Center Director III

Blue Ridge Community Action is seeking an experienced early childhood professional to lead a child care center serving fewer than 60 children, with responsibility for daily operations, staff supervision, child safety, licensing compliance, enrollment, family engagement, and overall program quality.

Primary Responsibilities

Oversee the daily operations of the assigned child care center. Ensure compliance with North Carolina child care licensing requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, NC Pre-K standards, CACFP requirements, and agency policies, as applicable. Supervise, schedule, support, and evaluate center staff. Monitor classrooms, staffing ratios, attendance, and daily operations. Maintain systems to ensure children are supervised and accounted for at all times. Respond to child injuries, emergencies, behavioral concerns, and safety issues. Support curriculum implementation, child assessments, screenings, and school-readiness goals. Oversee enrollment, attendance, waiting lists, family communication, and parent-engagement activities. Maintain accurate child, staff, licensing, and program records. Prepare required reports, schedules, meal counts, and center documentation. Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and welcoming center environment. Address parent, staffing, and operational concerns professionally and promptly. Support staff training, coaching, and performance improvement. Assist with licensing visits, monitoring reviews, audits, and inspections. Keep agency leadership informed of staffing, enrollment, compliance, safety, and operational concerns. Attend required meetings and training. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field. At least three years of experience in child care, early childhood education, or a related field. Must meet North Carolina child care licensing requirements for a five-star center director. Must meet applicable Head Start requirements. Valid North Carolina driver's license. CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe. Ability to pass required background checks and substance-abuse screening.

Preferred Qualifications

Supervisory or child care center leadership experience. Experience working with Head Start, NC Pre-K, CACFP, or another regulated early childhood program. Experience with ChildPlus or similar program-management systems.

Skills and Abilities

Strong knowledge of early childhood education, child development, and child care center operations. Ability to supervise, support, and develop staff. Ability to monitor child safety, staffing ratios, enrollment, attendance, and compliance requirements. Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ability to build positive relationships with children, families, staff, and community partners. Ability to maintain accurate records and meet deadlines. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and program databases. Dependable, professional, and able to work independently and as part of a team.

Physical Requirements

Ability to move throughout classrooms and center areas. Ability to stand, walk, bend, and sit as needed. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally. Ability to respond quickly during child-safety or emergency situations.

Additional Requirements

Must be able to work flexible hours when needed. Must be able to travel to other agency locations as required. Must maintain the confidentiality of child, family, employee, and agency information.

Blue Ridge Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer.