ECE Start Up Program Director

Position Title: ECE Start Up Program Director

Employment Type: Part-Time Contract with the ability to grow into an extended full-time contract and/or employee position

Reports To: Volunteer CreSer Co-Directors and the Parent Council (which will transition to a board in 2025)

Supervises: Teaching and administrative staff, and family and community volunteers

About CreSer ECE: CreSer Early Childhood Education (CreSer) is an emerging nonprofit cooperative early childhood education ​organization serving children from infancy through five years old. The center is ​part of a culturally sustaining support system for children and families in the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea (GES) neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado. At CreSer, we work towards building strong relationships and focus on equity and inclusion by honoring, respecting, and affirming the unique strengths of children, families, teachers and our communities. We seek to create joyful learning experiences to set them on the path to become confident, capable, and curious adults. We know that raising a child takes a family and a united community and that is why CreSer will be focused on ​connecting families to wraparound supports in order to strengthen families so they can continue to be their child’s best first teacher. With an initial launch and a goal to expand, CreSer will meet the growing demand for high-quality early childhood education in GES. Learn more at www.creserece.org.

Mission: To provide playful and culturally sustaining early childhood learning experiences for children and their families that spark curiosity and build inclusive, equitable, and thriving communities.

Vision: CreSer envisions a world where every child and family feels confident, capable, and accepted within a supportive and connected community.

General Description: Our organization is currently in the startup phase, making this an exciting time to join our team. The Program Director plays a vital role in building and sustaining CreSer’s presence and impact in the GES community. You'll have the unique opportunity to help create and build our programming from the ground up, shaping the future of CreSer and making a lasting impact on the children and families we serve. The Program Director is responsible for programming and community engagement, developing partnerships, fostering relationships, and designing initiatives that connect families, educators, and community organizations. This person will also provide support to the CreSer Parent Council (and a future board of directors), volunteers, contract employees, and future staff. The role requires a collaborative and strategic mindset to expand CreSer’s reach and ensure meaningful community connections, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of CreSer during a pivotal phase in its development while we are creating an early childhood education center.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

Organizational Leadership

• Partner with CreSer Co-Directors, Board, Parent Council, and other stakeholders to advance the vision of the center.
• Cultivate an environment that encourages reflective practices and processes.
• Strategically develop and systematically strengthen the unique components of CreSer’s approach to early childhood education and supporting families.
• Utilize the strengths of team members to build an effective team.
• Collaborate with CreSer Co-Directors, Board, Parent Council and stakeholders to utilize the existing strategic plan to engage all families with young children in the CreSer community.

Shared Leadership

• Engage CreSer Co-Directors, families, and future educators in the creation and execution of key decisions and policies via a cooperative governance model.
• Cooperate with educators and families to foster a culture of inquiry and dialogue.
• Promote a shared responsibility for integrating each families’ own culture, traditions, and values into daily experiences both inside and outside the classroom.
• Facilitate essential meetings and discussions between CreSer, families and the greater community to ensure open and direct communication.
• Actively identify potential areas for community building and problem solving with educators and families, and collaboratively develop tailored action plans to address them.

Program Development and Delivery

• Develop, guide, and establish a framework for early childhood education and family-support programming that fosters a high-quality early learning environment, and mission-driven program design which reflects the needs of the GES community.
• Foster an environment of mutual respect with educational staff and provide guidance and support to continually enhance their understanding of teaching and learning, and their ability to create meaningful and responsive learning experiences for the children and their families.
• Create an environment that recognizes and values the unique qualities, capabilities, and potential of each child, family, and educator.
• Collaborate with families and educators to integrate community traditions, values, and cultural practices into programming.
• Ensure that all CreSer community members have the opportunities and resources needed for successful job performance.
• Embrace new ideas, take initiative in planning, and follow through with direction and corrective action.

Partnership Development, Community Outreach and Engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with CreSer’s Parent Council, community members and organizations, and other stakeholders to support CreSer’s mission and programming.
• Work with the leadership team to identify and cultivate key community partnerships related to ECE programming and family support.
• Create and execute a comprehensive community outreach strategy to strengthen CreSer’s presence in the GES neighborhoods.
• Develop and help facilitate workshops, events, and engagement opportunities that build relationships with families and community members.
• Ensure all communication and services related to CreSer programming, including newsletters, board and funder reports, and social media/website content, are accessible to diverse families, including offering Spanish and English resources
• Represent CreSer ECE at conferences and events convened by professional associations, organizational partners, and funders.
• Provide information sessions to interested families, showcasing the vision and uniqueness of CreSer ECE.
• Be accessible to families, to discuss any child-related concerns and promptly respond to phone calls and emails from staff and parents.

Administration, Financial, and Business Management

• Oversee the overall budget, including drafting, monitoring, and meeting financial expectations.
• Handle the bi-weekly reporting and inputting of payroll for future CreSer employees.
• Supervise and monitor the appropriate allocation of expenses.
• Collaborate with the CreSer Co-Directors, Board, Parent Council, stakeholders and development staff/consultants to identify, apply for, and manage reporting for ECE-specific funding opportunities.
• Manage data collection, evaluation, and reporting for programming required for various funders, and state and county support systems, as required.
• Collaborate with the administrative team to manage the onboarding process for new staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in early childhood education or a related field.
• 3+ years of direct professional experience in an early childhood setting, preferably with knowledge and experience of progressive pedagogical approaches such as Reggio Emilia, Montessori, etc.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Bilingual abilities (verbal and written) in Spanish and English are required.
• Strong understanding of child development.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations and teams.
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification.
• Must clear a full background check and health screening.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Director qualification (Level 3+) in the relevant state credential system a plus.
• Experience with fundraising/grant-writing
• Proficiency in various technology platforms and tools.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to stand for long periods.
• Ability to move as required by the position.

Pay and Benefits: This is a part-time contract position from March - August 2025 paying $4,000 per month with no benefits, with the ability to grow into an extended full-time contract and/or employee position.

To Apply: Position open until filled. Please fill out this application form by Friday January 31st for priority consideration. Full link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOHi0sQPxNaxso_fZc_pYwjKUjqZ_3SJJCSb3q_wVYu8f_GA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Email admin@creserece.org with questions. Please include “Program Director” in the subject.

To see this job description in Spanish, click here.