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