Job Description

Title: Director, Child Care Center
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Family and Consumer Sciences
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The ISU Child Care Center serves a dual focus as a high-quality learning center for the children of ISU students, faculty, and staff and as an instructional laboratory for ISU students from departments across campus. The Center is open daily from 7:30am-5:30pm and is licensed to serve up to 30 children. The Center utilizes the Project Approach to provide child-centered and play-based activities that guide children through in-depth studies of real-world topics.

Overall Center management, including but not limited to: abiding by and implementing/enforcing Center policies and procedures; child enrollment; staffing, staff supervision and development; parent communication and services; public relations; food service; health, safety and sanitation; facility, equipment and supplies maintenance; program curriculum; compliance with licensing, accreditation, Fire Marshall, Americans with Disabilities Act and other legal statutes; reporting suspected cases of Child Abuse or Neglect; budget management.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:
- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time
Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$60,000 - $70,000

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree in a field of child development (or related to early childhood programming).
2. Experience with administration of an early childhood program.
3. Experience managing personnel dealing with young children and parents.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
5. Ability to interact with diverse populations: children, parents, college students, faculty, staff, peers.
6. Food Service Sanitation Certification (must be earned during 1st 6 months of job).
7. First Aid and CPR certificate (must be earned during 1st 6 months of job and must be kept up to date).
8. Experience with fiscal management,
9. Evidence of a positive professional demeanor that contributes to a positive and fulfilling work environment.
10. Working knowledge of basic office software/technological competence.
11. 21 years of age or older.

Preferred Qualifications

1. College-level teaching experiences, preferably for courses related to the development and guidance of preschool children and/or the organization of early childhood programs.
2. Experience developing/coordinating curriculum for a childcare center.
3. Familiarity with Gateway to Opportunities and ExceleRate Illinois.
4. Experience leading programs through the accreditation processes.
5. Experience developing and/or implementing a marketing strategy for a childcare center.
6. Level 2 Illinois Director Credential through Gateways to Opportunity or ability to obtain credential within 6 months of hire.
7. Master's Degree in a field of child development (or related to early childhood programming.

Work Hours

M-F, 8-4:30pm in person with some weekends and evenings as needed.

Functional Expectations

Functional Expectations: Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.

Proposed Starting Date

August 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume
Cover Letter
3 Professional References
Transcripts

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Jasmine Buckner
jsperki@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.