Early Childhood - Center Director

Acquire4Hire; Stoughton (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Paid Weather Emergency Days

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Pumpkin Patch Preschool is seeking a School Director who can lead with warmth, confidence and a strong sense of community. This hands-on role partners with families, teachers and the Board to create a nurturing environment where every child and family feels seen and supported.

You will oversee licensing, staff supervision, operations, and financial coordination while ensuring clear communication with families and the Board.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a preschool or child-care program.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin licensing requirements for child care.
• Ability to manage staff, schedules and budgets.
• Pass background check and health screening.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for families and staff.
• Coordinate tours and community outreach events.
• Oversee daily operations and licensing compliance.
• Hire, train and supervise staff; lead performance reviews.
• Communicate with the Board and report on enrollment, finances and policy.
• Organize staff files and licensing documentation.
• Develop and enforce behavioral and safety policies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Licensing knowledge

Staff supervision

Operations coordination

Education

Associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or related field

Wisconsin Registry Director certification

Job description

About This Role

Are you a natural leader who loves working with kids, connecting with families and bringing people together? Pumpkin Patch Preschool is looking for a School Director who can lead with warmth, confidence and a strong sense of community.

About This Role

Are you a natural leader who loves working with kids, connecting with families and bringing people together? Pumpkin Patch Preschool is looking for a School Director who can lead with warmth, confidence and a strong sense of community. This is a hands-on, people-focused role in a welcoming, close-knit and family-friendly preschool environment. Our Director works closely with children, families, teachers and our Board to help create a school where everyone feels seen, supported and at home. The ideal person for this role loves being around children, enjoys building relationships, and can bring warmth, organization and leadership to a busy school day. From welcoming new families and supporting teachers to overseeing school operations, licensing, and communication with our Board, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact throughout our school. If you are someone who enjoys wearing many hats, loves creating a positive environment for kids and families and wants to be part of a small, close-knit school community where your work truly matters, we'd love to meet you!

What You'll Do

• Act as the first point of contact for all Pumpkin Patch Preschool families.
• Coordinate and conduct school tours.
• Represent the school at outreach events.
• Prepare and send out welcome letters and forms to students prior to the beginning of the school year.
• Collaborate with parents/guardians and Board of Directors to set parameters of behavioral management plans.
• Oversee staff and school operations.
• Screen applicants for open positions, schedule interviews, make hiring recommendations to the Board.
• Provide new staff orientation regarding licensing and center policies and procedures.
• Lead staff yearly performance reviews.
• Ensure that the Board of Directors is aware of any operational issues that need to be addressed.
• Manage day-to-day supervision of the staff.
• Implement Board-approved policies
• Act as the first point of contact for state licensing.
• Understand, interpret and carry out all requirements of licensing
• Organize all staff files and complete licensing checklist to ensure that each staff member has a complete file.
• Follow up with families to be sure that all student files are complete and remain up to date.
• Act as a liaison between staff and our Board of Directors.
• Share updates each month or as frequently as requested by the Board of Directors on these regular matters:
• Student enrollment numbers (current and projected)
• Student past due balances
• Licensing issues or concerns
• Staff issues or concernsIn conjunction with members of the Board of Directors, conduct new staff orientation.
• Participate in monthly meetings with the staff and Board.
• Represent staff and share input at the Board Meetings.
• Create, maintain and enforce staff cleaning schedules and purchase needed supplies.
• Act as the on-site financial coordinator:
• Organize bills and records deposits for all school income in the accounting program.
• Prepare weekly deposits and coordinate with the Board Treasurer to get deposits to the bank.
• Collaborate with parents/guardians and Board President to set parameters of any financial payment plans.
• Communicate with parents/guardians regularly and enforce all policies and procedures for late payments in conjunction with the Board.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to maintain teacher budgets and school expenses.
• Organize all receipts for monthly credit card statements and other bills.
• Act as the lead for enforcing school contingency plans and organize and conduct regular emergency drills.
• Act as an in‑school resources for payroll and benefits:
• Report to Board President all personal and sick time taken by staff at the end of each pay period.
• Complete bi-monthly timecard submission to the Treasurer and accounting firm for payroll at least three days prior to pay dates (pay dates are the 5th and 20th days of the month.
• Act as a resource for the Fundraising Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator:
• Assist the committees in the following ways:
• Assist Marketing Personnel by helping to promote events (e.g. sharing events on Facebook if possible).
• Alert Volunteer Coordinator when tasks are not being done to ensure the parent volunteers are fulfilling their obligations.

Requirements

• Certified by the Wisconsin Registry to be a Director of 51 or more students.
• 21 years of age or older
• Must pass a background check
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Basic computer skills
• Strong understanding of child development and Wisconsin licensing regulations
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills
• Must provide documentation of health screening

Nice To Haves

• Infant / Child CPR and First Aid Certified
• Abusive Head Trauma / Shaken Baby
• Mandated Reporter
• Associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Weather Emergency Days
• Paid Holidays