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Early Childhood Center Director, Lancaster City

CHS Lancaster City - Lancaster, PA
Full-Time

Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, Lancaster City, will provide high-quality early childhood education and care to children from birth to age 5 at no cost to qualifying families. The state-of-the-art facility will foster an environment where children can grow and thrive and will offer integrated family services for enrolled families through a Family Success Center and dedicated family engagement staff. Prior to the opening of each CHS Center, the Center Director plays an integral role in building the foundation for the Center's success before they are joined by up to 80 employees and volunteers.

To prepare for the opening of CHS Lancaster in 2026, teachers and staff will receive pre-opening professional development, coaching, training, and team building through the CHS Development Program. This is a unique opportunity for early childhood professionals to expand their knowledge, grow their careers, and launch a child-focused state-of-the-art early learning center.

The CHS Lancaster City Center Director is responsible for supporting the launch and operation of CHS Lancaster City, providing a high-quality, child-centered educational and developmental program, as well as a family support program. In collaboration with the Assistant Director and school leadership team (Family Engagement Manager, School Operations Manager, and Health Services Manager), this individual will lead, direct, and supervise all center staff and day-to-day operations in accordance with established policies, guidelines, and curriculum. As the center leader, this individual will report to the CHS Central Office Executive Director. They will serve as a role model for administrators, teachers, and students at CHS Lancaster City and will guide staff in fulfilling the center’s mission and vision. Starting Salary is in the range of $88,727 and $118,451 a year, based on expertise.

Responsibilities:

  • Supervising and guiding all CHS Lancaster City departments to deliver high quality, child-centered education to students; Departments include: Center leadership, Education, Family Engagement/Enrollment, Center Operations, Health Services and additional administrative roles
  • Managing and supporting facilitation of Professional Development Program
  • Establishing an inclusive, welcoming environment and center culture through value-inspired leadership for all CHS Lancaster City staff
  • Observing and resolving gaps, inefficiencies, and conflicts in the day-to-day operations  
  • Collaboratively spearheading staff recruitment, hiring, training, benefit, and retention efforts
  • Leading student recruitment, acceptance, and retention efforts alongside enrollment team
  • Implementing policies and procedures to safeguard health and safety of families and staff in compliance with the State requirements (DHS/OCDEL) and NAEYC standards
  • Ensuring adherence to all CHS policies, procedures, and governance standards
  • Creating an effective system of reporting and progress tracking
  • Maintaining clear and transparent communications with student parents and caregivers and formulating public communications to this audience on major events and issues
  • Obtaining necessary approvals, licenses, and accreditations for the center’s operations alongside center leaders
  • In collaboration with other stakeholders, managing the center’s local community outreach and relationships
  • Developing and fostering relationships with on-site partners for CHS Lancaster City
  • Working closely with the Assistant Director to ensure consistent high-quality programming and on track operations
  • Supporting the development of center budget and ensuring that funding, contract, and reporting requirements are met fully
  • Collaborating with CHS Central Office to implement strategic plans and achieve comprehensive outcomes and established implementation goal

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Education, Family Relations/Child Development, or related field (Master’s Degree preferred)
  • Lancaster City knowledge and experience gained through working or living in the community (preferred)
  • 8 years of experience as an ECE teacher and leader
  • Significant experience overseeing several operations/departments and workstreams, including leading teams with a successful record of spearheading initiatives
  • Experience in creating, analyzing and presenting outcomes-related reporting to leadership
  • Able to uphold and effectively represent the mission and values of CHS and MHS with a high degree of professionalism
  • Ability to work well across functions and departments to forge strong cross-disciplinary relationships
  • Able to build and encourage a positive and collaborative working environment, showing appreciation and unity of all staff’s contributions
  • Experienced in people management and conflict resolution
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence, lead, educate, and collaborate
  • Demonstrated understanding of and ability to effectively work with low-income families
  • Able to establish and reinforce rules of behavior and compliance with procedures
  • Impeccable integrity as the leader of CHS Lancaster City and role model for all students
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills – written, verbal, and platform
  • Proficiency in using technology including MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
  • Passionate about education and is an advocate for helping young children
  • Fluency in Spanish would be a plus
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Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning does not discriminate against applicants or employees, in hiring, promotion or any terms or conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion or religious creed, veteran status, disability or use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or any other status protected under applicable federal or Pennsylvania law.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School and will be staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.