Kidz City & Forward Academy Director

Kidz City & Forward Academy Director Reports to: Next Gen Director Department: Next Generation / Forward Academy Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt Schedule: Sunday–Friday Role Summary The Kidz City & Forward Academy Director serves as a strategic and pastoral leader responsible for overseeing the vision, operations, and overall health of both Forward Academy and Kidz City.

This role ensures that children experience a safe, engaging, and spiritual environment while also maintaining operational excellence across all childcare and next-generation programming. This leader provides oversight of volunteers, systems, and environments, ensuring that both weekday academy operations and Sunday ministry experiences run with consistency, excellence, and care.

The role requires a unique blend of administrative strength, pastoral leadership, and creative problem-solving , with the ability to lead teams, build systems, and cultivate a thriving culture for children, families, and volunteers. The ideal candidate is a highly organized and adaptable leader with a strong pastoral heart, capable of leading teams of adults, managing dynamic environments, and creating engaging and well-structured experiences for children.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development Provide vision, leadership, and direction for all Kidz City and Forward Academy environments. Recruit, train, and lead staff and volunteer teams, fostering a healthy and collaborative culture. Facilitate weekly coordinator meetings and monthly team trainings for alignment, development, and communication.

Operational & Administrative Oversight Oversee the daily operations of Forward Academy, ensuring compliance with any/all state licensing and regulatory requirements. Oversee scheduling, staffing, and classroom coverage, including stepping in to teaching roles as needed. Manage supply chain, inventory, and purchasing of materials, snacks, and classroom resources.

Ensure all environments are clean, safe, well-prepared, and fully equipped for both weekday and Sunday use. Program & Experience Development Oversee the implementation of age-appropriate curriculum and programming for children. Ensure Sunday Kidz City experiences are engaging, organized, and spiritually impactful. Create and manage weekly “run of show” programming for Kidz City environments.

Collaborate with creative and ministry teams to enhance children’s experiences through worship, production, and storytelling. Support and align with any curriculum or creative initiatives across departments. Family & Community Engagement Build strong relationships with families Maintain consistent and effective communication with parents regarding their child’s experience and development.

Coordinate family engagement opportunities, including showcasing children’s work and interactive experiences. Address and resolve any concerns or issues with care, professionalism, and clarity. Financial & Enrollment Oversight Manage the Forward Academy budget, including tuition collection, payroll coordination, and purchasing.

Support enrollment growth through promotion, community engagement, and program excellence. Ensure financial stewardship aligns with organizational goals and standards.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field (or Bachelor’s degree with experience in early childhood education or child development) Desired: minimum of one year of experience in childcare Knowledge of South Carolina childcare licensing requirements CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain) Clear background check, fingerprinting, and required health documentation