Preschool Director - Hickory Foundation YMCA

Lead. Inspire. Make a Difference.

The YMCA of Catawba Valley is seeking an experienced and passionate Preschool Director to lead the Hickory Foundation YMCA Child Development Center. This position provides overall leadership and management of a licensed preschool program serving children ages 8 weeks through 5 years.

The Preschool Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality early childhood programming, maintaining licensing compliance, supporting and developing staff, building strong family relationships, overseeing enrollment and retention efforts, and managing daily operations in alignment with YMCA values and standards. 

At the YMCA of Catawba Valley, you'll join a mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening communities and helping children thrive. You'll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children, families, and staff while working alongside a supportive leadership team.

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If you're passionate about early childhood education and ready to lead a high-quality preschool program, we'd love to hear from you. 

• Lead the daily operations of a licensed early childhood center
• Hire, train, coach, supervise, and evaluate teaching staff
• Ensure compliance with NC DCDEE licensing regulations and YMCA standards
• Maintain safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environments
• Support curriculum implementation and classroom quality
• Build strong relationships with families through excellent communication and customer service
• Monitor enrollment, retention, and waitlists while supporting growth strategies
• Manage site-level budgets and operational performance
• Ensure readiness for licensing visits, audits, and quality assessments
• Foster a positive team culture focused on excellence, accountability, and child outcomes
• Promote YMCA values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith 

The Preschool Director will be responsible for observing the following rules:

• No alcohol or drugs will be used on the job at any time.
• Report all job accidents the same day the accident happens.
• Obtain authorization from your supervisor for all non-emergency treatments for accidents.
• Wear seat belts at all times in company vehicles.
• Keep the area where you work clean and neat at all times.
• Do not remove or bypass any guards on any machinery at any time.
• Ask your supervisor when you need additional equipment or instructions to get the job done safely.
• Lift with your legs, not your back, and get assistance with loads over 50 pounds.
• Advise your supervisor of any hazardous conditions.
• Follow all other written and spoken safety rules.

• Bachelor's Degree in Birth-Kindergarten, Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, Human Services, Business Management, or a related field
• Level III Early Childhood Administrator Credential
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Child Care Director, Child Care Consultant, or other regulatory leadership position in early childhood or youth development
• Strong knowledge of NC child care licensing requirements and developmentally appropriate practices
• Experience supervising staff and managing program operations
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills

The ideal candidate is:

• A strong leader who can build and develop teams
• Passionate about early childhood education
• Experienced in licensing compliance and quality improvement
• Customer-focused and relationship-driven
• Organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented
• Committed to creating exceptional experiences for children and families 

Physical Requirements:

The Preschool Director must represent the YMCA in a professional manner. The employee must be able to maneuver the grounds and facilities freely and be capable of speaking clearly, including, but not limited to: walking, stooping, carrying a minimum of 50 lbs., sitting, standing, pushing, climbing, kneeling, lifting a minimum of 50 lbs., and crouching.

• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Contributions