Executive Director

Hire Up Recruiting; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Paid holidays

457 retirement plan

Job summary

Hire Up Recruiting is seeking an Executive Director for an early childhood education center in Tallahassee, Florida. This hands-on leadership role oversees daily operations, staff development, family engagement, regulatory compliance, program quality, and enrollment growth for infants through VPK and a summer camp.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Education (or related field), several years of director-level experience in early childhood education, and the ability to work

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education or related field.
• Director-level experience in early childhood education preferred.
• Knowledge of Florida childcare licensing, regulation and quality standards.
• Willingness to work 7:30–5:30, Monday–Friday, with occasional extra hours.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and retain staff and grow enrollment.
• Commitment to inclusive, supportive environment for all children.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily center operations with a safe, nurturing learning environment.
• Coach, develop, and retain teaching and administrative staff.
• Recruit and onboard qualified team members and address staffing needs.
• Build strong relationships with children, families, and staff.
• Support families with behavioral, developmental, and classroom concerns.
• Drive enrollment growth through recruitment and community outreach.
• Ensure compliance with Florida childcare regulations and accreditation standards.
• Oversee programs for infants through VPK and summer camp.
• Coordinate operations across two buildings and communicate with leadership.
• Promote inclusive environment for children with diverse needs.
• Collaborate with onsite therapy and support services.
• Identify staff professional development opportunities.
• Report center performance and priorities to CEO, HR, Finance, and leadership.

Skills

Staff leadership

Enrollment growth

Family communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Education / Early Childhood Education

Job description

Executive Director – Early Childhood Education Center

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Executive Director to lead our early childhood education center in Tallahassee, Florida.

While the title is Executive Director, this is a hands-on center leadership role with direct responsibility for the day-to-day operations, staff leadership, family relationships, regulatory compliance, program quality, and enrollment growth of the school.

Our center currently serves Infants through VPK, as well as a summer camp program. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Center Director, Preschool Director, or exceptional Assistant Director who is ready to take the next step in their career.

What You’ll Do

As Executive Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the center while building a positive, collaborative culture for children, families, and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily center operations, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment.
• Lead, coach, develop, and retain teaching and administrative staff.
• Recruit and onboard qualified team members and address staffing challenges effectively.
• Build strong relationships and communication with children, families, and staff.
• Support families with behavioral, developmental, and classroom-related concerns.
• Drive enrollment growth through recruitment, community outreach, and retention strategies.
• Ensure compliance with Florida childcare regulations, licensing requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Oversee high-quality programs for infants through VPK, including summer camp.
• Coordinate operations and communication across two buildings.
• Promote an inclusive environment for children with disabilities and diverse developmental needs.
• Collaborate with onsite therapy and support services.
• Identify and support staff professional development opportunities.
• Communicate regularly with the CEO, HR, Finance, and organizational leadership regarding center performance and priorities.
• Participate in professional development activities, including approximately one Saturday per month.
• Perform other leadership and operational duties as needed.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a confident, compassionate leader who can step into an established school community, earn the trust of long-term employees, and bring energy and accountability to the center.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, ideally in Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• Several years of Director-level experience in early childhood education, preschool, childcare, or a similar setting strongly preferred.
• Experience with childcare licensing, regulatory compliance, and quality standards.
• Ability to work 7:30-5:30, Monday-Friday, with additional hours occasionally required based on operational needs, special events, or unforeseen circumstances!
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain staff.
• Proven ability to build and sustain enrollment.
• Strong parent and family communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Experience working with children with disabilities, special education/ESE, or diverse developmental needs is strongly preferred but not required.
• A genuine commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment for every child and family.
• $70,000–$75,000 annual salary
• Paid time off & Paid holidays
• Eligibility for the organization's 457 retirement plan