The Growing Place Position Description
Position: Assistant Director
Location: Growing Place Ocean Park Campus
Status: Full-time, Salary, Exempt
Reports to: OP Campus Director

Description of the Position
The Assistant Director leads and collaborates with the Campus Director, children, faculty, staff,
families, and the broader community to carry out the values and mission of the Growing Place,
including its social-constructivist approach inspired by practices from Reggio Emilia. The
Assistant Director helps the Campus Director to oversee and support the daily operations of the
school; they will assume the duties of the Campus Director in their absence. In addition to
supporting the development and implementation of high-quality care practices in partnership
with the Campus Director and Educational Coordinating Team, the Assistant Director supports
building a strong sense of community among parents, builds meaningful connections between
Growing Place and other organizations that work with young children/families in our local city,
leads fundraising events, and oversees the purchases of the center. The Assistant Director
holds a strong and clear vision of the organization’s purpose statement, supporting the Campus
Director in actualizing the school’s goals and objectives as outlined in our Strategic Plan.

Responsibilities and Duties
Promoting Effective Teaching and Learning
Work with Children
? Collaborate with faculty and the Educational Coordinating Team to support curriculum for
the entire campus that is in accordance with the Growing Place philosophies and
pedagogy
? Mentor new employees and staff in collaboration with the Campus Director
? Collaborate with Campus Director to support children who need developmental
assessments and/or additional learning services (ex: ASQs, Occupational/Speech
Therapies, Psychologists, other assessments, etc.)
? Build trusting and positive relationships with all children
? Support the integration of new children into the school
? Supports with daily attendance and contacting parents regarding illnesses/absences
Work with Families
? Welcome families and create relationships with all families so they feel a sense of
community and belonging at the Growing Place
? Orient new families on policies and practices
? Collaborate with Campus Director and staff to create authentic partnerships with families
? Collaborate with the Administrative Team to oversee and organize GP Friends and GP
Friends Parent Committees
? Join Parent Teacher Meetings and Conferences as assigned by Campus Director
? Support engagement with families through participation at school led events

? Liaison between parent volunteers, vendors, and teachers to plan and execute
school-wide events and activities
? Effectively communicate the life of the school with families
Work with Faculty, Staff, Student-Teachers
? Cultivate a positive, healthy, and professional work environment with the Campus
Director
? Cultivate a culture of curiosity, reflection, innovation, and critical thinking and feedback
? Lead and support onboarding for new staff
? Participate in consistent and authentic feedback from employees, including having a
continuous performance management plan
? Design daily schedules for staff
? Support with mediation of conflicts among the staff in collaboration with Campus Director
? Support professional development of staff
? Support and organize campus educator tours and workshops
? Collaborate with GP Administrators (ex: Campus Directors, Office Managers, Program
Coordinator) to ensure that school operations are running smoothly and align with the
Growing Place’s mission and values
? Plan the yearly calendar in collaboration with GP Administrators
? Support with supervision of children when needed and appropriate
Stewarding Campus Finances, Fiscal Responsibilities and Reporting
? Oversee all center purchases in collaboration with appropriate administrators (eg:
Campus Directors, Business Manager, Program Coordinator, ECT)
? Procure and lead fundraising initiatives to meet the school’s fundraising goals in
collaboration with the leadership team
? Cultivate a spirit of philanthropy with parents and community members
? Steward resources that are campus specific and organization applicable to ensure a
healthy overall fiscal budget
? Engage in regular budget reviews to ensure it is on track and balanced with Campus
Director and Business Manager
? Follow fiscal policies and procedures handbook
Overseeing Enrollment and Marketing
? Collaborate with Administrators to implement policies of admission, interviews,
attendance, tuition and enrollment goals for the organization
? Collaborate with Administrators to ensure full enrollment at the campus
? Collaborate with Campus Director to facilitate Prospective Family Tours
? Conduct prospective Parent Conversations with Campus Director
? Conduct tours of the school for visitors
? Ensure that staff are aware of upcoming admissions tours, observations, and marketing
events

Ensuring Licensing, Accreditation Standards, and Qualifying for Insurance
? Ensure the organization is compliant with all licensing standards at all times
? Collaborate with administration and teaching staff to ensure the program meets the
accreditation requirements for the National Association of the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC)
? Cultivate working relationships with employees of licensing and accreditation
organizations
Maintaining School Environment and Facilities
? Oversee all outdoor and indoor spaces of the campus promoting health and safety for
children and adults
? Conduct periodic walk-through to record, report, and address maintenance needs
? Support a campus environment that promotes teaching, learning, development of strong
and trusting relationships, beauty, richness, and connection to the natural world within
our SM context
? Serve as the liaison with any janitorial, maintenance, district companies/organizations to
schedule regular cleaning, upkeep, and maintenance
? Create effective emergency preparedness plans
? Maintain safe and strong security system for the campus in collaboration with Campus
Director
? Purchase, organize, and update supplies for first aid, sanitation, food service, facility
maintenance, and office as needed and approved by Directors
? Coordinate and oversee Pitch-In Days
Operations and Business
? Ensure the center is compliant with all licensing standards and requirements per
California Department of Social Services Child Care Licensing
? Support positive partnerships to promote good business practices
Building Deeper Community Partnerships
? Develop networks with other relevant organizations and schools
? Work with organizations that support children’s tuition and additional services, such as
Connections for Children
? Demonstrate a strong, inclusive and welcoming practices for all visitors
? Attend and participate in professional conferences, lectures, and other educational
events relevant to furthering the organization’s mission and presence

Additional responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor and outlined in work plans.

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements
Skills
? A Bachelor’s Degree or higher

? 2 years of experience working with children ages 3 months-6 years old in a licensed
child care program, an NAEYC accredited child care center preferred
? At least 24 Early Childhood Units; 3 units Adult Supervision
? Must meet the requirements of the California Department of Social Services (licensing),
including an updated TB status, CPR certification, fingerprint clearance.
? Demonstrated understanding of child development
? Requires strong communication skills with children, families, faculty, and staff
Competencies
? Values parents as important partners in the work of the school
? Pays attention to the many ways that children make meaning of the world
? Collaborates with children and adults in positive ways
? Exhibits a positive, team player spirit; works independently and collaboratively
? Has a keen interest and curiosity about the nature of learning and teaching
? Finds joy in working with children and adults
? Approaches teaching as a life-long learner
? Embraces reflection as a tool for growth and learning
? Demonstrates commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity for all internal and external
community members
? Seeks out resources to continually improve one’s practice
? Establishes professional boundaries with children, parents, and colleagues
? Processes, protects and exercises discretion in handling confidential information and
materials
? Demonstrates professionalism in dress, attitude, communication, and punctuality
? Shows and values integrity for oneself and others
? Provides value add to the organization beyond the job position
Working Conditions
? Standing and sitting in indoor and outdoor environments designed for children ages 3
months to 5 years
? Ability to move rapidly from a sitting to standing position, and to be able to get down and
up off the ground as needed
? Ability to push, pull, or lift up to 50lbs
? Working in all weather conditions
? Requires developmentally normal hearing abilities and visual acuity
? Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends occasionally required

About Growing Place Ocean Park

The Growing Place is an early childhood education center established in 1985. Our mission is to help children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers. Our program unifies children, parents, and teachers into a community that learns together. We operate three centers in Santa Monica; Our three sites are licensed to serve 257 children and positively impact approximately 500 working parents and 80 early childhood educators.We use a social constructivist approach to working with teachers, children, and families; in partnership with Reggio Emilia. We fundamentally view children as competent, resilient, and curious individuals, teachers as researchers, facilitators, and collaborators of learning for children and adults, and parents as authentic partners.

Connections working at Growing Place Ocean Park