District Leadership & Operations Director

The Gardner School; Dedham (MA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Professional development opportunities

Childcare tuition discounts

Job summary

The Gardner School is seeking a District Support Director to provide district-wide operational leadership across multiple schools in Massachusetts. The role partners with Executive School Directors and the District Manager to ensure consistency, strong execution, and high-quality experiences for children, families, and staff.

Responsibilities include leading coverage, supporting transitions, coordinating staffing, budgeting, enrollment, and ensuring licensing compliance.

Qualifications

• Must meet MA EEC Director II requirements at time of hire.
• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, business, or related field preferred.
• Previous leadership experience in an early childhood education environment required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with professionalism, sound judgment, flexibility, and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt quickly to changing operational and school needs.
• Ability to travel regularly between schools within the district.
• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with multiple school teams.
• Working knowledge of Massachusetts EEC licensing standards and early childhood school operations.
• Demonstrated interest in and readiness to continue developing toward full school‑level leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide district leadership coverage and operational support across district schools.
• Support schools during leadership transitions, leaves, staffing gaps, enrollment growth, onboarding periods, or other operational needs.
• Partner with Executive School Directors and school leadership teams to support day‑to‑day operations and align with Gardner standards.
• Help ensure consistency in operational execution, family experience, and leadership practices across district schools.
• Support classroom coverage and staffing coordination when needed to maintain safe and effective school operations.
• Identify operational gaps, elevate concerns, and support action-item follow‑through.
• Support MA licensing, health and safety standards, and company policies.
• Help maintain organized school operations, licensing readiness, and documentation standards.
• Support enrollment activities including tours, follow‑up, lead management, and enrollment priorities.
• Assist with budgeting, labor management, supply oversight, and district financial priorities.
• Assist with scheduling, ratio management, opening/closing, and daily operations.
• Provide leadership support during high‑volume periods, events, or special projects.
• Support implementation of company and district initiatives and best practices.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Relationship building

Flexibility

Travel ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Massachusetts EEC Director II qualification

Job description

The Gardner School is seeking a District Support Director to provide district-wide operational leadership across multiple schools in Massachusetts. The role partners with Executive School Directors and the District Manager to ensure consistency, strong execution, and high-quality experiences for children, families, and staff.

Responsibilities include leading coverage, supporting transitions, coordinating staffing, budgeting, enrollment, and ensuring licensing compliance.