Ministry Childcare Director

Job Summary

The Director is responsible for maintaining a ministry-centered program that aligns with the mission of Realife Church, “to create a place people love so they can experience a loving God.” The Director will lead the day-to day affairs of the school, focused on providing instructional leadership to promote growth in student learning, and ensure a safe, supportive and productive learning environment for the children we serve, their families and our team members. The Director is committed to implementing Realife STEAM Academy’s mission to provide opportunities for children to learn, grow and develop socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Realife STEAM Academy is a childcare ministry for children ages 2 months through Pre-k. We use a faith-based curriculum to encourage learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. We also offer before and after school care for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade.

We believe that each child should be provided with a safe and nurturing environment that promotes their natural curiosity and excitement for learning. We also believe that each child learns at their own pace and when provided with a variety of developmentally appropriate opportunities to play, discover, experiment, investigate, and explore that they become lifelong learners. You can learn more about us at www.realifesteam.org.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example by representing an active faith in Jesus Christ.
• Lead, support, and develop all team members through observation, coaching and evaluation designed to develop and deepen early childhood content knowledge and instructional practice.
• Partner with other staff members to share space, create a unified environment, and establish a common vision.
• Build and improve upon a school culture that promotes student success in all aspects of learning.
• Identify, collect and utilize assessment and evaluation data to improve our program.
• Evaluate instructional effectiveness and establish goals for each teacher to improve child outcomes by fostering a high-feedback culture.
• Lead family engagement initiatives and oversee regular internal and external communication.
• Lead in sharing the vision of the ministry to the parents, staff and community.
• Ensure health and safety practices are exemplary and maintained in accordance with STEAM policies and all regulatory standards.
• Ensure each family’s in-school experience contributes to an overall excellent experience, prioritizing timely and accurate communication and ease of access.
• Maintain program efficiency in collaboration with Director of Operations.
• Participate in financial planning and manage budget to ensure financial stability and sustainability of the school.
• Recruit, hire and onboard new team members in collaboration with the HR team, and retain quality talent to support continuity of the learning experience.
• Attain and maintain compliance with all regulatory standards and requirements, including, but not limited to Indiana State requirements, Paths to QUALITY, and CACFP.
• Other duties as assigned to advance the mission of STEAM Academy.

Education, Experience & Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in education (preferably Early Childhood) or other closely related field preferred
• Knowledge of early childhood education practices preferred
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a preschool or early childhood center
• A minimum of two (2) years of management experience
• A minimum of one (1) year of administrative experience
• A minimum of one (1) year of ministry experience is preferred
• Should be an active member, in good standing, of a church, and show evidence of mature Christian spirituality.

Competencies & Skills

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and be detail-oriented
• Customer service orientation
• Problem-solving and analytical skills
• Creative and critical thinking skills
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to build and nurture relationships
• Results-oriented with the ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to take initiative and work proactively
• Ability to work independently, resourcefully seek answers and remove obstacles
• Knowledge of office software (Google, Microsoft)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,000.00 - $58,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Application Question(s):

• What drew you to apply for a church ministry center?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Administrative: 1 year (Preferred)
• Ministry: 1 year (Preferred)
• Early Childhood Education: 5 years (Required)
• Management: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)

Work Location: In person