditation processes.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage a team, resolve conflicts and create a mission-driven work culture.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Publisher and Excel.
• Experience working with government agencies and subsidies is a plus.
• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish is a plus.