Early Childhood Program Administrator
Location: Bay City, Michigan (In Person)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $53,000 annually, with higher starting compensation available based on education, credentials, and relevant experience.
Make a Difference Every Day
Are you a passionate early childhood leader who believes every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place to learn and grow?
The Dow Bay Area Family YMCA is seeking an experienced Early Childhood Program Administrator to provide strategic leadership for our licensed childcare and preschool programs. This is an exciting opportunity to lead dedicated staff, build meaningful relationships with families, ensure licensing excellence, and shape high-quality early learning experiences that make a lasting impact on children in our community.
As a member of the YMCA's Senior Leadership Team, you'll play an important role in advancing our mission of strengthening our community through Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.
About Our Early Childhood Programs
Our licensed early childhood programs serve children from infancy through age five across two locations in Bay City.
- Dow Bay Area Family Y Child Development Center – Recognized as a "Demonstrating Quality" program by Great Start to Quality that is licensed for 105 children featuring seven classrooms, including a Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Preschool classroom.
- Dow Bay Area Family YMCA Childcare at First Presbyterian Church – Rated as an "Enhancing Quality-Validated" program by Great Start to Quality that is licensed for 40 children with three classrooms located inside First Presbyterian Church.
Both locations utilize The Creative Curriculum to provide developmentally appropriate, engaging learning experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and school readiness. Our Early Childhood programs are licensed to serve 145 children and are supported by a dedicated team of 12 full-time and 35 part-time employees. The Early Childhood Program Administrator also serves as the Licensee for our YMCA School Age Programs including Before & After School Care and Summer Day Camps.
What We Offer
In addition to meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- YMCA Retirement Fund
- Paid Time Off and Paid Sick Leave
- Paid Holidays
- FREE YMCA Household Membership
Schedule
- Full-time, exempt position
- Generally Monday-Friday, eight-hour shifts between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Flexibility to work at least one evening each week until 6:00 p.m.
- Regular presence at both YMCA childcare locations:
- 225 Washington Avenue
- 805 Center Avenue (First Presbyterian Church), Bay City
What You'll Do
As the Early Childhood Program Administrator, you will:
Lead Exceptional Programs
- Provide strategic leadership for the YMCA's licensed childcare and preschool programs.
- Foster a positive, engaging, and child-centered learning environment.
- Champion high-quality early learning through implementation of The Creative Curriculum, including STEAM-based learning experiences.
- Ensure program excellence while identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous quality improvement.
Inspire and Develop Staff
- Recruit, hire, coach, supervise, and develop a high-performing team of early childhood professionals.
- Create a positive workplace culture built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and professional development.
Ensure Excellence and Compliance
- Maintain compliance with all Michigan childcare licensing regulations, Great Start to Quality standards, GSRP requirements, and YMCA policies.
- Oversee required documentation, staff training, safety practices, and quality assurance.
- Serve as the organization's subject matter expert regarding mandated reporting requirements and child safety.
Build Strong Relationships
- Develop trusted relationships with families, staff, licensing consultants, Great Start to Quality, GSRP partners, community organizations, and local schools.
- Respond promptly and professionally to parent and community concerns.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to promote programs and achieve enrollment goals.
Manage Operations
- Develop and manage departmental budgets.
- Monitor enrollment, staffing, program quality, grant reporting, and operational performance.
- Ensure facilities, classrooms, and equipment provide safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments.
- Support YMCA fundraising initiatives and community events.
Qualifications
We're looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about early childhood education and child development.
- A collaborative, compassionate leader who inspires others.
- Organized, adaptable, and solutions-oriented.
- Committed to providing exceptional experiences for children, families, and staff.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or another qualifying field under Michigan licensing requirements, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Must meet Michigan Child Care Licensing qualifications for a Program Director.
- Minimum age of 21, as required by licensing regulations.
- Strong knowledge of Michigan childcare licensing rules and regulations.
- Successful completion of all state licensing employment requirements, including comprehensive fingerprinting and background checks.
- CPR, First Aid, and AED certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three to five years of leadership experience in a licensed childcare setting.
- Experience leading multi-site early childhood programs.
- Experience with Great Start to Quality, GSRP, The Creative Curriculum, licensing compliance, enrollment management, budgeting, and staff development.
- Experience building strong relationships with staff, families and community partners.
Why the YMCA?
At the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA, you'll join an organization that believes in investing in children, supporting families, developing leaders, and strengthening our community. You'll lead a well-established early childhood program recognized through Great Start to Quality, mentor a passionate team of educators, and help shape the future of early learning in Bay County.
If you're ready to lead with purpose, inspire others, and make a lasting impact on children and families, we'd love to hear from you.
