Center Director

The Learning Experience; Cheshire (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

401(k)

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Job summary

The Learning Experience in Cheshire, CT is hiring a Center Director to oversee daily operations of our early childhood education center. You will lead teachers and staff, build strong relationships with families, drive enrollment, and ensure licensing and safety standards are met.

You will guide operations, coach staff, and monitor performance, staffing, budgets, and center results to maintain a thriving, compliant center that delivers outstanding early education experiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of childcare center management or people leadership.
• Experience in childcare, preschool, daycare, or early childhood education.
• CT Head Teachers Certificate required.
• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Inspires Happiness: Create a welcoming environment for children, families, and staff. Build positive relationships with families, children, and team members; create a professional, supportive center culture; address questions promptly; recognize and support team members.
• Takes Ownership: Lead the center and take responsibility for day-to-day performance; manage staffing, scheduling, enrollment, and operations; recruit, hire, onboard, retain teachers; set priorities and address challenges.
• Builds Trust: Lead through communication, coaching, and consistency; coach and develop staff; provide regular feedback; maintain communication with families; handle concerns professionally.
• Drives Operational Excellence: Ensure licensing, health, safety, staffing ratios, records; oversee curriculum and standards; monitor KPIs and budget; manage resources and maintain a clean, safe center.
• Elevates the Brand: Grow enrollment, lead tours, follow up with families; monitor retention and engagement; support local marketing and community outreach; maintain brand and quality standards.

Skills

Center leadership

People management

Communication

Problem solving

Enrollment growth

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education

CT Head Teachers Certificate

Job description

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance

Location: Cheshire, Connecticut

Pay: $60,000-$65,000

Job Type: Full-Time

The Learning Experience is hiring a Center Director to lead the daily operations of our early childhood education center.

The Center Director leads teachers and staff, builds relationships with families, drives enrollment, maintains licensing and safety standards, and manages center performance.

What You'll Do

Inspires Happiness

Create a welcoming environment for children, families, and staff.

• Build positive relationships with families, children, and team members
• Create a professional, supportive, and collaborative center culture
• Address family and staff questions or concerns promptly
• Recognize and support team members

Takes Ownership

Lead the center and take responsibility for its day-to-day performance.

• Manage staffing, scheduling, enrollment, and center operations
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain qualified teachers
• Set priorities and address operational challenges
• Monitor center performance and follow through on action items

Builds Trust

Lead through communication, coaching, and consistency.

• Coach and develop teachers and center staff
• Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback
• Maintain strong communication with families
• Handle employee and family concerns professionally and confidentially

Drives Operational Excellence

Maintain a safe, compliant, and well‑run childcare center.

• Ensure compliance with state childcare licensing, health, and safety requirements
• Maintain appropriate staffing, classroom ratios, and required records
• Oversee implementation of TLE's curriculum and operating standards
• Monitor staffing, labor, budgets, enrollment, and key performance indicators
• Review center financial performance and manage resources responsibly
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe center

Elevates the Brand

Grow enrollment and represent The Learning Experience in the community.

• Lead center tours and follow up with prospective families
• Monitor enrollment, retention, and family engagement
• Support local marketing, events, referrals, and community outreach
• Build relationships with current and prospective families
• Maintain TLE brand and quality standards

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of childcare center management or people leadership experience required; 2+ years preferred
• Experience in childcare, preschool, daycare, or early childhood education
• Must meet applicable state Director or Administrator requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or related field preferred
• Must have CT Head Teachers Certificate
• Knowledge of childcare licensing, health, safety, and classroom standards
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing employees
• Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills
• Must meet applicable background screening, health, and regulatory requirements