Program Lead

Job Summary

The Program Lead oversees all programmatic and staffing operations of an early care and education center, ensuring high-quality services for infants, toddlers, and/or school-age children. This role is responsible for program planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement while maintaining a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment. The Program Lead serves as a classroom and program leader, providing coaching, mentoring, observation, and feedback to teaching staff to ensure consistent, high-quality programming.

The role also supports center operations such as enrollment, attendance, staffing, purchasing, and community engagement. Program Leads spend approximately 33% of their time working directly in ratio, based on center needs.

• Communicate program vision, mission, philosophy, and curriculum approaches to staff, families, schools, and community partners
• Ensure consistent and high-quality documentation practices, including observations, lesson plans, assessments, and reviews
• Support and mentor teaching staff in developing, implementing, and evaluating program action plans
• Collaborate with staff to create enriched, culturally responsive indoor and outdoor learning environments that meet industry standards
• Assess program quality, curriculum implementation, health and safety practices, and licensing compliance; implement continuous improvement strategies
• Lead and participate in quality rating and improvement systems for applicable programs
• Maintain knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and relevant curriculum frameworks
• Use observations and assessment tools to support individualized child growth plans
• Support positive behavior approaches in partnership with families and staff
• Maintain classroom coverage in ratio as required

• Manage and support a team of teaching staff based on center size and enrollment
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback
• Conduct timely performance evaluations and professional check‑ins
• Facilitate effective team meetings that promote collaboration and accountability
• Observe classroom practices and provide immediate, constructive feedback
• Provide on‑site modeling and mentoring to support curriculum and instructional quality
• Support onboarding, orientation, and retention of new staff
• Develop professional growth plans and align individual and team goals with organizational priorities
• Address performance concerns through corrective action plans when needed

• Commit to continuous professional growth in leadership, curriculum, and child development
• Participate in and lead professional development initiatives and share best practices
• Act as a change leader to support organizational improvements and initiatives
• Foster team engagement, morale, and a positive workplace culture
• Mentor staff for future leadership opportunities
• Support recruitment efforts through strong relationships with families, schools, and community partners

• Build authentic, culturally responsive relationships with children, families, and community partners
• Support family engagement opportunities and advisory participation
• Serve as a representative in school and community activities
• Assess community needs and adjust programming to better serve families
• Maintain open, two‑way communication with families regarding child development and program activities
• Provide parent education and connect families to community resources
• Participate in advocacy efforts supporting children and families

• Ensure compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, licensing regulations, and funding requirements
• Maintain required staff‑to‑child ratios and health and safety standards
• Protect organizational assets and resources

• Forecast staffing needs and support hiring and onboarding efforts
• Support staff scheduling, purchasing, and operational planning
• Maintain enrollment and attendance goals
• Identify opportunities to improve program performance, enrollment, and operational efficiency
• Support budget oversight and purchasing guidelines

• High School…