Director, MU Childcare Center

Marquette University; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Marquette University is seeking a Director of the Child Care Center to provide leadership, operational oversight, and educational direction for the university's Child Care Center. You will oversee program quality, staff development, budgeting, enrollment, and family engagement in alignment with the university's mission.

The role requires a strong background in early childhood education, licensing compliance, and strategic management, with a commitment to fostering a safe, developmentally

Qualifications

• Associate's or vocational/technical school degree.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• 4-5 years related experience.
• Compliance and Regulatory Experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of programs serving infants to school age children.
• Flexible schedule of availability.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to effectively communicate with many different types of people. Flexibility, patience, and organizational skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop center staff through recruitment, hiring, performance management, supervision, professional development, and engagement.
• Direct program quality and educational excellence via curriculum oversight and continuous improvement.
• Support day-to-day operations, including classroom support, problem-solving, crisis response, and maintaining required certifications.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight aligned with the university's mission and center philosophy.
• Manage the center's financial operations, including budgeting, payroll, billing, and grants administration.
• Oversee enrollment and family engagement with strong parent communication.
• Ensure licensing, accreditation, and regulatory compliance, including state regulations and YoungStar standards.
• Foster collaboration and community engagement by leading staff meetings and parent engagement activities.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Multi-tasking

People skills

Organizational skills

Education

Associate's degree or vocational/technical school

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Job description

Position Overview

Posting Number: NA01597

Employment Status: Full Time

Job Family: Child Care

Be The Difference Begins with Great People.

Are you looking for a new opportunity where you can make the difference in the lives of students and faculty? We're always looking for highly talented individuals to join our team – people who think big, care deeply, and believe in being the difference in their work and community.

We prioritize student success, access to education, and service in our work to educate well-rounded servant leaders who transform their fields, our society and the world. Our Catholic, Jesuit approach emphasizes student engagement with the world around them and formation of the heart and mind.

We believe in our mission: The search for truth, the discovery and sharing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and professional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others. These core values guide our relationships with our students, each other, and our community.

Marquette University offers a rich and competitive Total Rewards package includingmedical, dental, vision, 403(b) with up to 8% university match, generous time off package, and tuition benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents with no payback requirement! For more information, please view our Total Rewards guide.

This is your next opportunity to join an organization that invests in their employees' career journey by diversifying their skills, deepening their expert knowledge, encouraging a healthy work-life balance, focusing on personal wellbeing, providing leadership training, and sustaining a culture of respect and inclusion.

The Director of the Marquette University Child Care Center provides leadership, operational oversight, and educational direction for the university's Child Care Center. The Director fosters a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment that supports the care, growth and well-being of children. This position is responsible for all aspects of center operations, including program quality, regulatory compliance, budget management, enrollment, staff leadership and development, family engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead and develop center staff, including recruitment, hiring, performance management, supervision, professional development, and employee engagement.
• Direct program quality and educational excellence through oversight of curriculum, classroom environments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support day-to-day center operations as needed, including classroom support, problem-solving, crisis response, and maintaining required professional certifications and training.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Child Care Center, ensuring alignment with Marquette University's mission, values, and center philosophy.
• Manage the center's financial operations, including budgeting, payroll, billing, collections, grants administration, and other fiscal responsibilities.
• Oversee enrollment and family engagement efforts, ensuring strong relationships with parents and responsive communication regarding children's care and development.
• Ensure compliance with all licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements, including state regulations, YoungStar standards, and mandated reporting requirements.
• Foster collaboration and community engagement by leading staff meetings, facilitating parent engagement activities, and promoting teamwork among staff, students, and volunteers.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Associate's or vocational/ technical school degree
• Vocational or technical training
• High School Diploma or GED
• 4-5 years related experience
• Compliance and Regulatory Experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of programs serving infants to school age children
• Flexible schedule of availability
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to effectively communication with many different types of people. Flexibility, patients, and organizational skills are required.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor's Degree

Department: Child Care Center

Posting Date: 09/30/2026

It is the policy of Marquette University to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.