Director of the Early Learning Center

Temple Emanuel is a large reform Congregation blessed with a range of educational offerings through every stage of life.  Our Rabbi Steven Foster Early Learning Center at Temple Emanuel inspires children to reach their greatest potential every day. It strives to develop a positive sense of Jewish identity by incorporating Jewish values, rituals, and traditions in the classroom and in our outdoor spaces. We nurture each child’s innate sense of wonder and curiosity by providing them with a safe, inviting place to learn and explore. Through a play-based, emergent, and developmentally appropriate curriculum, children aged 12 months through kindergarten are encouraged to discover the world around them through a loving and responsive environment. At the center of this intimate setting is a dedicated professional staff of more than forty educators. This wonderful team works hard and in collaboration to provide a joyful environment, in which children feel comfortable and their parents feel confident that they will receive exceptional, personal, and loving care. Our approach to early childhood education is informed by progressive educational practices, primarily Judaic values, the Reggio Emilia approach, Social/Emotional Intelligence programs and Anti-Bias Education, with an emphasis on the outdoors. These methods guide and inspire us to maintain a high level of respect for each child as we honor their uniquely individual experience here at our Early Learning Center. Our ideal Rabbi Steven Foster ELC Director candidate has worked in and led progressive early childhood programs. They are self-motivated and detail oriented and appreciate the impact of a diverse team. They themselves are eager to grow and learn – receiving regular supervision and mentoring. While never compromising our safety and licensing standards, they are willing to experiment. The Director of the Early Learning Center leads, inspires, and implements an Early Learning Center structure which supports and elevates high-quality learning for students, families, and educators. They are responsible for the overall daily operations, management, and strategic direction of Rabbi Steven Foster ELC at Temple Emanuel. The Director of the Early Learning Center will ensure adherence to organizational policies, mission, and vision while overseeing staff, financial management, and public relations. They will ensure that our Jewish traditions, ideas, and values are seamlessly integrated into everyday experiences and lead in a reflective manner that demonstrates the core values and vision of the Early Learning Center. Areas of Responsibility: Leadership, Relationship Building, Shared Leadership, Pedagogy, Professional Development of Self and Others, Lay Leadership Development, Communication, Organization and Dependability, Financial and Business Management & Jewish Early Childhood Community Responsibilities and Other Responsibilities. Qualifications: Large center directors must have a director qualifications letter issued by the Department of Early Childhood or a current early childhood professional credential level III or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department of Early Childhood, A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following; Child Development, Child Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, Previous teaching experience, Previous leadership experience, Knowledge and experience maintaining a large budget, Maintains working knowledge of general rules for child-care facilities and rules regulating large child-care centers in Colorado, Strong oral and written communication skills, Ability to communicate effectively with participants of the program, parents, co-workers and the public, Must possess excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills, Must posses the ability to react quickly in emergencies and make decisions based on sound judgement, Must maintain a professional and positive attitude, exercise appropriate conflict resolution techniques, and exhibit patience when dealing with challenging situations & Efficiently and effectively use various software application systems, products, and Networks. This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. We’ll still consider applications even if you don’t meet every single one of the requirements. Rabbi Steven Foster ELC at Temple Emanuel respects and values the individuality that every employee brings. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our Jewish values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to continue to elevate our organization and the field of early childhood education. To apply send: A cover letter, resume, and 3 references to Connie Suson at [email protected]. Salary: $75,000-$95,000 (dependent on qualifications and experience). Benefit Eligible Benefits Package Includes: Retirement, Health, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, AD&D, Discounted Child Tuition, PTO, Sick Leave, Ongoing Professional Development, Mental Health Days, Full-time. www.emanueldenver.org. 

(7/23/24)