Company Description
Rainbow Child Development Center is a non-profit early education and childcare agency serving the Worcester community since 1972. Our mission is to enhance the lives of underserved infants and children and their families by providing quality educational and therapeutic programs and services. With the capacity to serve over 400 children from infants to age 13, we offer School Age, Preschool, and Family Child Care (FCC) programs. Working with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to deliver subsidized and supportive care, we operate year-round, offering a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where children thrive.
Role Description
The Director of Education provides agency-wide leadership for program quality and regulatory compliance across all programs, in accordance with the policies set by the Board of Directors, contracting and licensing agencies, and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This role directly supervises the School Age Coordinator, Preschool Coordinator, and FCC Coordinator, ensuring that all programs operate in full compliance with regulations and maintain high-quality educational standards while addressing the social service and special needs of children and families served by the agency.
This Director of Education serves as an internal subject matter expert in early education and care and acts as a key advisor to the Executive Director on regulatory, programmatic, and quality-related matters.
Why Join Us
- Make a meaningful impact working with children and families in a mission-driven organization serving families for over 50 years
- Lead a dedicated and experienced team
- Competitive salary in a stable nonprofit environment
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance Leadership
- Maintain expert-level knowledge of regulations under the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and other applicable regulations
- Interpret and apply regulatory requirements across all programs
- Conduct regular internal compliance reviews, including documentation, ratios, and supervision practices
- Identify and address compliance risks proactively
- Support Program Coordinators during licensing visits, monitoring visits, and preparation of corrective action plans
- Participate in all programmatic state, federal, CACFP, SFSP, and transportation audits
Program Quality
- Establish and maintain agency-wide standards for high-quality learning environments across all programs
- Ensure developmentally appropriate practices that promote child engagement, learning, and development
- Set internal quality benchmarks that exceed minimum requirements
- Develop and maintain quality assurance tools, observation frameworks, and monitoring systems
Leadership of Program Coordinators
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance support to School Age Coordinator, Preschool Coordinator, and FCC Coordinator
- Support Program Coordinators in their operational leadership, staff supervision, and program execution
- Ensure consistent implementation of organizational expectations across programs and develop systems that promote clarity, consistency, and accountability
Professional Development
- Oversee professional development infrastructure for educators and program staff
- Ensure professional development days are consistently implemented, documented, and aligned with EEC requirements
- Develop coaching and mentoring pathways for Program Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators
- Oversee onboarding systems to ensure new staff are prepared for program expectations and compliance requirements
- Plan and/or provide training in topics such as: Early childhood and school-age development; Positive behavior guidance and classroom management; Inclusive and culturally responsive practices; Regulatory compliance and documentation
Executive Advisory Role
- Serve as senior subject matter expert in early education and care, school age child development, and FCC systems
- Keep the Executive Director informed on all issues and concerns that affect the education and care programs, including: EEC regulatory requirements, compliance risks, and interpretation; Program quality standards and improvement strategies; Staffing structures and supervisory models; Operational implications of licensing changes or findings
- Advise on regulations and policy requirements to inform decision-making and ensure that organizational goals are met, in accordance with Rainbow’s mission statement and strategic plans
- Provide insight into external trends, visions, and growth opportunities to maximize the agency’s potential to meet the future needs of children and families
Cross-Program Coordination & Leadership
- Promote consistency in family experience, communication, and program expectations across all programs
- Facilitate collaboration between School Age, Preschool, and FCC teams
- Ensure organizational policies are clearly understood and consistently applied across all programs
- In collaboration with Executive Director, review parent and staff handbooks annually and update as necessary
Data-Informed Quality Improvement
- Use program data, observation tools, and compliance findings to guide improvement efforts
- Identify trends across programs and recommend system-wide enhancements
- Support leadership decision-making through analysis of program quality and compliance indicators
Qualifications
- Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Psychology, or related field
- Director I or Director II qualification or eligibility under EEC standards
- 5-10+ years of experience in EEC licensed early education and care programs
- Experience supervising program leaders in multi-program or multi-site environments
- Strong working knowledge of EEC licensing regulations
- Demonstrated experience in program quality and compliance oversight
- Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills
Additional Requirements
- Physical ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position
- Successful completion of EEC fingerprint-based background records check
Reporting Structure
- Reports to Executive Director
- Directly supervises School Age Coordinator, Preschool Coordinator, and FCC Coordinator
Compensation & Benefits
- The salary range for this position is $84,000 - $96,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications
- Health insurance: 65% employer-paid / 35% employee-paid (two plan options)
- Generous paid time off: 25 days per year, accrued monthly, with increases based on length of service, plus 12-22 paid holiday/closure days per year
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Employer-paid life insurance and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
- Employee-paid dental, vision, and flexible spending accounts (FSA)
All job descriptions are subject to change by the Executive Director.
Rainbow Child Development Center is committed to fostering a workplace free from discrimination. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or national origin. We embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where every individual is respected, valued, and able to contribute their unique talents and perspectives.
