Daycare Early Education Director

Title: School Director

Department: Operations

Reports To: Regional Manager

Supervisory Position: Yes

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: $76,000-$81,000 per year w/ bonus eligibility

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Monroe, CT School

The School Director plays a vital leadership role in ensuring a safe, high‑quality, and nurturing environment for children and families. This position is ideal for someone ready to lead with a people‑first mindset, elevate school operations, mentor staff, engage families, and drive strong enrollment and financial performance.

• Ensure smooth daily operations that meet company standards.
• Maintain safe, clean, and nurturing classroom environments.

• Ensure full compliance with all state childcare and school regulations.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining responsibility to recognize, document, and report suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
• Prepare for and manage all state inspections.

• Recruit, train, mentor, and support staff.
• Build a positive, collaborative workplace culture.
• Achieve staff turnover below 25% annually.
• Ensure 100% completion of required staff training.
• Achieve 80%+ employee engagement score.

• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication.
• Address parent questions and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Host family‑focused events to strengthen community connection.
• Achieve 90%+ parent satisfaction.
• Respond to 100% of inquiries within 24 hours.
• Host at least 4 family events annually.

• Manage the school’s budget and overall financial performance.
• Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment.
• Grow enrollment 5–10% annually while maintaining profit margins (15-20%).

• Exercise independent judgment and decision‑making authority on matters related to school operations, staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety.
• Manage and direct the work of teachers and staff, including hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
• Hold primary responsibility for overall success of the school including operational performance, compliance readiness, financial stewardship, staff engagement, and family satisfaction.
• Lead non‑manual, high‑level administrative and managerial work requiring specialized knowledge of ECE licensing, curriculum implementation, staffing models, safety practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Exercise autonomy in setting priorities, solving problems, and determining how to meet operational, financial, and enrollment goals without day‑to‑day supervision.
• Serve as the school’s top‑level leader, representing the organization in external communications, licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.
• Develop and implement operational processes and school‑wide improvements, using discretion to interpret company policies, local needs, and regulatory environments.
• Make decisions that directly impact business performance, including enrollment strategy, cost management, staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.
• Provide direct supervision to staff contributing to the business operations of the school, solidifying the role as one that “customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees.”
• Hold authority to influence employment decisions, including hiring, corrective action, performance evaluations, and training requirements.
• Lead organizational culture at the school level, shaping employee engagement, morale, retention, and team effectiveness.
• Function as a strategic partner to Regional Managers and senior leadership, offering insights and recommendations that directly influence organizational practices and school‑level outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
• Strong knowledge of state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational…