VITAL EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY - CHILD CARE

Our client, the YMCA Greater Cleveland, is part of a network of 2,686 YMCAs across America, serving an estimated 21 million people of all ages. The Young Men’s Christian Association dates back to 1844, when it was founded in London, England to address needs resulting from the deteriorating social conditions surrounding poverty and industrialization. The YMCA of Greater Cleveland was founded in 1854, and the organization operated out of a building on Public Square where Key Tower stands today. In addition to the wide range of services and programs the organization has always offered in recreation, child care, education, and community service, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland also had a hand in the establishment of the Red Cross, the Legal Aid Society, and Cleveland State University.

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland seeks an EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LICENSED CHILDCARE SERVICES to provide strategic leadership of its substantial and comprehensive child care programs operating at 30 sites, and generating revenue of approximately $3 million. The Executive Director of Licensed Childcare Services will report at the YMCA Greater Cleveland’s main office to the Vice President of Operations, Membership, Programs and Human Resource Services and be responsible for the supervision of four professionals. He or she also will be accountable for the enhancement of school system and community relationships and ensure and monitor licensure status in conjunction with Branch Executive Directors.

Of key importance is the strategic nature of this executive role. The Executive Director, Licensed Childcare Services, will be heavily involved in execution of the YMCA’s 2015 strategic plan, with an emphasis on goals related to boosting, broadening, and diversifying program enrollment, redoubling efforts to acquire Step Up to Quality star ratings from the State of Ohio for all centers, and assisting with fundraising initiatives. The selected candidate must be an effective genuine relationship builder, highly skilled financial manager, entrepreneurial business leader who can grow the program, and a superlative leader and manager who can inspire, empower, and encourage staff and teachers to deliver consistently first-rateprogramming for children and their families.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Retain ultimate responsibility for the day to day operations of child care program locations: oversee program delivery, budget preparation and management, staff training and development, program quality and compliance.
  • Conduct ongoing evaluation of key performance measures regarding service sites, staffing, licensing compliance issues, customer service, and fiscal operations, striving for continuous improvements in all areas.
  • Contribute to annual business plan for branches system wide, ensuring appropriate child care staff input and ownership in the process.
  • Consistently represent the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and its programs as a collaborator, partner, and positive element of social change to community, civic, corporate, and other constituents.
  • Ensure implementation of key strategic quality initiatives including the accreditation of all licensed child care programming by the year 2015.
  • Develop and implement effective system-wide marketing of the YMCA’s licensed child care programs.

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Executive Director, Licensed Child Care/page 2

  • Lead and develop supervisory staff: conduct in-depth reviews, make appropriate training recommendations or staff changes as necessary; Implement and lead training for staff in areas of management and effective supervision, licensing & quality, child care programming, and other related topics.
  • Retain and lead a team of child care professionals that deliver high quality fiscally sound school-age and early childhood programs.
  • Champion the objectives and program of the YMCA to the community through branch staff and leaders and through active professional participation in community organizations.
  • Initiate and maintain essential relationships with local schools, community agencies and other like groups.
  • Be visibly involved with members, volunteers, and staff in a positive, friendly manner that communicates and demonstrates the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in education, early childhood, or social services or related field; master’s degree preferred.
  • Minimum five years experience leading and managing sizeable child care operations including securing and maintaining licensure, Step Up to Quality and/or NAEYC accreditations, and compliance. YMCA experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated leadership in successful long-term planning resulting in demonstrated growth and sustainability.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and accomplished relationship builder capable of establishing and growing connections with individuals, groups, and communities to benefit YMCA and its programs.
  • Strong manager with ample experience in creating, implementing, and evaluatingeffective staff training programs resulting in positive, measurable outcomes; experience with continuous improvement models a plus.
  • Leader with proven ability to empower staff and delegate responsibilities appropriately to create a thriving, winning child care program.
  • Solid understanding of YMCA organizational structure, including relationships among branches and institutional relationships with communities.
  • Sound strategic thinker with ability to carry out a vision for growth while maintaining and exceeding standards and successfully leading through local, state, and federal changes in policy and performance standards in a highly regulated environment.

Compensation: Competitive with excellent benefits.

For Consideration: Applicants and sources may call or send credentials immediately to:

Herbert Smith, Ph.D. or Jennie Dawes – Subject Line, “YMCA”

H C Smith Ltd.

24000 Mercantile Road, Beachwood, OH 44122

OFFICE: (216) 752-9966 or (800) 442-7583

E-MAIL:

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.