Child Care Executive

Imagine being part of one of the most respected human services organizations in the world—a place where your work positively influences the lives of others, a place where you thrive in a values-based environment, a place where you are building a better future for yourself and your community.


General Function:
Under the supervision of the Vice President of Child Care, and in harmony with the mission and purpose of the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas, the Child Care Executive provides full operational oversight of all Association child care initiatives, including licensed preschool, school-age, and camp programs, as well as unlicensed Child Watch and Youth Watch programs. The Child Care Executive supports and advances the strategic direction set by the Vice President of Child Care and Association leadership while ensuring an unwavering commitment to program quality, child safety, and regulatory compliance. This position provides leadership to Child Care Directors, manages the related chart of work, and oversees the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of programming, partnerships, and systems that drive excellence, fiscal sustainability, and community impact. The Child Care Executive also cultivates collaborative relationships with state licensing agencies, accreditation partners, and professional child care networks to maintain compliance, elevate quality standards, and reinforce the YMCA’s position as a trusted leader in early education and youth development.

Qualifications:
1. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience preferred. Preferred field of study: education, child development, business. Y-USA Multi-Team Leader Certification (or equivalent) required within two years and must begin working towards certification within 6 months.
2. Five or more years of experience in licensed child care, with strong knowledge of Virginia Department of Education licensing and/or educational programming management, employee supervision and professional development, and budget accountability. Experience managing multiple-site locations preferred.
3. Ability to exercise appropriate independent judgement, to assess data, facts and issues, and make non-routine decisions regarding day-to-day operational problems and concerns.
4. Ability to direct total operations through strategic planning, creative new program innovation and program improvement, budget development and management, organizational design and strategic hiring, staff member professional growth, operational execution, and effective delegation.
5. Highly motivated with the consistent ability to meet or exceed goals.
6. Ability to quickly build rapport and develop effective relationships with members, community partners, and others to achieve goals.
7. Consistently self-driven and goal-oriented with the ability to set effective team and individual goals and take ownership for results.
8. Excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop teams.
9. Demonstrated ability to multi-task and adapt to changing contexts and priorities.
10. Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to identify and leverage relevant data to use in planning and decision-making.
11. Ability to understand, adapt to and interact with diverse people, teams, perspectives and cultures.
12. Proficient in using email, Internet, and other PC-based applications (e. g. Microsoft Office, customer service/tracking applications) with the ability to learn and adapt to new technology.
13. Certification in CPR/ First Aid/AED/02 required within 60 days of hire.
14. Complete and maintain required trainings to include: New Employee Orientation (NEO), Bloodborne Pathogens, Child Abuse Prevention (CAP), and Sexual Harassment.
15. Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check, credit check and Child Protective Services check.

Essential Functions:
• Supports the mission, vision and goals of the YMCA.
• Promotes character development and the values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith in all program areas.
• Actively participates in association task forces, committees and/or other groups to promote center unity through association policies, strategies and goals.
• Promotes and participates in YMCA fundraising efforts to include Annual Impact Fund, Capital and United Way campaigns.

Program & Operational Quality/Growth
• Provides direct supervision and guidance to Child Care Directors and site leadership within the assigned region.
• Oversees daily operations across multiple licensed sites—including preschool, before- and after-school, and camp programs—ensuring alignment with association goals and regulatory standards.
• Ensures the implementation of high-quality preschool, school age and camp programming that meets/exceeds the expectations of all stakeholders, performance goals, and regulatory/ compliance requirements.
• Ensures program delivery adheres to the Y’s mission, values, and established curriculum frameworks such as STREAMin³, SCALED, and YMCA youth development standards.
• Recruits, trains and builds strong staff and volunteer teams and ensures their success through an effective performance management/appraisal process.
• Creates a student-focused, team building culture and models relationship building skills in all interactions.
• Resolves problems to ensure member/program participant satisfaction for all child care programs.
• Fosters a climate of trust, reliability, problem resolution to ensure stakeholder, associate, parent, and student satisfaction.
• Understands, communicates, and actively monitors the constantly-changing licensing requirements, and all other relevant Commonwealth of Virginia licensing standards. Ensures that child care staff and senior leadership are aware of the impact of these regulations.
• Drives alignment of budget priorities with business plans and association strategy within the assigned region. Develops, manages, and monitors operating budgets and enrollment goals to meet or exceed targets.
• Monitors program performance metrics (enrollment, retention, family satisfaction, staffing, and budget) and supports continuous improvement through coaching and accountability. Prepares statistical, analytical and narrative reports regarding programs and operations as needed.
• Represents and promotes the Y in the local community by developing positive working and collaborative relationships with other organizations, businesses and governmental entities.

Safety and Risk Management:
• Be responsive to emergencies 24 hours a day, and travel across the region for operational management, including on-site presence in managing major operational issues.
• Ensures all Y program standards and best practices are implemented and followed. Applies YMCA policies and procedures, including those related to best practices, emergency procedures, medical and disciplinary situations and child abuse prevention.
• Ensures all staff members are properly trained and prepared for emergency situations. Ensures in-service training requirements are being met through association and reporting of all incidents/accidents according to risk management procedures and protocols are being followed.
• Ensures staff teams have systems in place to monitor staff member certifications and expirations.

Team Leadership:
• Recruits, hires, trains, develops, retains, and leads Y staff; reviews and evaluates staff performance; develops strategies to build an exceptional culture and to motivate the staff and volunteers to achieve their goals.
• Works collaboratively with the Child Care Cabinet to support the high-quality development and delivery of the significant Child Care programming across the region.
• Attends, and actively engages in certification/leadership programs, conferences, meetings, and events.

YMCA Leadership® Competencies (Multi-Team Leader):Engaging Community, Communication & Influence, Inclusion, Collaboration, Emotional Maturity, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy, Change Leadership, Fiscal Management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Direct supervision and development of Center Child Care Directors and indirect supervision of child care support staff. Influence and develop staff teams, ensuring targets are achieved.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with YMCA policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees, planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Selects, employs and supervises staff in related areas: develops annual benchmarks that address goals and objectives of both the Center and the Association.

Skills And Ability Requirements:
1. Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents.
2. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries or complaints.
3. Ability to apply mathematical concepts to practical situations. Must be able to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as budget preparation and program planning.
4. Ability to reason and define difficult problems with limited direction as to means and results.
5. Ability to meet the physical demands of this position, which include mobility for touring facilities, travel to conferences, and participating in promotional and special events sponsored by the Association.
6. Ability to work and guide others through problem solving and center management.

Effect On End Result:
1. A high degree of member satisfaction in child care programming is achieved, as measured by NPS and other KPIs.
2. High-quality, safe child care programs that meet/exceed Virginia licensing standards.
3. Increased participant and financial growth year-over-year with sustainable programming.
4. A positive image of YMCA child care is portrayed to members, staff, volunteers, and the community.
5. Staff are well trained in child development and are viewed as positive role models for children in our care.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. It is understood that the employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties if requested by the supervisor. Job descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised if deemed necessary. This job description is not a written or implied contract.


Excellent benefits, including 12% retirement upon meeting the requirements of the National YMCA Retirement Fund. 65% employee paid health/dental insurance, FSA, $25,000 Life/AD&D policy, vacation and sick leave. Includes YMCA Family Membership.