Child Care Development Director

Come join The Gateway Family YMCA - Five Points Branch team, located in Union, NJ!

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.

• Recruits, hires and mentors early childhood staff and administrators.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching, and support professional development.
• Facilitate regularly scheduled staff trainings and meetings on Grow NJ Kids standards, licensing, curriculum implementation, and best practices in early childhood education.
• Monitor the daily staff schedule to ensure all State Licensing ratios and YMCA policies are being followed. Substitute in the classroom, if needed to maintain appropriate ratios.
• Serve as a point of contact for parents, fostering strong communication and trust.
• Plan and facilitate family engagement activities and workshops in alignment with Grow NJ Kids, Preschool Expansion guidelines, and YMCA goals.
• Build partnerships with community organizations, schools, and YMCA programs to support families and enhance early childhood services.
• Handle parent concerns and resolve conflicts professionally, reinforcing YMCA principles of inclusivity and service.
• Monitor and track government subsidy to ensure participants are in compliance and procedures are being followed.
• Oversee curriculum implementation, ensuring alignment with Grow NJ Kids, Preschool Expansion requirements, YMCA early learning philosophy, and state learning standards.
• Support teachers in lesson planning, child assessments, and implementing developmentally appropriate practices.
• Maintain a well‑equipped, engaging, and welcoming learning environment.
• Manage…