Youth Development Director Early Childhood Education Central YMCA Family Downtown Wilmington presso YMCA of Delaware

Delaware Promise:

Ensure every youth and teen we serve is on a pathway to success
Improve the health and wellbeing of every individual and family we serve
Unite communities and inspire service to others

Benefits & Perks:

Full benefits package including Dental, Vision & Health Insurance
Generous PTO vacation, 12 paid holidays, and sick leave
Free Nationwide Y Membership for your Household
12% Employer-Funded Retirement Plan upon meeting eligibility
Learning and development workshops
Career advancement opportunities
Staff Discounts on Programs & Services and more!

Salary: $49,500– $60,000 per year. Final compensation is based on factors such as skills, qualifications, and experience.

Essential Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Compliance

• Oversees the daily operations of Early Childhood Education programs, ensuring state licensing requirements and YMCA standards are consistently met.
• Responsible for annual licensure of all program sites, including physical inspections, life safety compliance, staff and child file maintenance, and timely completion of developmental assessments (ASQs).
• Ensures compliance with Delaware Stars and NAEYC Accreditation standards, driving continuous quality improvement.
• Maintains adherence to state and local regulations, laws, and codes related to program operations.

Curriculum & Instruction
Leads curriculum development and implementation, ensuring alignment with developmental standards and YMCA philosophy.
Reviews and approves lesson plans, conducts classroom observations, and provides feedback to ensure instructional quality and inclusivity (including ADA compliance).
Mentors and supports staff ensuring best practices in early childhood education are applied.

Staff & Volunteer Leadership

• Assists in the recruitment, hiring, training, development, scheduling, and supervision of staff and volunteers.
• Provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to ensure staff growth and accountability.
• Supports succession planning and professional development opportunities for the team.

Operations & Fiscal Management

• Collaborates with the Registrar and Business Manager to manage registrations, transitions, terminations, and billing (including POC/ECAP subsidy updates).
• Maintains budget responsibility for curriculum supplies, equipment, and program expenses, ensuring fiscal accountability.
• Supports revenue goals by ensuring enrollment capacity and maintaining positive family relationships.

Collaboration & Support

• Partners with the Senior Youth Development Director and other YMCA leadership to strengthen youth development strategies and initiatives.
• Acts as a resource for families, staff, and community partners by providing effective communication and problem resolution.
• Participates in association-wide initiatives, quality teams, special events, and fundraising campaigns as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to serve a community of belonging.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, including at least 15 credits in early childhood-related coursework (child development, curriculum planning, positive behavior management, health & safety, nutrition, family/community, professionalism).
• Early Childhood Administrator qualified with the State of Delaware.
• Minimum 24 months of experience working with children ages 0–5 in a licensed group setting.
• At least 12 months of supervisory experience managing a team of 10 or more staff.
• At least 12 months of experience with budget management and fiscal oversight.

Preferred Qualifications

• Multi-Lingual
• Minimum 2 years of progressive supervisory experience leading 20 or more staff members.
• Extensive experience in budget management and fiscal accountability.
• Experience supporting children with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

The YMCA of Delaware is an equal opportunity employer.  The Y maintains a work environment in which staff are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.  In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit,  hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and staff without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.