Preschool Director for a dynamic community play-based preschool!

Who We Are:
Temple Ner Tamid is a welcoming, diverse, and musical Reform congregation of 500+ households. With a full-time staff of 12, Temple Ner Tamid supports a range of engaging community activities, Jewish holiday celebrations and lifecycle events, supplemental religious education for K-12th grade, and an active preschool.

Shoresh Preschool is a play-based program for 2 – 5-year olds focused on specific educational objectives to help each child develop the necessary social, emotional, and academic goals through positive interactions with other students and teachers. With 110 students and 24+ staff members, we offer a full day program with a 10-week summer camp with Judaism at the heart of our work. Additionally, our school provides opportunities for our parents to come together to learn and socialize throughout the year. With deep roots in tradition, our children thrive in the positive communicative environment we create. We truly are a community here!

Who You Are:
You are a professional who understands the positive influence play-based learning can have in young children’s lives and a desire to foster that development. As a warm, approachable, and inviting presence, you are an effective communicator with teachers, students, parents, staff, and volunteer leaders through thoughtful and respectful interactions. Your formal and informal education endows you with the knowledge of play-based early childhood education, as you exemplify strong personal values, serving as a role model in any community.

As a bridge builder and developer, you can easily communicate your passion and vision and are comfortable with change and a willingness to adapt. You are a self-starter and team player with a strong sense of self who fosters a collaborative environment. You are seeking a warm, supportive, spiritual, and progressive community to immerse yourself into.

What You Will Be Doing:
Supporting a staff of 20 teachers, two floaters, and an indispensable Assistant Director, you will be a steady positive source of guidance in the daily management of the preschool. From contract negotiations, professional development, evaluation, and feedback to new exciting activities, your leadership will be palatable to everyone under your care. Creating a dynamic staff culture where employees feel proud, valued, empowered and well taken care of is top of mind.

With more than 100 students in the program, you effortlessly interact with children on a daily basis spending time in the classrooms, consoling a child who has been hurt or is struggling with transition, and overall being a positive adult presence in their lives. Each child will know you think they are special and will feel seen and heard by you. Knowing these children are your end-user, you are constantly bringing in new ideas of how to bolster the curriculum at each grade and the experience of the students. You will manage school wide programs and initiatives including holiday programs, our City Green Farm to Preschool program, the Jewish values Mussar for Children program, and more.
Understanding that community is at the heart of what we do, you will work closely with a parent committee to implement learning and social events for the parents. This will include opportunities for the families to come together with the students in holiday celebrations and for parents to get together without the children to grow social bonds and offer support to one another.

Working closely with our Vice President of Early Education, you respect the experience and position of this volunteer in hearing their suggestions and seeking their counsel on a regular basis. Acknowledging that this is your connection to the larger Board of Trustees for the Temple, you are purposeful in fostering regular communication and a positive relationship to ensure they can be an advocate for you and the program.

As a member of the Senior Staff of Temple Ner Tamid, you will participate in high level conversations regarding the future direction of the institution as a whole. In collaboration with the Temple’s Rabbi, Cantor, Executive Director, and Director of Youth and Family Education, you will engage in monthly meetings. In these conversations, you will be able to see beyond your specific program and recognize your role in the success of the organization as a whole. You will bring new, interesting ideas to the table for young children’s engagement as well as the larger Temple community.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Temple Ner Tamid, you are open to ongoing, constructive feedback and ideas for program and professional improvement. You will seek regular input from the Executive Director as well as other Senior Staff in developing Jewish experiences, setting policy, and making other important decisions for the school.
Acknowledging that more information is better, you actively seek input and involvement in the two main networks of Preschool Directors, the local Jewish Preschool network through the Jewish Federation and the national network of Reform Jewish Preschools. Equally, you will seek counsel from secular institutions in the area to offer support and collaboration where possible.

Recognizing all the “behind the scenes” administrative tasks necessary in running a preschool, you effortlessly make time to properly manage the preschool budget, clear and engaging email communication, licensing and inspection requirements, vendor relationships, grant opportunities, supply orders, class assignments, registration forms, advertising, etc. You are able to work closely with the Assistant Director to properly delegate and supervise tasks to ensure proper follow-up and completion in all administrative functions. Equally, you will build a strong relationship with the temple’s Operations Manager to ensure smooth operations through the building.

Your Background:
Throughout your career you have demonstrated a track record of successful supervision of staff, creation and execution of educational curriculum, and a varied level of professional experiences.

You have left a trail of praise from your colleagues and community leaders, demonstrating innovative problem-solving with at least 4 years of relevant Director level experience.

With a bachelor’s degree and preferred Masters in Early Childhood Education, you have strong technological skills and are proficient in Microsoft Office Suite as well as basic website/zoom/form/survey and other sites.

How to Apply:
To be considered for this position, send a cover letter and resume to Shoresh {at} nertamid.org with the subject “Shoresh Preschool Director – YOUR NAME”. Compensation and benefits package are determined upon experience and education and are comparable to industry standards.

Position is on-site at Temple Ner Tamid, located at 936 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 for 8.5 hours a day Monday – Friday with coordinated flexibility and occasional weekend events and/or email follow-up as needed.

Temple Ner Tamid and Shoresh Preschool are an equal opportunity employer. TNT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. TNT encourages applications from minorities, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.