Position Summary
The Director of Compliance leads and oversees all regulatory compliance functions
across a large, multi-site childcare organization. This individual ensures that every
location operates in full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while
maintaining high operational standards.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position requiring extensive on-site
presence. The Director regularly visits schools, conducts audits, identifies risks, and
implements corrective actions. They ensure every location remains inspection-ready daily. Additionally, the Director serves as the primary escalation point for resolving complex parent complaints, ensuring all grievances are investigated and resolved in alignment with regulatory standards and organizational policies.
The Director serves as the subject matter expert on regulatory compliance. They partner closely with executive leadership, operations, and school administrators to promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Primary Responsibilities
Regulatory & Audit Management
• Lead compliance programs across all childcare locations.
• Conduct on-site audits (routine and unannounced) to ensure daily inspection
readiness.
• Ensure full compliance with Article 47, DOE, CACFP, SACC/SAAC, Early
Intervention, fire safety, and OSHA.
• Prepare schools for inspections by the Department of Health, Department of
Education, and CACFP.
• Develop corrective action plans and oversee them through to timely completion.
• Review critical documentation including staff/child files, attendance, health
records, and licensing files.
Escalation & Complaint Resolution
• Manage escalated parent complaints regarding safety, regulatory, or operational
issues.
• Investigate grievances objectively by gathering facts, conducting interviews, and
reviewing records.
• Resolve conflicts impartially, balancing regulatory mandates with families
needs.
• Document all inquiries, investigations, and resolutions to maintain a clear audit
trail.
• Analyze complaint trends to identify systemic issues and implement preventive
measures.
Training & Policy Development
• Train school leadership including principals, educational directors, and site
managers on compliance.
• Develop corporate policies, procedures, audit tools, and training materials.
• Monitor regulatory changes and seamlessly implement organization-wide
updates.
• Partner with leadership (Operations, HR, Facilities, Education) to mitigate
operational risks.
• Report compliance metrics, inspection outcomes, and complaint trends to
executive leadership.
Required Qualifications
• Educational Director Status: Meets all NYC Department of Health qualifications
to serve in this role.
• Regulatory Expertise: Extensive, working knowledge of NYC Department of
Health Article 47 regulations.
• Licensing Knowledge: Strong understanding of NYC DOH daycare licensing,
inspections, and operations.
• Agency Frameworks: Comprehensive understanding of DOE requirements for
early childhood and school-age contracts.
• Program Experience: Proven experience with CACFP regulations, audits, and
School-Age Child Care (SACC/SAAC) operations.
• Leadership History: Minimum five years of leadership experience in childcare
compliance or early childhood education.
• Multi-Site Management: Experience overseeing compliance across multiple
childcare centers simultaneously.
• Conflict De-escalation: Proven ability to manage high-stress situations and
sensitive customer or parent grievances.
Preferred Experience
• Scale: Experience managing compliance for a large, multi-site childcare
organization.
• Local Insight: Direct experience handling NYC DOH and DOE inspections.
• Staff Oversight: Experience supervising regional compliance staff or specialists.
• Systems Design: Experience developing compliance monitoring systems and
corporate training programs.
• Track Record: Proven history of successful regulatory inspections with minimal
deficiencies.
• Specialized Care: Experience with Early Intervention programs.
Key Competencies
• Regulatory Mastery: Expert knowledge of NYC childcare regulations.
• Conflict Resolution: Exceptional mediation, de-escalation, and customer service
skills.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous eye for paperwork, file audits, and physical
environment safety.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills for interacting
with families and regulators.
• Organization: Analytical mindset capable of managing multiple competing
priorities under pressure.
• Core Values: Deep commitment to the highest standards of health, safety, and
quality care.