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

Free uniforms

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

401(k)

401(k) matching

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Employee discounts

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The Learning Experience Bakersfield is seeking a Center Director to lead our California early childhood education center. You will guide the center's people, culture, enrollment, family experience, daily operations, financial performance, and licensing compliance.

You will recruit and coach teachers, drive enrollment from inquiry to registration, maintain licensing standards, and build a safe, engaging environment where children, families, and staff thrive.

Qualifications

• California licensing and Title 22 knowledge
• Leadership experience in a licensed child care center
• Experience managing teachers and staff
• Experience with enrollment, family engagement, staffing, scheduling, and center operations
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Balance warm family-focused environment with strong operational accountability
• Comfort using data and center metrics to make decisions
• Commitment to creating an exceptional experience for children, families, and employees

Responsibilities

• Own center people, culture, enrollment, family experience, daily operations, and licensing compliance.
• Ensure compliance with California licensing, Title 22, and health and safety standards.
• Maintain safe, clean, welcoming, and well-organized center.
• Maintain employee, child, training, and licensing documentation.
• Drive enrollment through follow-up from inquiry to registration.
• Lead center tours and build relationships with prospective families.
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and retain a strong team of educators.
• Build an engaged, accountable, and collaborative center culture.
• Lead teachers through coaching, feedback, and training.
• Maintain staffing levels and teacher-to-child ratios.
• Foster relationships with current families and support retention.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, labor, expenses, and center performance.

Skills

Leadership

Enrollment management

Team development

Communication

Operations management

Data-driven decisions

Education

California Child Care Center Director qualifications

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.