About This Role
The Director of the LaCross Early Learning Center will serve as the founding onsite leader of a transformational demonstration model program of high-quality early care and education.
The LaCross Early Learning Center, located in the Kindlewood community, is a unique partnership among United Way of Greater Charlottesville (UWGC), the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia (UVA-EHD), and Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA). The center will provide infants through pre-kindergarteners with high-quality, equitable early childhood education, prioritizing children and families who have historically had fewer opportunities to access these services. The center will be supported by multiple funding streams, including publicly funded programs.
The Director will lead the day-to-day operations of the center while also advancing its broader demonstration, innovation, training, professional learning, and research goals. This person will be responsible for ensuring the center operates with excellence, building and retaining a strong instructional team, implementing the UVA-designed educational model with fidelity, welcoming families, and serving as the primary champion for the center in the broader community. The Director will work in close partnership with United Way leadership, UVA-EHD faculty and staff, Piedmont Housing Alliance staff, and other community partners to improve school readiness for children, promote the wellbeing of families, and support early childhood educators in the Greater Charlottesville area.
The Director must be a confident, collaborative, and mission-driven leader who can manage daily operations with an Assistant Director while working within a partnership structure. This role requires strong judgment, openness to feedback and learning, and respect for shared decision-making.
Team/Department: School Readiness Impact
Reports to: Senior Vice President, Impact Programs
Supervises: Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and Administrative/Support Staff
Work Schedule: Full-time, in person, Monday through Friday. Onsite at the LaCross Early Learning Center (Kindlewood community), 200 Garrett Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The Director is expected to be present during all operating hours. Occasional local travel for community events, partner meetings, or training.
Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
The first 90 days of employment serve as an orientation and evaluation period to assess mutual fit and readiness for the role.
This position will support and exemplify the United Way core values of Humility, Compassion, Equity, Advocacy, Conviction, and Collaboration. United Way is an equal opportunity employer.
What You'll Do
Partnership, Mission, and Demonstration-Center Leadership
- Serve as the onsite leader and primary day-to-day representative of the center
- Build and sustain a center culture that reflects the shared vision of UWGC, UVA-EHD, and community partners
- Align daily operations with the center's goals for access, quality, workforce support, family engagement, professional learning, and continuous improvement
- Lead the center as a model demonstration site where educators, families, partners, UVA students, faculty, and visitors can observe, learn from, and contribute to high-quality practice
- Support UVA-EHD-led professional development, coaching, observation, research, evaluation, training, and practicum experiences
Operations and Compliance
- Oversee daily operations in compliance with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards and Head Start Program Performance Standards where applicable
- Maintain working knowledge of public funding programs (Head Start, Child Care Subsidy Program, Mixed Delivery) and ensure compliance with requirements, documentation, and reporting
- Manage enrollment, including applications, waitlists, eligibility determination, and capacity across funding streams
- Coordinate with UWGC staff on grant reporting, billing, compliance, and documentation
- Manage the center's operating budget in coordination with United Way leadership and the center's governing structure
Program Quality and Curriculum
- Ensure full implementation of the UVA-approved curriculum and educational model, including STREAMin3
- Work with UVA-EHD on curriculum implementation, coaching, assessment, observation, and continuous quality improvement, including VQB5, CLASS, and VKRP
- Use child, classroom, and program data to guide instruction, professional learning, family communication, and improvement
- Ensure educators have time and support to participate in required professional development, coaching, observation, and training
Center Launch and Pre-Opening
- In collaboration with UWGC and UVA-EHD, manage all activities required to open the center on schedule in early 2027
- Complete the Virginia child care licensing application, coordinate building inspections, and recruit, hire, and onboard the first wave of staff, including the Assistant Director
- Establish all operating systems before opening, including enrollment and waitlist management, subsidy authorization workflows, family communication systems, CACFP documentation, and staff records
- Lead pre-opening enrollment outreach, with a focus on connecting income-eligible families to subsidy authorizations before opening
- Coordinate facility readiness with Piedmont Housing Alliance, including classroom setup, outdoor space, and health and safety inspections
Staff Leadership and Development
- Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate center staff in accordance with UWGC policies and the partnership governing structure
- Build and retain a strong, mission-aligned instructional team
- Provide regular supervision, performance feedback, and support
- Supervise the center's cook and food-service processes, including meal planning, ordering, and supply management
Family and Community Engagement
- Develop and implement an enrollment outreach strategy to maintain full enrollment and manage a waitlist
- Collaborate with United Way's School Readiness team and partners including UVA, STREAMin3, and PHA
- Lead family engagement programming, including orientations, family meetings, family learning opportunities, and community events
- Ensure the center is experienced as welcoming, responsive, respectful, and connected to the broader Charlottesville early childhood ecosystem
Requirements
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Meets one of the Virginia program director qualification pathways per 8VAC20-780-190: (1) graduate degree in a child-related field and six months of programmatic experience; (2) bachelor's degree or endorsement in a child-related field and one year of programmatic experience; or (3) 48 semester hours of college credit with 12 hours in child-related subjects and one year of programmatic experience
- Minimum of five years of experience in early childhood education, with at least three years in a program director, site director, or senior leadership capacity overseeing staff, operations, budgets, and compliance in a licensed child care setting
- Demonstrated experience leading a center-based early childhood program serving infants and/or toddlers, including licensing compliance, staff supervision, family engagement, and budget management
- Demonstrated knowledge of Virginia child care licensing standards (8VAC20-780) and familiarity with applicable federal and state early childhood funding programs and their compliance requirements
- Demonstrated ability to lead collaboratively within a partnership structure and work effectively with families, educators, and community partners
- Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills
- Familiarity with the CLASS observation tool (training available)
Certifications and Clearances
- CPR/First Aid/AED certification required within 30 days of hire (training available)
- Medication Administration Training (MAT) certification required (training available); timeline based on program need and training availability
- Must complete a criminal background check and Child Protective Services check prior to hire and periodically per state licensing standards
- Must comply with Virginia child care licensing health requirements, including TB screening
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged computer work plus active time in classrooms, including frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and sitting on child-sized furniture
- Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
- Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to supervise children and respond to emergencies
- Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to hazards and child safety concerns
Nice to Have
- Experience operating or leading a Head Start, Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), or mixed-delivery early childhood program
- Familiarity with Virginia quality improvement frameworks including VQB5, STREAMin3, and VKRP
- Obtain and maintain CLASS Observer certification as applicable
- Knowledge of subsidy programs including the Child Care Subsidy Program and Virginia's Mixed Delivery program
- Experience working in a community-based organization or nonprofit setting
- Strong community engagement and public relations skills
- Experience supporting curriculum implementation, coaching, professional development, and continuous quality improvement in an early childhood setting
- Experience working in a university partnership or demonstration program setting
- Ability to create a welcoming environment for families, educators, students, visitors, researchers, and community partners while maintaining daily operational excellence
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Childcare benefit
Common Questions
What is the education required for this position?
There are no education requirements for this position.
What does this position pay?
This Child Care Center Director role pays $78,000 to $98,000/Yr.
Is this full-time or part-time?
This job is Full Time.
Where is United Way of Greater Charlottesville located?
United Way of Greater Charlottesville is located at 200 Garrett Street, Charlottesville , VA