Daycare Director

Acquire4Hire; Baraboo (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Leave

Child Care Discount

Professional Development

13 days paid time off

6 paid holidays

Tuition discounts for eligible staff

Continuing Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Acquire4Hire is seeking a full-time Director for a Wisconsin children’s day center and preschool to lead daily operations, ensure safety, and support growth and development of young children.

You will supervise staff, manage finances, maintain licensing compliance, and partner with the Board on hiring and policy implementation, while maintaining strong relations with families and the community.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must have completed at least 80 hours of approved early childhood education training.
• Must have prior experience in a childcare or preschool setting.
• Two years of college with at least one early childhood course.
• DPI-approved in-service training plus an extra early childhood or child development course, or current enrollment in such a program.

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee all center programs and activities, including food service and county-funded parent programs.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of children at all times, including fire and safety drills.
• Maintain a learning environment that supports growth and safety, with clean, organized spaces and functional equipment.
• Prepare monthly Director’s report outlining income, expenses, incidents, and enrollment.
• Supervise and support all staff, including regular staff meetings.
• Maintain documentation for performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and trainings.
• Develop and implement an annual staff training plan.
• Oversee scheduling, payroll setup, staff orientation, and policy compliance.
• Partner with the Board on hiring, discipline, and promotions.
• Provide oversight to student teachers and volunteers.
• Maintain licensing records, attendance, medical forms, emergency procedures, and inventories.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin childcare regulations.
• Report suspected abuse or neglect per s.48.981; submit reports timely.
• Communicate with parents and schedule conferences; respond to concerns.
• Coordinate enrollment, invoicing, deposits, and spending within budget; board updates.

Skills

Program management

Staff leadership

Licensing compliance

Parent relations

Administration & finance

Education

High school diploma

80 hours ECE training

Two years college with ECE course

DPI-approved in-service training + extra ECE course

Tools

QuickBooks

Procare

Job description

About This Role

Children’s Day Center and Preschool is seeking a full‑time Director to lead daily operations and support the growth, safety, and development of young children. This role works closely with staff, families, and the Board of Directors to ensure a high quality early childhood program and a supportive learning environment.

About Us

Children’s Day Center believes children are active, self‑motivated learners. Development grows through stable, trusting relationships with caregivers and an age‑appropriate, engaging environment.

Our staff play a key role in the lives of children and families. Through play and everyday interactions with adults, peers, and their surroundings, children build problem‑solving skills, social understanding, and creativity.

What You’ll Do

Program Management

• Plan and oversee all center programs and activities, including food service and county‑funded parent programs.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of children at all times, including conducting regular fire and safety drills.
• Maintain a physical environment that supports learning, growth, and safety, including clean, organized spaces and functional equipment.
• Complete and document the Fire and Safety Checklist monthly.
• Prepare monthly Director’s report outlining income, expenses, incidents, and enrollment.

Staff Leadership

• Supervise and support all staff, including leading regular staff meetings.
• Maintain documentation for performance reviews, corrective actions, and disciplinary decisions.
• Develop and implement an annual staff training plan.
• Oversee scheduling, payroll setup, staff orientation, and compliance with the staff handbook.
• Partner with the Board on hiring, discipline, and termination decisions.
• Recommend wage adjustments and promotions for Board approval.
• Provide oversight and guidance to student teachers, volunteers, and individuals completing community service.

Licensing and Compliance

• Maintain accurate and current records, including licensing documentation, attendance records, medical forms, emergency procedures, and inventories.
• Ensure compliance with all State of Wisconsin childcare regulations.
• Report suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with s.48.981.
• Submit required reports to DHSS within three days of accidents or within 24 hours of major incidents or building damage.
• Enforce all policies in the Employee Manual and Parent Handbook consistently.

Parent and Community Relations

• Maintain regular communication with parents and schedule conferences as needed.
• Respond promptly and professionally to parent concerns or complaints.
• Represent the center professionally in all community interactions.

Administration and Finance

• Work with the Board on enrollment, attendance tracking, invoicing, deposits, and spending within the approved budget.
• Coordinate fundraising activities in partnership with the Board.
• Monitor tuition accounts and follow up on delinquent payments. Families with tuition more than two weeks overdue will be notified that attendance will pause until payment is received.
• Provide updates on finances, staffing, and operational matters at monthly Board meetings.

Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must have completed at least 80 hours of approved early childhood education training.
• Must have prior experience in a childcare or preschool setting.
• Must meet one of the following educational criteria:
  • Two years of college with at least one early childhood course.
  • A DPI‑approved in‑service training and one additional early childhood or child development course, or current enrollment in such a program.

Nice To Haves

• Experience invoicing and expensing through QuickBooks.
• Familiarity with Procare.

Benefits

• Paid Leave
• Child Care Discount
• Professional Development
• 13 days of paid time off
• 6 paid holidays
• Tuition discounts for eligible employees
• Continuing Education Reimbursement