Job Description

Manages the daily operations and strategic direction of a university-affiliated childcare center serving student, faculty, and staff families. Ensures compliance with licensing requirements, health and safety standards, and educational best practices. Advises departmental leadership on staffing, budgeting, and programming to meet the developmental needs of children and support institutional Manages the daily operations and strategic direction of a university-affiliated childcare center serving student, faculty, and staff families. Ensures compliance with licensing requirements, health and safety standards, and educational best practices. Advises departmental leadership on staffing, budgeting, and programming to meet the developmental needs of children and support institutional goals. Establishes partnerships with parents, academic units, and regulatory agencies to maintain quality and alignment with early learning standards.

The site director role is part of Vanderbilt Child and Family Center and is a manager responsible for site operations and staff management at a licensed childcare center. This position implements the policies, procedures and practice that achieve the highest standards for early childhood care and education (ECE) for The Acorn School and creates environments that support child development and safety.

Reporting to the VCFC Executive Director, the Site Director provides childcare center management and ensures compliance with license regulations.

The Site Director serves as the key point of contact with regulatory and licensing agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Metro Nashville Department of Health, for the childcare center.

About the Work Unit:

Vanderbilt Child and Family Center is a department of approximately 95 employees working within the department of Health, Wellbeing and Belonging under the division of PCB. Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• The Site Director works with campus partners to ensure Vanderbilt policies and procedures and licensing regulation is well in place to ensure safe and appropriate childcare facilities clean and in good repair.
• The Site Director ensures classroom activities, supply and materials resourcing, trainings, written content (Brightwheel, lesson plans, newsletters, portfolios) and practical application of the play pedagogy, Nature Education, and emergent curriculum is in alignment with The Acorn School Community of Practice.
• The Site Director implements professional development structures to reinforce and support the understanding of pedagogical objectives and performance goals (e.g., Culture Amp).
• This position maintains positive relationships with Peabody faculty and students and others to support mutually beneficial research in the field of Child Development.
• The Site Director initiates proactive communications to enrolled Acorn families and VCFC staff to celebrate accomplishments, socialize program components and services, and receive feedback. Communications strategies include Brightwheel, vmail, conferences, maintenance of the electronic bulletin board, printed and electronic memos and newsletters, and site events.
• The Site Director ensures classroom communications (Brightwheel, lesson plans, monthly newsletter) comply with standards for professional written content and reflect branding formatting provided by the VU Communications team.
• Works with the Executive Director to accomplish targeted operating costs, University guidelines and departmental goals, and VCFC’s values and vision for The Acorn School. Accountable to policies and procedures in place for efficient, effective, and financially sound operations.
• Working with the Executive Director, Education Director, and the Assistant Director, the Site Director establishes short, medium, and long-range goals and objectives for the childcare center. This position actionizes, as appropriate, the developed VCFC strategic plan as it pertains to the specific Acorn childcare center and that reflects Vanderbilt’s high standards.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has supervisory responsibility for the Assistant Site Director, Administrative Assistant, Lead Teachers, and Associate Teachers. This position reports administratively and functionally to the VCFC Executive Director.

Education and Certifications

• First Aid/CPR certified 
• Minimum bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree or higher strongly preferred
• Must fully meet State of TN DHS/DOE requirements for site director in a licensed childcare center

Experience and Skills:

• 5-7 years experience working in early childhood education
• Minimum 2+ years staff management experience goals. Establishes partnerships with parents, academic units, and regulatory agencies to maintain quality and alignment with early learning standards.

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.