DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Brooklyn Kindergarten Society (BKS) has dedicated itself to providing high quality early childhood education to children from low-income families for the last 125 years. We serve nearly 450 children in full-day educational classes, each enriched with pre-literacy and language programs as well as arts and music instruction. BKS recognizes that families – the key to children’s success – often benefit from resources and support beyond the classroom. To that end, our social services staff provides counseling, referral services, and workshops for children and their families. We were rated one of the top seven school readiness programs in Greater New York (out of 1,700 organizations reviewed) by Root Cause Foundation. We provide full day, year round care for children who are stimulated by the various curriculum studies initiated by them and guided by the principles of the Creative Curriculum.

JOB PURPOSE 

The Deputy Director of Administration’s primary function is to collaborate with Executive Director in setting and driving organizational vision, operations strategy, and hiring levels. The chosen candidate will also translate strategy into actionable steps for growth, implementing organization-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operations planning; oversee company operations and employee productivity, building a highly inclusive culture that ensures team members can thrive and that organizational goals are met. In conjunction with the Human Resources Generalist, ensure effective recruiting, onboarding, professional development, performance management, and retention. In conjunction with the Director of Compliance, ensure compliance with national and local business regulations, and take appropriate action when necessary. Lastly, the chosen candidate will build and maintain trusting relationships with key clients, partners, and BKS stakeholders and collaborate with BKS colleagues to ensure HR, fiscal, Department of Education, Department of Mental Health and Hygiene and Head Start compliance is met and exceeded.

SCOPE OF INFLUENCE 

• All departments across Brooklyn Kindergarten Society’s operational functions. This position will supervise and oversee the Human Resources Generalist and the Director of Compliance
• Partners with internal clients such as Program Director, Deputy Director of Education, and Deputy Director of Family and Community Engagement. Also works with outside agencies such as Department of Education and New York City Housing Authority

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy 

•  Lead the HR and Compliance Team and create a process of strategically evaluating the use of digital learning software and internal tracking systems 
• Research and present to the Executive Director and Board a variety of alternative and creative local and national organizational partnerships as part of long-term strategy for programmatic innovation and future growth
• Research, present and implement to the Executive Director and Board opportunities for program growth and expansion, e.g., adult college completion, single mother degree-attainment
• Collaborate with the Dept. Director of Family Engagement to design, deliver, and assess a multi-year enrollment growth strategy for BKS Centers
• Partner with the Dept Director of Family Engagement and Family Service Team to design and implement quarterly workshops (in-person and/or digital) for students/families re: kindergarten admissions, school choice, home visits, students’ progress meetings, school orientations etc.
• Develop and pilot a professional development scope & sequence for all Administrative Team Members
• Lead and Partner with the Dept Director of Education in strategically evaluating existing partnerships with academic partners, extracurricular opportunities for preschool students’ programs, external aid organizations, and other stakeholders, emphasizing areas of opportunity and organizational threats

 Operations

•  Approve all orders in the absence of CFO role
• Lead all IT and technology integration strategy and align expansion to BKS strategic priorities and five year plan 
• Lead the HR team to review and codify the staffing structure, and forecast a clear, concise, and communicable multi-year financial projections and budget that scales our educational program, and teacher certification completion success for the next 1-, 2-, and 3-year(s)

Strategy and Programming 

• Partner with Dept. Director of Family Engagement, Director of Compliance, Dept. Director of Education to develop a multi-year strategy for the design and implementation of BKS 5-year strategic plan that builds off our strategic priorities
• Partner with the Dept. Director of Education and Dept. Director of Family Engagement to develop a multi-year strategy for the design and implementation of databases that records/ tracks the progress of BKS Alumni to determine impact of educational model, services, and support

Other  

• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Required Knowledge  

• Adaptability and ability to navigate through ambiguity and change quickly
• Strategic goals and organizational priorities are at the center of all operational, strategy and programmatic efforts and decisions
• Fluent in Google Suite and able to present presentations that inspire, invite inquiry and expand stakeholder perspective
• Able to analyze, use and present data to the Board and various stakeholders
• Experience as a HR leader preferred
• At least five years of experience leading a senior level team
• Bilingual Spanish speaking candidates encouraged to apply
• Must have at least a master’s degree in a related or closely related field

Role Key Competencies  

Team Player

Analytical

Communication

Planning and Organizing

Initiative