Director Child Development Center

Work type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Bellingham, WA
Categories: Business and Financial Affairs

Position Title Director Child Development Center

About the Department The Child Development Center (CDC) supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
The CDC provides high-quality early care and education for children ages 12 months to 5 years. We participate in Washington State's Early Achievers Quality Rating and Improvement Program and are committed to supporting each child's social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development in a safe and nurturing environment. Our mission is to partner with children, families, and students in promoting the holistic development of every child within the CDC community.

About the Position The CDC Director provides strategic and collaborative leadership to advance the CDC in support of the mission of Western Washington University, the division of Business and Financial Affairs (BFA), and the unit of Risk, Ethics, Safety, Resilience, and Enterprise Operations (RESR-EO). The Director oversees a high-quality early childhood education program serving WWU students, faculty, staff, and a limited number of alumni and community families.
The Director is responsible for all aspects of CDC operations, including personnel and budget management, enrollment, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, staff development, and program assessment. The Director leads a team of early childhood educators and collaborates with university departments, campus partners, families, and external agencies to support program excellence and continuous improvement.

Committed to providing developmentally appropriate early learning experiences, the CDC also serves as a valuable teaching and learning partner through its collaboration with the Woodring College of Education, supporting practicum, internship, employment, and research opportunities for future educators. The Director advances program sustainability through strategic growth, partnerships, and other funding opportunities.

Reporting to the AVP for RESR-EO, the Director ensures compliance with Washington State licensing and quality standards, including participation in the Early Achievers program. The CDC currently serves 87 children ages 1-5 across six classrooms, and the Director provides leadership to sustain and strengthen the program's long-term success.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership, Personnel Management & Organizational Culture (25%)

Provides leadership for all personnel and organizational development activities to ensure a positive, inclusive, welcoming, and family-centered environment.

• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, mentor, evaluate, and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce, including classified staff, substitutes, volunteers, interns, and practicum students. Collaborate with and provide oversight to the Operations Manager regarding the recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and development of student employees.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive workplace culture that promotes employee engagement, effective communication, shared leadership, and organizational effectiveness.
• Manage personnel matters in accordance with university policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable regulations, including conducting annual performance evaluations, supporting employee development through coaching and mentoring, and implementing performance improvement strategies as needed.
• Ensure staff maintain required certifications, professional development hours, and licensing qualifications, while promoting continuous learning and growth in early childhood education, leadership, equity, inclusion, and best practices.

Program Administration, Licensing, Compliance & Risk Management (20%)

Provides oversight of operational systems, regulatory compliance, risk management, and continuous quality improvement to ensure effective and compliant program administration.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, university, and licensing requirements governing childcare operations, including maintaining program licensing through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), participation in Washington's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) through Early Achievers, and serving as the responsible principal for the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, systems, and operational practices that support program quality, accountability, equitable access, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the confidentiality, security, and appropriate management of sensitive information, records, and program documentation in accordance with applicable laws and university policies.
• Lead emergency preparedness, health and safety, and risk management efforts, collaborating with university partners including Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Human Resources, and other campus offices to promote compliance and operational excellence.

Fiscal Management & Business Operations (15%)

As financial manager, maintain a current understanding of the financial situation of assigned funds and adhere to the financial manager responsibilities as defined in university policy POL-U5320.03. Ensure that funds are spent, obligated, and/or committed in accordance with all university policies and procedures, standards, state and federal rules, and applicable grant and contract language, and within available budget. This may include developing spending plans and forecasts for managed funds, oversight of individuals with delegated spending authority, and additional training on financial principles. Oversee individuals who have been delegated as a Budget Authority to ensure that these individuals understand the policies and procedures and that their expenditures are within budget and compliant with university standards.

• Develop and oversee annual operating budgets, long-range financial plans, and fiscal strategies in collaboration with the Operations Manager and Western Washington University's Business & Financial Affairs (BFA) unit.
• Monitor revenues, expenditures, enrollment trends, and program performance to support informed decision-making and sustainable operations.
• Oversee the financial management, including multiple funding sources such as tuition revenue, grants, donor funds, subsidies, and university resources.
• Provide oversight and direction to the Operations Manager regarding billing, collections, contracts, purchasing, payroll coordination, and financial reporting processes.
• Analyze financial data, assess fiscal risks and opportunities, and ensure compliance with university fiscal policies, state regulations, and applicable funding requirements. Implement corrective actions and operational adjustments as needed to maintain fiscal health.
• Support long-range planning and university initiatives by evaluating the financial feasibility of future program enhancements, service expansions, facility improvements, and other strategic opportunities.

Educational Leadership, Program Quality & Assessment (15%)

Provides leadership to ensure high-quality early learning experiences through curriculum development, instructional support, continuous assessment, and evidence-based practices.

• Support teachers in developing and implementing developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and research-based curriculum that reflects current best practices and maintains excellence in inquiry-based learning. Ensure staff have access to the resources, assessment tools, and professional support needed to deliver high-quality educational experiences.
• Establish and oversee systems for assessing program quality, child outcomes, and organizational effectiveness to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Foster inclusive learning environments that support the diverse needs of children and families while promoting evidence-based teaching practices and ongoing professional growth.
• Collaborate with university faculty and academic programs to strengthen the CDC's role as a model early learning environment, integrating emerging research and best practices into curriculum, instruction, and program development.

Enrollment, Family Engagement & Communications (15%)

Provides leadership for enrollment management, family engagement, and communications to support equitable access, transparency, and strong partnerships with families and the university community.

• Provide strategic oversight to the Operations Manager in monitoring enrollment, waitlists, retention, and access to services, while ensuring enrollment priorities among students, faculty, staff, and community families align with the CDC's mission, university priorities, and applicable laws.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and accessible communication with families and stakeholders regarding program operations, enrollment, policies, and services.
• Oversee public-facing communications, including website content, publications, tours, presentations, and other informational materials that promote awareness of the CDC and its programs.
• Foster meaningful partnerships with families by developing systems and practices that encourage engagement, collaboration, and open communication in support of children's learning and well-being.

University & Community Partnerships, Strategic Planning & Advocacy (10%)

Provides leadership for strategic planning, partnership development, and community engagement to advance the mission of the Child Development Center, Western Washington University, and the unit of Risk, Ethics, Safety, Resilience, and Enterprise Operations (RESR-EO).

• Lead strategic planning initiatives by assessing current and emerging childcare needs, conducting program evaluations and stakeholder engagement, and identifying opportunities to strengthen services and support the evolving needs of the university community.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with university departments, academic programs, community organizations, public agencies, and professional associations. Collaborate with partners such as the Woodring College of Education, Whatcom Early Learning Alliance, Bellingham Public Schools, Whatcom Community College, the Washington Coalition for Campus Children's Centers, and other organizations that support early childhood education, student learning, and family engagement.
• Represent the Child Development Center on university committees, community partnerships, and professional organizations, ensuring the CDC's priorities align with the strategic goals of Western Washington University and the RESR-EO/Business & Financial Affairs unit. Promote awareness of childcare resources and advocate for high-quality early childhood education and family support services.
• Foster opportunities for student learning, research, internships, practicum placements, and community engagement while maintaining collaborative relationships that support continuous program quality and participation in state quality initiatives, including Early Achievers.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Early Education Leadership, or related field.
• Progressive leadership experience in an early childhood education, childcare, educational, or human services setting, including experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.
• Demonstrated experience with child development, early childhood education best practices, developmentally appropriate practice, and inclusive learning environments for children aged 1-5 yrs old.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with families, staff, university partners, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging through leadership and organizational practices.
• Demonstrated strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and technology skills, including proficiency with standard business and productivity software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Early Education Leadership, or related field.
• Experience directing or mana