Paid Programs Director

Position Title: Paid Programs Director
Reports To: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt

Employment Type: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, year-round

Schedule: 9:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday

Position Summary

The Paid Programs Director provides leadership and oversight for all licensed childcare and fee-based wraparound programs, including toddler programming, before and after school care, Fun Days, and summer camp. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality program delivery, regulatory compliance, operational effectiveness, enrollment management, and staff supervision across all paid programs. The Paid Programs Director collaborates closely with school leadership, staff, families, and community partners to ensure programs align with the school’s mission, operational goals, and licensing standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Operations

• Oversee the daily operations and long-term planning of all licensed childcare programs including before and after school care, toddler program, K3 wrap around care, Fun Days, and summer camp. 
• Develop and implement program goals aligned with the school’s strategic priorities. 
• Identify and implement systems and processes that improve program quality, efficiency, and family experience.  
• Plan and coordinate all paid programming in collaboration with program leads. 
• Manage program logistics, staff to student ratios, operational timelines, staffing needs, and enrollment capacity across programs, including filling in for staff in programs when needed.

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing requirements, including DCF 251 regulations, documentation, staffing qualifications, and operational procedures. 
• Maintain all required licensing records, binders, inspections, and renewal activities. 
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, and building requirements applicable to licensed childcare programs. 
• Monitor program operations to ensure compliance with school policies, legal regulations, and licensing standards. 

Enrollment & Family Engagement

• Receive and organize all toddler program applications and execute annual and ongoing toddler enrollment as students withdraw or age out of the program.
• Coordinate annual and ongoing enrollment processes for all school-year childcare programs and summer camp in collaboration with the school’s administration team. 
• Coordinate all family communication including acceptance, waitlist status, onboarding, and required documentation collection for all school-year, summer, and year-round programs.
• Support classroom balancing and enrollment planning based on staffing and licensing requirements. 
• Maintain responsive and professional communication with families regarding program operations & inquiries and enrollment matters.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Supervise paid program staff, including hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and annual evaluations. 
• Proactively plan for staff coverage due to planned and unplanned staff outages or vacant positions.
• Work closely with the After School Lead to support daily responsibilities and ongoing projects.
• Support and mentor program leadership staff, including the Toddler Program Guides, Program Leads, and other staff lead roles. 
• Promote a collaborative, professional, and student-centered culture across all programs. 
• Ensure staff maintain required certifications, training hours, and licensing qualifications. 

Budgeting & Program Administration

• Provide feedback to program budgets and operational plans in collaboration with school leadership. 
• Monitor program enrollment, staffing, and expenditures to support financial sustainability. 
• Maintain accurate program records, attendance documentation, and operational reporting. 
• Meet regularly with the Executive Director regarding program updates, operational needs, and strategic planning. 

Community Partnerships & Program Coordination

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations and external partners, including 4-C, WECA, YoungStar, and the Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association. 
• Coordinate with school staff to support transitions between school-day, afterschool, extracurricular, and recreational programming. 
• Collaborate with school staff and external partners to ensure safe and organized student transitions between activities and programs. 

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing professional development related to childcare administration, early childhood education, and out-of-school time programming. 
• Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, and effective leadership in interactions with students, families, staff, and community partners. 
• Participate in required meetings, professional development, and school events.
• Support daily school operations such as recess and transitions as assigned.
• Perform duties in alignment with school policies and charter requirements and adapts to reasonable changes in assignments, schedule, or work setting to support school operations.

Required Qualifications

• Experience serving in a childcare center leadership role or comparable program administration position. 
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, Educational Leadership, or a related field. 
• Familiarity with Wisconsin DCF licensing requirements and YoungStar quality standards. 
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff, including hiring, coaching, scheduling, and performance management.  
• Strong organizational and operational management skills across multiple programs and priorities. 
• Technological proficiency with Microsoft Office and related operational software systems. 
• CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to meet all state licensing requirements, including background checks and required health screenings. 
• Demonstrate alignment with the school’s mission, vision, and values through professional conduct, respectful communication with students, families, and staff, and consistent adherence to school policies and expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registry Administrator Credential. 
• Experience managing licensed childcare or wraparound programming in a school setting. 
• Montessori experience or familiarity with Montessori philosophy and practices. 
• Experience with budget management and enrollment planning.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and operational planning.
• Strong understanding of childcare licensing and compliance systems.
• Staff supervision, coaching, and team development.
• Organization and management of multiple priorities and timelines.
• Collaborative problem-solving and relationship-building.
• Effective communication and customer service orientation.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position is performed in a school environment with regular interaction with students, staff, and families. The role requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical requirements of the role include:

• Sitting, standing, and moving throughout the school building for extended periods
• Ability to supervise students in classrooms, common areas, and outdoors
• Using a computer and other standard office equipment
• Occasional lifting, assisting students, or moving materials weighing up to 25 pounds
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and in writing
• Ability to respond quickly to student, staff, or operational needs
• Occasional bending, reaching, or stooping as required by the role

The school will provide reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Our school is committed to creating a respectful, inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.