About LASER
Join us in our work of strengthening families and community through our enriching after school and camp programs onsite at Seattle elementary schools! We help elementary-age children flourish by offering an environment where all children in our care can grow, respect, and enjoy one another. LASER Childcare fosters independence, creativity, and joy through a balance of structured and flexible activities. Our wonderful staff offer the care, fun, and inspiration that support our children to thrive. LASER is a non-profit organization providing high-quality, year-round childcare to 200+ families in Northeast Seattle. We bridge school and home through our after-school programs and we offer enriching camps during breaks and summer.
LASER Vision: Our children face tomorrow's challenges and create a more caring world.
LASER Mission: We cultivate a community where kids grow and thrive.
LASER Values: Relationships, Compassion, Learning, Inclusivity, Safe & Dependable
Title: Program Director
Performance Profile Source: Full-time (Salaried, Non-Exempt--eligible for overtime), 40 hrs. per week, on-site
Reports to: Executive Director
Primary Functions: Responsible for running the program site, including ensuring outstanding learning experiences for children, a professional, effective staff, positive ongoing relations with the school community, and alignment of organizational mission, vision, and values across the organization as part of the Leadership Team.
Outstanding Child Experience
- Ensures LASER values and pedagogical best practices regarding curriculum and equity are reflected and implemented throughout the site
- Prioritizes child safety in all aspects of program
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the site’s program and makes collaborative change as appropriate
- Supports curriculum planning and development
- Leads escalations of communication, planning, and support of children and families in the program
- Ensures accurate documentation and compliant child files
- Responsible for compliance with licensing and pertinent governing laws throughout the site
Leadership
- Directly supervises, mentors, and supports the Site Supervisors
- Responsible for the overall supervision of Assistant Teachers and Lead Teachers in collaboration with the Site Supervisors
- Manages escalation of HR issues in collaboration with Site Supervisors and the Leadership Team as appropriate
- Oversees 90-day and annual performance evaluations of Assistant Teachers and Lead Teachers, in conjunction with the Site Supervisors
- Delivers 90-day and annual performance evaluations to Site Supervisors
- Hires Assistant Teachers, Lead Teachers, and Supervisors as needed and leads all onboarding
- Creates and manages staff schedule, absences, and teaching teams
- Maintains documentation and compliant staff files
- Plans ongoing professional development for staff in collaboration with the Leadership Team
- Models a high level of professionalism, including direct communication, use of EQ skills, and maintaining confidentiality and boundaries
Community Relations
- Responsible for the day-to-day relationship with the school, in collaboration with the Strategic Director
- Manages and directs the site’s relationships with families in the program and at the school
- Oversees outreach, enrollment and onboarding of families in conjunction with the Bookkeeper and Program Administrator
Organizational Integrity
- Ensures the site’s alignment with LASER’s vision and values
- Works closely with Leadership Team to ensure collaboration, consistency, and alignment of staff, child, and family experience between sites
- Leads with a style that supports positive culture-setting at the site and at the organization as a whole
- Focuses on the integration of equity, anti-racist, and anti-bias best practices in all aspects of the site
- Develop an understanding of the budget for the site in collaboration with the Executive Director and Bookkeeper
- Collaborates closely with the Leadership Team on problem-solving, improvements, and long-term strategic planning for the site and the organization
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- Have a minimum two years of experience teaching children and a year’s experience in administration
- Demonstrated experience and passion for child development, child care advocacy and educational paradigms
- Reflective thinker who approaches challenging situation with a lens of inquiry, empathy, and curiosity
- Familiarity with DCYF licensing requirements
- Well-developed interpersonal and group skills, collaborative nature, outstanding communication skills
- Motivated to take initiative and improve systems
- Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance
- Able to switch gears quickly and deal with multiple issues with consistent clarity and thoroughness
- Exhibits a high level of professionalism at all times, including in communication and boundary-setting
- Collaborates effectively with colleagues, both supervisors and supervisees
- Maintains a disposition toward leadership development
- Open to feedback and seeks professional growth
- Willing to complete necessary continuing education credits per licensing requirements
