Assistant Director, NCF Early Childhood Development Center

Assistant Director, NCF Early Childhood Development Center Florida Gulf Coast University United States, Florida, Naples 7505 Grand Lely Drive (Show on map) May 20, 2026 Job Summary The Assistant Director of the Naples Children & Education Foundation Early Childhood Development Center plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the center. This position involves managing daily operations, supervising and hiring staff, overseeing the center's budget, driving fundraising initiatives, and ensuring the center's licensure and accreditation are maintained. FGCU is building a culture of curiosity, commitment and collaboration. We value employees who successfully work with others and drive positive change through critical thinking and decisive action. If you thrive in an environment of innovation, accountability and mutual respect, you will find a good home here. Job Description Typical duties may include but are not limited to: Works closely with the Director to oversee the daily operations of the Early Child Development Center including managing and ensuring required teacher-child ratios, overseeing operating budget, hiring and supervising staff, maintaining license and accreditation status, and identifying and pursuing fundraising efforts. Assists the Director in obtaining and sustaining National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, aligning with the center's mission and vision. Serves in a teaching capacity, providing hands-on classroom teaching support for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool children as needed, ensuring adequate staff coverage and maintaining proper ratios. Serves as a key liaison between the Center, University, parents, and the local community, ensuring that childcare practices are aligned with best practices in child development. Ensures the health, safety, and well-being of children by providing continuous supervision and ensuring that parents are well-informed about their child's progress and experiences. Maintains detailed records tracking each child's development across all areas, ensuring comprehensive monitoring of progress. Provides leadership and supervision to staff, involving them in planning, delegating assignments, and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Other Duties:

Other job-related duties as assigned. Coordinates and oversees special projects.

Additional Job Description Required Qualifications:

Associate's degree or credential in Child Development or Early Childhood Education. Four years of teaching experience. Current Florida Child Care Director Credential or eligible to obtain within 1-year of employment. Current First-Aid and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment. Experience operating a personal computer and proficient with Microsoft Office (Work, Excel, and Outlook). Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

Successful administrative experience in a relevant field. Experience in supervising staff and leading curriculum training and support. 45- hours of DCF licensure or ability to obtain within 60-days of employment. Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) from an accredited institution.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Proven ability to think strategically and approach challenges with creativity Demonstrated track record of reliability, meeting goals, and holding oneself accountable Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively across teams Knowledge of state and local rules and regulations, which govern childcare, NAEYC accreditation standards, and Florida Sunshine State Standards; childcare standards in the areas of health, safety and nutrition; and state regulations governing the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. Knowledge of child development including typical and atypical language, cognitive, motor, social, and self-help skills development. Knowledge of educational program development and the ability to design and deliver high quality interpretive programs to infants, toddlers, and/or preschool children. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task. Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate university students in early childhood content and methods courses. Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in confidential matters. Ability to provide services to all children and families with respect and dignity. Ability and skill in public speaking, group facilitation, and partnership building. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written. Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to manage overall budget including salary, expense, operating capital, auxiliary, and other personal services funds. Ability to work in an environment that includes young children and numerous interruptions and function under pressure. Institutional Values & Behavioral Expectation In this role, the successful candidate will be expected to: Seek out new approaches to improve outcomes; remain open for feedback and new ideas. Lead with integrity; consistently produce high-quality work; persevere to overcome obstacles to meet deadlines and achieve deliverables. Share information and insights thoughtfully; build partnerships across departments; communicate respectfully; support colleagues to achieve common goals. Pay Grade 17 FGCU is a State University System of Florida member and an Equal Opportunity and Equal Access employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.