Assistant Director - Marketing Specialist

The Learning Experience #486; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Bonus based on performance

Dental insurance

Employee discounts

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

Job summary

The Learning Experience #486 is seeking an Assistant Director of Marketing & Community Engagement in New Haven and Cromwell. This role focuses on growing enrollment through marketing, outreach, and community partnerships while providing administrative support to two childcare centers.

The ideal candidate will combine strong communication, organizational skills, and a passion for early childhood education with the ability to manage multiple priorities across two locations.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across two locations.
• Professional communication with families, staff, leadership, businesses, and community partners.
• Comfort using social media and digital communication platforms professionally.

Responsibilities

• Support center leadership with daily administrative tasks.
• Lead marketing, enrollment, and community outreach efforts to grow enrollment.
• Plan and execute social media content and online engagement.
• Develop community partnerships and coordinate events to raise center visibility.
• Ensure licensing, health, and safety compliance in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Multitasking

Professional communication

Education

CDA credential

Associate degree (Early Childhood Education/Marketing/Business)

Tools

CRM

Lead-management systems

Social media tools

Digital marketing platforms

Job description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

The Learning Experience is looking for a motivated, outgoing, and organized Assistant Director – Marketing & Community Engagement to join our leadership team and support the continued growth of our New Haven and Cromwell childcare centers.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, building relationships, creating community connections, generating enrollment opportunities, and supporting the day-to-day operations of a childcare center.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of or interest in early childhood education, marketing, enrollment, social media, community outreach, relationship building, and family engagement.

This position is approximately 60% Marketing, Enrollment & Community Engagement and 40% Administrative & Center Support.

What You’ll Do

Marketing & Enrollment

A major focus of this position will be helping our centers grow through consistent marketing, outreach, lead generation, and relationship building.

• Develop and implement creative strategies to generate new enrollment leads.
• Identify opportunities to connect with families throughout the New Haven, Cromwell, and surrounding communities.
• Conduct outreach to local businesses, employers, schools, healthcare organizations, community organizations, and family-focused programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with potential community and corporate partners.
• Follow up consistently with prospective families by phone, email, text, and approved communication platforms.
• Assist prospective families during center tours and communicate the value of The Learning Experience's curriculum, programs, safety practices, enrichment opportunities, and overall childcare experience.
• Maintain organized records of leads, inquiries, scheduled tours, community contacts, and enrollment opportunities.
• Track outreach efforts and help determine which marketing activities are generating tours and enrollments.
• Work with center leadership to establish and achieve enrollment and outreach goals.
• Participate in enrollment campaigns, referral programs, open houses, special promotions, and family events.
• Look for new and creative ways to increase brand awareness and enrollment.

Social Media & Digital Marketing

The Assistant Director will help maintain a positive, professional, and engaging digital presence for The Learning Experience.

Responsibilities include:

• Creating and scheduling social media content.
• Highlighting classroom experiences, curriculum, teachers, special events, family engagement, community involvement, and center accomplishments.
• Capturing appropriate photos and content while following all privacy and photo-release requirements.
• Maintaining accurate center information across approved online platforms.
• Monitoring social media engagement and identifying opportunities to increase visibility.
• Supporting strategies that encourage positive family engagement, referrals, and online reviews.
• Following The Learning Experience branding and marketing standards.
• Helping create promotional materials, event content, and other marketing resources as needed.

Community Outreach & Partnerships

You will be an important representative of The Learning Experience within the local community.

You will:

• Research local festivals, fairs, family activities, networking opportunities, community programs, and events.
• Identify opportunities for the centers to participate in community events.
• Coordinate event participation, including registration, promotional materials, staffing, supplies, and follow-up.
• Attend community events, networking opportunities, vendor fairs, family events, and outreach activities.
• Build relationships with local employers and organizations that may offer childcare benefits or preferred enrollment opportunities to their employees.
• Develop relationships with organizations serving children and families.
• Identify opportunities for sponsorships, cross-promotion, fundraising, and collaborative events.
• Help coordinate center-based events designed to increase community visibility, family engagement, tours, and enrollment.
• Maintain an organized marketing and community outreach calendar.
• Travel between the New Haven and Cromwell locations and attend community events as needed.

Administrative & Center Leadership Support

While marketing and community engagement are the primary focus of this position, the Assistant Director will also provide important administrative and operational support to center leadership.

Responsibilities may include:

• Supporting the Center Director and leadership team with daily administrative responsibilities.
• Assisting with opening and/or closing responsibilities when assigned.
• Supporting classroom staffing, scheduling, and ratio management as needed.
• Providing classroom coverage when operationally necessary.
• Assisting with student, staff, enrollment, and licensing documentation.
• Supporting family communication and responding professionally to questions and concerns.
• Assisting with tours, enrollment paperwork, orientations, and new-family onboarding.
• Supporting staff communication, meetings, training, and center initiatives.
• Assisting with supply organization and center readiness.
• Helping maintain a welcoming, professional, clean, and tour-ready environment.
• Supporting special projects and administrative assignments from center leadership.

Licensing, Health & Safety

Because this position works within a licensed childcare environment, the Assistant Director must understand the importance of compliance, safety, confidentiality, and professionalism.

The Assistant Director will:

• Maintain working knowledge of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) childcare licensing requirements.
• Support ongoing licensing and compliance readiness.
• Assist with maintaining required documentation and records.
• Help monitor classroom practices, staff-to-child ratios, supervision, health, and safety requirements.
• Immediately communicate licensing, safety, staffing, or operational concerns to center leadership.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, employees, and center business.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet applicable Connecticut OEC requirements for the position and possess at least one of the following:

• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and/or applicable Head Teacher Certification/qualification;
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field; or
• Equivalent education and experience that meets applicable Connecticut OEC requirements.

Additional requirements include:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across two locations.
• Professional communication skills when interacting with families, staff, leadership, businesses, and community partners.
• Comfort using social media and digital communication platforms professionally.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel between New Haven and Cromwell.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend community or center events.
• Ability to meet applicable background check, health, and childcare employment requirements.

Preferred Experience

We would love to hear from candidates who have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Marketing
• Sales
• Enrollment
• Lead generation
• Community outreach
• Social media management
• Event planning
• Business development
• Partnership development
• Childcare or early childhood education
• Childcare administration
• Leadership
• Customer service
• Family engagement
• Conducting tours and converting inquiries into enrollments
• CRM or lead-management systems
• Digital marketing platforms
• Childcare management systems
• Connecticut OEC licensing and compliance

A Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field is a plus.

The Ideal Candidate

• Outgoing and comfortable meeting new people and developing relationships.
• Professional and confident representing The Learning Experience in the community.
• Creative and excited about marketing, social media, and developing new ideas.
• Goal-oriented and motivated by enrollment growth.
• Highly organized and able to consistently follow up with prospective families and community contacts.
• Passionate about children and families and understands the importance of quality early childhood education.
• Flexible and comfortable balancing marketing responsibilities with childcare center operations.
• Dependable and willing to support two center locations.
• Self-motivated and able to take ownership of projects.
• Solution-focused and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative and able to work effectively with center leadership, teachers, families, and community partners.

How Success Will Be Measured

• Consistent generation and follow-up of qualified enrollment leads.
• Increased center tours and enrollment opportunities.
• Consistent and engaging social media activity.
• Growth in community awareness and center visibility.
• Development of new community and corporate partnerships.
• Regular participation in community events and outreach opportunities.
• Successful execution of center marketing and family events.
• Accurate tracking of leads, outreach, tours, partnerships, and enrollment results.
• Professional and timely communication with prospective and current families.
• Strong support of center operations and leadership.
• Compliance with Connecticut OEC requirements and The Learning Experience operational expectations.

Why This Position Matters

The Assistant Director will play an important role in connecting The Learning Experience with the families, businesses, and organizations in the communities we serve.

This is more than a traditional administrative childcare position. We are looking for someone who can build relationships, create opportunities, represent our brand, generate enrollment leads, engage families, and bring new ideas to the table, while also understanding and supporting the daily operations of a childcare center.