Director, Early Childhood Education Center

Hire Up Recruiting; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance with employer contrib

5% employer 403(b) contribution

PTO + paid holidays

Long-term disability

Job summary

Hire Up Recruiting is assisting a Stamford-based, multicultural early childhood program in recruiting a Director, Early Childhood Education Center. The role oversees curriculum, operations, staffing, enrollment, and community partnerships to sustain growth and excellence.

The ideal candidate leads a teaching team, communicates effectively with families, and ensures regulatory compliance while upholding inclusive, Jewish values. This is a full-time position with competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Experience working with young children and families.
• At least one year of supervisory experience.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and best practices.
• Ability to lead, develop, and retain a strong teaching team.
• Comfort with marketing, community outreach, and enrollment growth.
• Proficiency with various technologies.
• Experience with expense management and budgeting.
• Licensing requirements: 3 credits in admin and 9+ credits in leadership/fiscal management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the early childhood curriculum and educational experience.
• Create a nurturing, inclusive environment for children, families, and staff.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop teaching staff.
• Manage enrollment, admissions, tours, and family communications.
• Develop and implement marketing and enrollment-growth strategies.
• Build relationships with families, community organizations, and local partners.
• Oversee daily operations and ensure compliance with state regulations.
• Develop and manage the annual budget with leadership.
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, and expenses for long-term sustainability.
• Represent the program within the organization and community.
• Promote a welcoming environment incorporating Jewish values and traditions.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Enrollment growth

Communication

Budgeting

Marketing

Community outreach

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Budgeting software

Job description

Director, Early Childhood Education Center

Full-Time | $85,000–$100,000/year

About the Opportunity

A thriving, multicultural early childhood program is seeking an energetic and visionary Director to lead its continued growth and excellence. The program serves children from 6 weeks through 5 years old and offers a warm, nurturing environment with bright classrooms, a large indoor play space, and outdoor learning areas.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Director—or a strong Assistant Director ready to step into a leadership role—to oversee the educational, operational, staffing, enrollment, and community aspects of the program.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the early childhood curriculum and educational experience.
• Create a nurturing, inclusive environment for children, families, and staff.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop teaching staff.
• Manage enrollment, admissions, tours, and family communications.
• Develop and implement marketing and enrollment-growth strategies.
• Build relationships with families, community organizations, and local partners.
• Oversee daily operations and ensure compliance with applicable state regulations.
• Develop and manage the annual budget in partnership with organizational leadership.
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, and expenses to support long-term sustainability.
• Represent the program within the organization and broader community.
• Promote a welcoming and inclusive environment that incorporates Jewish values and traditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related education-focused field.
• Experience working with young children and families.
• At least one year of supervisory experience.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and best practices.
• Ability to lead, develop, and retain a strong teaching team.
• Comfort with marketing, community outreach, and enrollment growth.
• Proficiency with various technologies.
• Experience with expense management and budgeting.

Licensing requirements: Candidates must have or be able to obtain within the first year:

• 3 credits in early childhood program administration or educational administration.
• 9+ credits in leadership and fiscal management.

Preferred: Master's degree, Head Teacher Certification, experience directing an early childhood program, and familiarity with Jewish education. Jewish background is not required.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for a warm, personable, tenacious, and entrepreneurial leader who enjoys building relationships and making things happen. The ideal candidate is passionate about early childhood education, comfortable with growth and change, and excited to help strengthen an already successful program.

Compensation & Benefits

• $85,000–$100,000 annual salary – depending on experience, credentials, etc.
• Health insurance with employer contribution
• 5% employer 403(b) contribution when participating
• PTO + Paid holidays
• Long-term disability coverage
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Life insurance/AD&D benefits
• Professional memberships
• Potential childcare discount

Schedule: Monday–Friday, generally 8:30 AM–5:30 PM, with occasional flexibility for meetings or events.

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