Center Director

Lightbridge Academy; Middletown (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightbridge Academy of Middletown is hiring a founding Center Director to shape a new campus from the ground up. You will prepare the program, recruit and coach the first team, welcome prospective families, and build community relationships before opening.

You will lead the center as it grows, ensuring licensing readiness, safety, and educational quality, while partnering with local ownership and Lightbridge support teams.

Qualifications

• Two+ years as Center Director in a licensed childcare or early learning center.
• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field with state qualifications.
• Proven track record recruiting and developing educators and maintaining compliance.
• Experience with budgets, enrollment metrics and center performance measures.
• Commitment to continuing education including CPR and First Aid.

Responsibilities

• Open and enroll new center; plan, train, and staff the initial team.
• Lead family experience, enrollment growth, and community relationships.
• Oversee licensing readiness, safety, and educational standards.
• Manage day-to-day operations, metrics, audits, and vendor relations.

Skills

Center Director experience

Staff development

Enrollment growth

Budgeting & KPIs

Community outreach

Compliance & licensing

Leadership & coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field

NJ childcare center director qualifications

Job description

Are you an experienced Center Director who would love to shape a new center from the start? Lightbridge Academy of Middletown is hiring a founding Director for our new center. You will help prepare the program, recruit and coach the first team, welcome prospective families, and build community relationships before opening. Then you will lead the center you helped launch as it grows.

Opening a center calls for someone who sees what needs to happen, sets priorities, and follows through. You will work closely with engaged local ownership and Lightbridge Academy support teams while taking ownership of educational quality, licensing and safety, staff leadership, family experience, enrollment, and operating performance. Throughout, you will uphold Lightbridge Academy’s Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Circle of Care philosophy.

Responsibilities

Opening and enrollment

• Partner with ownership and Lightbridge Academy support teams on opening plans, training, systems, licensing readiness, and the initial operating plan.
• Manage the prospective family pipeline: respond to inquiries, generate and follow up on leads, maintain accurate enrollment records, conduct effective tours when the center is ready, and guide families through registration.
• Set enrollment goals with ownership; track lead sources, tour conversions, enrollment, occupancy, and family feedback; adjust marketing and follow-up based on results.
• Plan and lead local marketing events, open houses, and grand opening activities; build referral relationships with employers, pediatricians, hospitals, real estate professionals, schools, chambers, and local businesses.

Team and educational leadership

• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, train, supervise, evaluate, retain, and develop teachers and administrative staff; address performance and employee concerns fairly and promptly.
• Build a positive, accountable staff culture; coach emerging leaders, lead team meetings and required training, and maintain appropriate staffing and state-required staff-to-child ratios.
• Support educators in delivering engaging, hands-on curriculum and strong classroom experiences in line with Lightbridge Academy’s educational standards.
• Provide classroom support or coverage when needed and qualified to do so.

Family experience and center operations

• Lead day-to-day operations, deliver responsive service to families, resolve concerns, and strengthen family retention and referrals through trusted relationships.
• Maintain licensing, safety, and educational standards; conduct regular facility and equipment safety checks and keep the center ready for company and licensing reviews.
• Coordinate emergency response plans and required drills, maintain accurate drill logs, and ensure staff know the applicable procedures.
• Participate in operational and educational audits and uphold applicable Lightbridge Academy and Association of Early Learning Leaders standards.
• Maintain secure, accurate child, employee, administrative, and financial records; complete required reports and data entry on time.
• Oversee relevant vendors and participate in required meetings, training, and occasional off-site training.

Business stewardship

• Work with ownership on creating and meeting budgets, scheduling, staffing plans, occupancy, and financial goals; monitor key performance indicators and recommend improvements.
• Protect center assets and maintain sound administrative controls while promoting a positive reputation in the community.

What we are looking for

• At least two years of experience serving as the Center Director of a licensed childcare or early childhood education center; experience opening or growing a center is especially valuable.
• A bachelor’s degree, preferably in early childhood education or a related field, and education and experience that meet all applicable New Jersey qualifications for a childcare center director.
• A record of recruiting and developing educators, managing staff performance, maintaining compliance, and building trusted family relationships.
• Demonstrated results converting tours, growing enrollment, and conducting community outreach, plus experience with budgets and center performance measures.
• Strong judgment, integrity, communication, organization, and comfort with childcare systems, data entry, and common office software.
• Commitment to required continuing education and certifications, including CPR and First Aid as applicable
• Stay flexible as the center’s needs evolve, take initiative, and help solve problems during the opening period and beyond.

Work environment

• This onsite role includes time in classrooms and outdoor spaces and may involve standing, bending, lifting, and moving items as needed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

This is a chance to build a team and culture from the beginning, with support and training from Lightbridge Academy and a close working relationship with local ownership. If you have led a licensed center, enjoy taking initiative, and want to see the team and community you helped build thrive over time, we would love to connect.