Early Childhood Education Associate Director-Preschool

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Position Title:

Early Childhood Education Associate Director-Preschool

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Early Childhood Education Associate Director

Job Duties:

The Associate Director-Preschool provides operational and educational leadership for the Children's Learning Center preschool program, ensuring high-quality early childhood education in a safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate environment. Reporting to the Director, this position oversees curriculum implementation, classroom operations, staffing, and regulatory compliance while supervising preschool educators and supporting their professional growth. The Associate Director takes a leadership role with families, campus partners, and community agencies to support children's learning and development, including those with diverse learning needs. This role also assists with budget planning and monitoring, enrollment support, policy development, accreditation and licensing compliance, and the daily operation of the center to ensure alignment with the Children's Learning Center's mission, NAEYC Accreditation Standards, Wisconsin Child Care Licensing regulations, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's strategic goals.

Physical Requirements:

Lift children up to 50 lbs.

Sit on floor for long periods

Walk up and downstairs on a regular basis

Active participation with children during play in classroom, gyms, and playgrounds

The Children’s Learning Center in Student Affairs is required to conduct Post-Offer Pre-Employment (POPE) physical screening on all selected candidates for Assistant Director positions. The test involves squatting, bending, reaching lifting, carrying, etc. of varying weights to simulate the physical demands you may experience while on the job. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing the screening.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Implements and supervises the operations of special programming and events

Monitors licensing, accreditation documentation, and other required program reports according to established rules and regulations

Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Assists in developing and auditing the unit budget

Governs tuition account activity, monitors financial reports, and distributes and processes invoices to clients and vendors

Serves as a liaison and fosters communication between internal and external stakeholders to provide clear and consistent information

Supervises the day-to-day activities of early childhood education staff to ensure the safety and physical well-being of children in a specified child care facility

Relays effective and pertinent communication to internal and external stakeholders from unit leadership regarding current program and site activities

Assists with the development and implementation of early childhood curriculums, professional development, and operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives

Department: Children's Learning Center

Compensation: $ 53,900 -$58,000

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood, or Elementary Education

3-5 years of experience teaching in an ECE environment

At least 3 years directly supervising in an early learning environment

Knowledge of services in the CLC community related to support for young children with unique learning needs or identified disabilities/delays - such as Birth to Three, Special Education (LEAs), Infant Mental Health and other therapies

Working understanding of ADA and IDEA as they apply to early learning programs

Pedagogical Administrator and Operational Administrator - credits in ECE/Child Development (12 - 35).

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in early learning (or related field with ECE classroom experience)

Expertise with Pyramid Model implementation including classroom assessment of Pyramid strategies such as T-POT and T-PITOS

Hands on experience with practice-based coaching of educators serving children 3-5

Experience with an emergent, play-based curriculum approach

Knowledge of Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, NAEYC accreditation and Youngstar rating systems

Direct experience leading teachers through the NAEYC accreditation process

Experience facilitating professional development for educators with demonstrated knowledge of adult learning principles and best practices

Experience in environments committed to trauma-informed practices

Familiarity and/or training in ABA and related support provided to children with disabilities and/or delays

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and a detailed resume/CV that addresses their professional-level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates’ application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

This is an Evergreen recruitment with an initial review date of 09/14/2026. To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted by 09/13/2026. Applications submitted after 09/14/2026 may not be reviewed.

Contact:

Please contact Luke Messmann at MessmanL@uwm.edu with any questions

• Reasonable Accommodations
• Pursuant to university policy , UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

• Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
• UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

• CBC and Reference Check Policy
• Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

• Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
• For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/ , or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

• Employment Authorization
• In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

• UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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