Assistant Director

Bright Horizons; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 53,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Bright Horizons in Topeka, KS is seeking a Child Care Assistant Director to lead daily operations and support the Center Director in delivering high-quality care and early learning. This role focuses on programming, staff mentoring, family engagement, and ensuring a welcoming, well-run environment.

You will monitor program quality, uphold licensing standards, and build strong relationships with families and staff while driving safety, inclusivity, and continuous improvement across the center.

Qualifications

• Associate or higher degree in early childhood education, education, or child development related field is required; bachelor’s degree is preferred
• At least two years of leadership experience in high-quality child care, daycare, or preschool settings is required
• Strong understanding of center quality, compliance, health, safety and licensing standards is required

Responsibilities

• Uphold our mission, culture, and values to ensure an inclusive environment and strong relationships with families, staff, and clients
• Monitor program quality, ensuring children’s learning is documented and visible
• Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, health and safety protocols, and company policies

Skills

Leadership experience

Program quality oversight

Family engagement

Education

Associate degree in early childhood education or related field

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Step into a leadership opportunity with Bright Horizons as a Child Care Assistant Director , where your work supports a strong, welcoming, and well-run early childhood center. Partnering closely with the Center Director, you’ll help guide daily operations while maintaining our high standards for care, learning, and safety. From supporting educational programming and mentoring teachers to building meaningful relationships with families, your leadership will play an important role in shaping a center where children and teams can thrive.

Responsibilities:

Uphold our mission, culture, and values to ensure an inclusive environment and strong relationships with families, staff, and clients

Monitor program quality, ensuring children’s learning is documented and visible

Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, health and safety protocols, and company policies

Qualifications:

Candidates must pass required state and company background checks, and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:

Associate or higher degree in early childhood education, education, or child development related field is required; bachelor’s degree is preferred

At least two years of leadership experience in high-quality child care, daycare, or preschool settings is required

Strong understanding of center quality, compliance, health, safety and licensing standards is required

Bring your leadership skills and passion for early childhood education to Bright Horizons, and be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.

Physical Requirements:

This leadership role requires work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide center supervision, curriculum delivery, business management, and customer and client services per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.

This role has a mixture of duties including office/computer/phone-based work, in-person supervision of care delivery and employees throughout all areas of the center, family/prospective family interactions which may take place in various areas of the center, and the ability to temporarily serve as a supervising caregiver for relatively brief periods of time on an as‑needed basis (e.g., covering employee breaks or unscheduled absences).

The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/job-descriptions . Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodation for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy‑related limitations.

Compensation:

The annual compensation for this role ranges from $53,000 - $66,500 per year. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave

Long‑term and short‑term disability insurance

Life insurance

Money‑saving discounts and financial planning tools

Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program

Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family

At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title —_ you’re the difference _. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

Bright Horizons

High-quality education and child care around the world, trusted to fit the way people learn, live and work today

Bright Horizons partners with employers to enhance workforce performance through on‑site child care, backup care solutions, and education programs that support employee development and well‑being.

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