Sr Lead Director

Job Description

Founded in 1988, Child Development Schools is headquartered in Austin, TX and operates over 260 childcare centers in 11 states. Our three early childhood education brands are Childcare Network, Sunrise Preschools, and My Small Wonders. We proudly provide quality care and developmental education to over 30,000 children aged six weeks to twelve years.

We have a great opportunity for a Lead Director to join our growing company!

The Lead Director is responsible for the training and mentorship of the newest CDS Directors within an assigned area. The Lead Director must understand and be able to train on a variety of CDS standards and expectations related to day‑to‑day operations, enrollment, curriculum delivery, employee/student retention, parent/community relations, and strategic planning for the assigned schools. This individual will work closely with the District Manager and Training department to assist and support new School Directors to encourage compliance with all safety regulations, licensing requirements, company policies, and reporting procedures in accordance with corporate directives.

As a trainer in the critical early days and a mentor, this role is crucial to help the new Director with training and guide them toward short‑term and long‑term success with Child Development Schools. Lead Directors are continuously responsible for the operation and performance of their assigned home school as the Director while fulfilling the functions of this role.

• Maintain the operation and performance of their assigned school as the Director to include but not limited to supervising and evaluating all school personnel, scheduling staff and arranging for substitutes to meet state ratios, meeting and maintaining all state licensing requirements/qualifications, and complying with CDS policies and procedures.
• Perform and train on administrative tasks as assigned including billing, collection/posting of payments, payroll, school records, agency training, USDA reports, current tour inquiry system, recruiting & hiring.
• Explain and train on all CDS's policies and procedures and maintain CDS systems in an organized, up‑to‑date manner, including binders, office space, email, etc.
• Implement training & operating procedures and continually monitor progress to ensure success and satisfaction of Directors through onboarding and after.
• Build strong relationships and navigate through critical conversations taking place in the center.
• Coordinate onboarding & training schedule between home center & assigned center of the new Director.
• Report to the District Manager and work cross‑functionally with Training specialists to coordinate training needs, onboarding within the assigned area and to follow up on progress.

• Strong coaching and leadership skills; ability to influence a team and motivate/inspire staff.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient time management and multi‑tasking skills.
• Ability to be flexible in work and schedule.
• Strong management skills.
• Working knowledge of local regulatory requirements.
• Must be a team player and leader.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to travel within the assigned area on a weekly basis.
• Track record of consistent year‑over‑year high performance.
• Demonstrated success working both independently and in highly collaborative environments.

Want to learn more about Child Development Schools? We’re always looking for nurturing, innovative, and dedicated individuals to join us and explore their passion for child care and early education.

Child Development Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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