"Director, Eccles Lab School"

Salary: $77,604.91 - $84,353.16 Annually

Location: Taylorsville Campus, UT

Job Type: Exempt Full Time

Job Number: 202500446

Division: Academic Affairs

Department: Educ/Fam Study/Soc Wk

FLSA Exempt

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

All employees are expected to maintain a permanent residence within the State of Utah as a condition of employment. New employees must provide a valid Utah residential address within 30 days of their start date.

Job Summary

The Director of the Eccles Lab School at Salt Lake Community College is responsible for the planning, development, leadership, and logistical oversight for child care at a facility that is both (1) a state-licensed child care facility that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and (2) a Lab School where college students can learn best practices in early care and education.

The Lab School serves as the SLCC Taylorsville Redwood Campus childcare center for the children (ages 2-5) of SLCC students, faculty, and staff. Consequently, the Director will work cooperatively with the administration and faculty in order to meet the goals and objectives of the Family and Human Studies (FHS) academic department.

The Director will work with parents, students, faculty, and staff to support the care and development of children in her/his care. The Director will direct operations by organizing, scheduling, and evaluating childcare staff and programs. The Director will oversee childcare and other services provided to students, parents, and department faculty at the Eccles Lab School. She/he will work cooperatively with the faculty in maintaining and/or bringing to fruition the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the Family and Human Studies academic department.

The Director will also serve the department, the school, the College, and the larger community by participating in both general and discipline-specific forums and meetings by serving on College and Department committees, by serving on community committees, and by engaging with the community.

If the Director has the appropriate qualifications and Eccles Labs School support staff, he/she maybe be asked to teach college-level courses in the FHS Department.

The Director will engage in outreach among community partners, the Family and Human Studies (Early Childhood Education) academic program, the Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing, high schools, and Early Childhood conferences. She/he is responsible for being aware of and participating in statewide efforts for improvements in childcare.

The Director will provide a high-quality, safe environment by complying with all appropriate licensing regulations and maintaining appropriate health standards for employees, college students, children, and staff. Individual will comply with emergency preparedness procedures and maintain equipment for the facility. The Director will work with the state Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing, Risk Management, Facilities, and the Universal Access Coordinator to ensure that facilities are ADA compliant and that no safety hazards exist. Individual will work with site administrators, the site leadership team, and emergency management personnel to develop and maintain site emergency response and continuity plans. Individual will also serve as the building marshal (safety officer) and participate in site emergency response activities.

The lab school houses a kitchen for food service, providing approximately 170 meals per day. The Director will ensure that the kitchen is in compliance with all relevant policies and regulations.

Director will act as budget center manager for the operations of the Eccles Lab School. The Director will prepare and monitor a budget, oversee all revenue and expenses, prepare and submit all necessary reports, and meet all regulatory guidelines.

The Director is responsible for reviewing and maintaining contractual obligations with the Head Start program, which is housed in the Eccles Lab School building. She/he will act as an advocate and spokesperson for sponsored child care activities.

The Director oversees payments for children's attendance at the lab school. Where payments are in arrears, the Director will negotiate a payment agreement with the child's family and monitor compliance with that agreement. The Director may need to work with the college collections agencies to secure outstanding balances.

She/he will direct the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) at all SLCC child care sites. She/he is responsible for coordinating with each SLCC child care site in the preparation of its budget, verifying expenses, making any needed corrections, and submitting the expenses to the federal program for reimbursement, a source of significant funding for SLCC child care.

She/he will direct all aspects of maintaining accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

She/he has the unique responsibility of serving as a liaison between the policies and procedures of the College and those of Child Care licensing.

The Director will support college students in completing their college assignments, write letters of recommendation for students, and work with faculty and students involved in college-approved undergraduate research.

This position requires lifting children and/or lifting/moving furniture and materials weighing up to forty (40) lbs. It also requires the ability to be active with children (music and movement activities) and to get on child's level (by stooping, squatting, or bending). As with work in any childcare setting, the Director will regularly be exposed to bodily fluids and communicable illnesses.

Priority review date for this position is November 10, 2025.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities & Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of accreditation requirements of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• Knowledge of care practices and systems and Utah State Licensing regulations.
• Knowledge of local nonprofit agencies and human services providers.
• Knowledge of management and administrative practices.
• Individual may need to teach college level courses, three (3) to six (6) credit hours.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to direct all employees of the Eccles Lab School to ensure the effective operation of the facility and its programs;
• Ability to assure compliance with the acquisition and maintenance of licensing, accreditation, and other regulatory requirements;
• Ability to ensure the development and implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum;
• Ability to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a positive, organized, and attractive learning environment for children, college students, staff, and families;
• Ability to interview, hire, train, schedule and supervise all Eccles Lab School staff;
• Ability to establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with employees;
• Ability to plan and implement special projects for children, parents, college students, and staff;
• Ability to direct and work effectively with people;
• Ability to exercise significant budget oversight and responsibility by tracking expenditures and maintaining accurate financial records;
• Ability to participate in the annual informed budget process;
• Ability to evaluate and assure the effective operation of a quality child care facility;
• Ability to effectively and appropriately handle behavioral problems in children and other issues, which may require mediation with parents, students, and child care providers;
• Ability to plan and develop educational programming for parents, students, faculty, and staff;
• Ability to provide professional development training for early care and education providers;
• Ability to become familiar with, and abide by, all college policies, with immediate priority given to those policies that govern interactions with colleagues, staff, administrators, and departments throughout the organization;
• Ability to serve as a liaison between the policies and procedures of the College and those of Child Care licensing;
• Ability to use computer applications, including spreadsheets and word processing programs;
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people with a variety of abilities and backgrounds, to maintain good working relationships across the College.
• Ability to work with all groups from a variety of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, and with community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities.

Minimum qualifications

Bachelors degree in Child Development, Family and Human Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences, Early Childhood Education, or related field.

Full-time, paid work experience, working in a childcare center.

Must meet the pedagogical and operational administrator qualifications from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):
(1) baccalaureate-level higher education degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special education; OR
(2) baccalaureate-level degree in another major with at least thirty six (36) college credits in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, and/or early childhood special education; OR
(3) state public school certification to practice as a teacher for children age birth to eight (8) years.
AND
Nine (9) higher education credits in business and program administration; or administrator credentials recognized by NAEYC or a principal credential issued by a state.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Early Childhood;
Experience managing/directing a large childcare facility;
Experience managing a budget for a childcare facility;
Experience with childcare management software.
Full-time, paid work experience working in a childcare lab school at an institution of higher education.