Child Care Center Director

The Learning Experience - Bakersfield, CA; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401(k)

401(k) matching

Bonus based on performance

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Free uniforms

Opportunity for advancement

Training & development

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Learning Experience in Bakersfield is seeking a dynamic Center Director to lead day-to-day operations, drive enrollment, and ensure a safe, high-quality environment for children and families. You will mentor teachers, manage licensing compliance, and partner with families to deliver an exceptional experience.

Ideal candidates bring California licensing knowledge and strong leadership, with a proven ability to balance warmth with operational accountability and data-driven decision making.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a licensed child care center.
• Knowledge of California licensing and Title 22 requirements.
• Experience with enrollment, family engagement, and center operations.
• Ability to coach staff and manage daily operations.

Responsibilities

• Own the center’s people, culture, enrollment, family experience, operations, and licensing compliance.
• Drive enrollment and ensure follow-up from inquiry to registration.
• Lead tours and build relationships with prospective families.
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and retain teachers.
• Maintain staffing levels and staff-to-child ratios.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and center expenses.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Enrollment

Communication

Job description

Benefits:

• Free uniforms
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Tuition assistance

Bakersfield, CA | Full-Time | On-Site Salary: $66,000-$78,000 annually + Performance Bonus

Are you an experienced child care or preschool leader who knows how to build a great team, create an exceptional family experience, and run a high‑performing early childhood education center?

The Learning Experience in Bakersfield is looking for a Child Care Center Director to lead our center, develop our teachers, grow enrollment, and create a safe, engaging environment where children, families, and employees thrive.

At The Learning Experience, Happy Happens Here — and as Center Director, you set the tone and culture.

What You’ll Lead

As Center Director, you will have ownership of the center’s people, culture, enrollment, family experience, daily operations, financial performance, and California licensing compliance.

You will:

• Ensure compliance with California Community Care Licensing, Title 22 requirements, and all applicable health and safety standards
• Maintain a safe, clean, welcoming, and well‑organized center
• Maintain required employee, child, training, and licensing documentation
• Ensure an exceptional experience for children and families every day
• Use enrollment and operating metrics to identify opportunities and take action
• Drive enrollment by ensuring consistent follow‑up from inquiry through registration
• Lead center tours and build relationships with prospective families
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and retain a strong team of early childhood educators
• Build an engaged, accountable, and collaborative center culture
• Lead and develop teachers through regular coaching, feedback, recognition, and training
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and teacher‑to‑child ratios
• Build strong relationships with current families and support family retention
• Manage staffing, scheduling, labor, expenses, and overall center performance

What We’re Looking For

California Child Care Center Director qualifications are required.

• Knowledge of California child care licensing and Title 22 requirements
• Previous leadership experience in a licensed child care center, preschool, early learning center, or early childhood education program
• Experience managing and developing teachers and staff
• Experience with enrollment, family engagement, staffing, scheduling, and center operations
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills
• The ability to balance a warm, family‑focused environment with strong operational accountability
• Comfort using data and center metrics to make decisions and improve performance
• A genuine commitment to creating an exceptional experience for children, families, and employees
• Candidates must meet applicable California Community Care Licensing requirements for a Child Care Center Director and be able to provide documentation supporting required education and experience.

This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to The Learning Experience Corporate.