Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Daycare Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

As a Daycare Supervisor you will lead daily operations of an early childhood program, ensure the health and safety of children, mentor and manage classroom staff, implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, maintain regulatory compliance, and build trusting partnerships with families. The Daycare Supervisor acts as the primary on-site leader who balances administrative responsibilities (scheduling, budgeting, licensing), direct child supervision (observation, behavior guidance, developmental screening), and continuous program improvement (staff training, curriculum evaluation, parent communication) to deliver high-quality care and early learning.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Lead Preschool Teacher / Lead Early Childhood Teacher
Assistant Daycare Supervisor / Assistant Director
Early Childhood Education Coordinator or Head Teacher

Advancement To:

Daycare Center Director / Center Manager
Director of Early Childhood Programs or Regional Program Manager
Operations Manager for Childcare Services

Lateral Moves:

Family Engagement Coordinator / Parent Liaison
Curriculum Specialist / Early Childhood Trainer
Infant/Toddler Program Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise and support classroom teachers and assistants by conducting regular coaching sessions, performing formal performance evaluations, providing constructive feedback, and creating individualized professional development plans to raise program quality and staff retention.
Oversee daily center operations including opening and closing procedures, staff scheduling, classroom coverage, and maintaining appropriate teacher-to-child ratios to meet state licensing and accreditation requirements.
Ensure strict compliance with local, state and federal childcare licensing regulations and accreditation standards (NAEYC or equivalent), including timely submission of reports, maintenance of inspection records, and implementation of corrective action plans when needed.
Implement, monitor, and refine a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum (e.g., Creative Curriculum, HighScope, Montessori) that supports cognitive, social-emotional, language and motor development, and lead regular curriculum planning meetings with teaching staff.
Maintain a safe, clean and healthy learning environment by enforcing health & sanitation protocols, supervising daily facility checks, coordinating maintenance and repairs, and ensuring compliance with food handling and allergy accommodations.
Manage child supervision and safety protocols: conduct daily safety briefings, enforce child drop-off/pick-up procedures, supervise field trips and off-site activities, and ensure all staff maintain up-to-date CPR/First Aid and mandated reporter certifications.
Administer positive guidance and behavior management systems: train staff on developmentally appropriate guidance techniques, support teachers with challenging behaviors, create individualized behavior plans, and document behavior incidents and interventions.
Act as primary liaison with families by conducting enrollment tours, explaining program philosophies, handling parent communications and concerns, facilitating parent-teacher conferences, and delivering family engagement events to strengthen partnerships.
Maintain accurate child and classroom records: attendance, immunization and health records, incident/accident reports, individual child portfolios, developmental screenings, special needs documentation (IEPs), and confidential family information in compliance with privacy laws.
Manage enrollment, waitlists and retention strategies: track center capacity, coordinate outreach and marketing activities, perform intake and orientation for new families, and maintain timely billing and tuition tracking with administrative staff.
Recruit, interview, hire and onboard qualified early childhood educators and support staff, coordinate background checks and reference verification, and ensure all new hires complete required training and orientation checklists.
Oversee center budgets and resource allocation: prepare and manage operating budgets, approve supply orders, control payroll-related scheduling, and monitor program expenses while maximizing program quality within financial constraints.
Conduct regular program assessments and data-driven quality improvement: collect classroom observation data, analyze child assessment outcomes, set measurable goals, and lead staff meetings focused on continuous improvement and goal attainment.
Coordinate special needs services and inclusive practices by collaborating with families, external therapists, and local school districts to implement accommodations, track progress on IEP goals, and ensure accessibility for children with varying needs.
Ensure staff compliance with health screening and illness policies, manage outbreak planning and communication, document and respond to infectious disease incidents, and maintain emergency contact and health plans for each child.
Prepare and present formal reports to owners, directors, or governing boards on enrollment, staff performance, compliance incidents, budget variances, and program outcomes to support strategic decision-making.
Lead and facilitate weekly or bi-weekly staff meetings, professional learning communities, and classroom coaching cycles to align teaching strategies, schedule, and assessment practices across classrooms.
Create and maintain a welcoming, culturally responsive and inclusive environment that respects diversity in family backgrounds, languages, and learning styles, and promote anti-bias education within the curriculum.
Monitor food service and meal schedules by ensuring compliance with state meal/snack regulations, coordinating with food vendors or kitchen staff, overseeing meal counts, and addressing special dietary needs or allergies.
Respond to and document all safety incidents, accidents or allegations of child abuse/neglect; follow mandated reporting procedures, coordinate with appropriate authorities, and implement corrective actions and preventative trainings.
Manage day-to-day administrative systems such as child management software (e.g., Brightwheel, Procare), payroll coordination, staff timekeeping, supply inventory, and parent billing inquiries to ensure operational efficiency.
Champion and facilitate staff professional development by identifying training needs, scheduling in-service trainings, securing external trainers, pursuing grant or scholarship opportunities for staff education, and tracking certification renewals.
Oversee enrichment programming (language, music, STEM, movement) and coordinate partnerships with external specialists to expand developmental opportunities and differentiate programming for various age groups.
Ensure seamless transition practices for children moving to the next classroom or to school by preparing transfer documentation, sharing development portfolios, and coordinating transition meetings with receiving teachers or external school representatives.
Maintain confidentiality and ethical practices in all communications and documentation, model professionalism for staff, and uphold the program’s mission and values in interactions with families, community partners and regulatory bodies.

Secondary Functions

Support center-level marketing and family outreach efforts, including social media content, open houses, and partnerships with local community organizations to sustain enrollment pipelines.
Assist with occasional weekend or evening events (family nights, staff trainings, licensing visits) as required and provide on-call support for emergency situations.
Collaborate with administrative and finance teams to reconcile tuition accounts, support grant reporting, and prepare documentation for subsidy or voucher programs.
Participate in network-wide leadership meetings to coordinate policies, share best practices, and implement standardized initiatives across multiple sites.
Collect and organize program data (attendance trends, classroom ratios, developmental screening results) and support leadership in interpreting data for continuous improvement plans.
Develop parent education resources and workshops (nutrition, sleep, positive guidance) and host family engagement activities that align with developmental milestones and curriculum goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong knowledge of early childhood development principles and age-appropriate curriculum design for infants through preschool-age children.
Familiarity and experience with childcare management software (e.g., Brightwheel, Procare, HiMama) for attendance tracking, parent communication, and billing.
Certified in CPR, Pediatric First Aid, and trained as a mandated reporter; ability to maintain and verify staff certifications and training logs.
Working knowledge of local and state childcare licensing regulations, accreditation standards (NAEYC), health department rules, and experience preparing for inspections and audits.
Ability to conduct formal classroom observations using recognized tools (e.g., CLASS, ECERS) and translate observation data into targeted coaching and professional development plans.
Basic financial acumen including budget monitoring, supply purchasing, payroll impact on scheduling, and center-level cost control.
Experience with child assessment tools and developmental screening instruments (e.g., Ages & Stages, ASQ) and documenting progress in portfolios.
Proficiency with office software (MS Office / Google Workspace) and comfort creating reports, rosters, schedules, and presentation materials for stakeholders.
Knowledge of special education processes and ability to coordinate with therapists, special educators, and families to support IEPs and inclusion strategies.
Understanding of food safety and allergy management policies, including documentation of special diets and adherence to meal program regulations.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management skills: coaching, conflict resolution, delegation, and motivating staff toward continuous improvement.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with families, staff, licensing authorities, and community partners.
High emotional intelligence and cultural competency to build trusting relationships with diverse families and staff populations.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure, particularly in emergency or high-stress situations involving children or compliance issues.
Organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and follow regulatory timelines.
Patience, empathy and a child-centered approach with the ability to model positive guidance and trauma-informed care practices.
Time management and prioritization abilities to balance administrative requirements with classroom visibility and hands-on leadership.
Coaching and mentoring mindset with a focus on staff growth, retention, and professional development planning.
Collaboration and teamwork orientation to partner with internal teams (finance, HR, curriculum) and external agencies (health providers, schools).
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to stay current with early childhood research, best practices, and evolving licensing standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or equivalent is often required or strongly preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Social Work, or related field is preferred.
Additional certifications in leadership, early childhood administration, or specialized coursework in special education or infant/toddler care are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Early Childhood Education
Child Development
Elementary Education
Human Services / Social Work
Educational Leadership

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of experience working in early childhood settings, including at least 1–2 years in a lead teacher or supervisory role.

Preferred:

3+ years of progressive responsibility in childcare settings with demonstrated supervisory experience, program management, and successful licensing inspection history.
Experience managing budgets, enrollment and staffing at a center level and demonstrated success improving program quality and staff performance.