LASER Childcare, Executive Director

LASER Childcare; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Paid holidays and personal leave

Professional development stipend

Employee childcare discount

Optional retirement and insurance

Job summary

LASER Childcare in Northeast Seattle seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for a nonprofit serving children and families. You will partner with the Board to set priorities, guide programs, oversee budgets, and develop staff.

This role emphasizes inclusive programming, licensing compliance, and strong community partnerships with Seattle Public Schools and local organizations. Ready to lead a dedicated team and advance education and childcare in our community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, education, early childhood education, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum seven years of supervisory and management experience in childcare, education, or youth nonprofit.
• Experience supervising 10+ staff with hiring, coaching, and performance accountability.
• Experience creating and managing operational budgets, P&L oversight, and financial controls.
• Knowledge of DCYF licensing requirements.
• Commitment to inclusive programming and anti-bias practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership, partnering with the Board.
• Guide organizational priorities and long-term growth.
• Oversee budgets, financial operations, and fiscal accountability.
• Hire, supervise, coach, and develop the leadership team and staff.
• Ensure licensing compliance, safety practices, and policies.
• Build strong relationships with schools, families, staff, and community partners.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff management

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, education, or related field

DCYF licensing knowledge or Program Director requirements

Tools

DCYF licensing knowledge

Job description

NOW HIRING: Executive Director

LASER Childcare | Northeast Seattle, WA

Annual Salary: $115,000-$140,000 DOE | Full-Time, Exempt

Ready to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact?

LASER Childcare is looking for an exceptional Executive Director to lead a community-centered nonprofit serving children and families in Northeast Seattle.

This is more than a leadership position—it's an opportunity to shape the future of an established organization, empower a dedicated team, strengthen community partnerships, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of hundreds of children and families.

If you're a strategic, people-focused leader who is passionate about education, childcare, and building strong communities, we'd love to meet you!

About LASER

LASER is an established nonprofit childcare organization serving Northeast Seattle families since 1984. Providing consistent after-school care for approximately 300 children at Bryant and Laurelhurst Elementary schools, LASER also builds community, creativity, and fun with school break camps, summer camp, and Parent Night Out programs and activities. Our dedicated team of 35+ staff members is committed to providing safe, engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate experiences for children.

About the Position

The Executive Director (ED) provides strategic and operational leadership for LASER, overseeing organizational success, program quality, financial health, and staff development. Working closely with the Board of Directors, the ED will guide the organization's future while ensuring excellent experiences for children, families, and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Excellence: Ensure high-quality childcare programming, positive and responsive communication with children and families, and leading with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Organizational Leadership: Partner with the Board to establish strategic priorities, strengthen organizational systems, and guide long-term growth.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage budgets, oversee financial operations, and maintain fiscal accountability.
• Staff Leadership: Hire, supervise, coach, and develop a strong leadership team and dedicated staff.
• Operations & Compliance: Oversee daily operations, licensing requirements, safety practices, and organizational policies.
• Community Partnerships: Build strong relationships with Seattle Public Schools, families, staff, community organizations, and local partners.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, education, early childhood education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience that is compliant with WAC education requirements for a Program Director/School Licensee.
• Minimum seven years of supervisory and management experience, including direct experience in a childcare, education, or youth-serving nonprofit setting.
• Staff supervision experience with 10 or more employees, including hiring, coaching, and performance accountability.
• Demonstrated experience creating and managing operational budgets, P&L oversight, and financial controls.
• Knowledge of DCYF licensing requirements.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to inclusive programming, and anti-bias practices.
• Must be able to meet WAC preservice requirements, and any WAC requirements to be a “Program Director” not described above.

Preferred

• Advanced degree or relevant experience in either Business Administration, Nonprofit Management or Early Childhood Education, Education Leadership, or other adjacent fields, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience that is compliant with WAC education requirements for a Program Director/School Licensee.
• DCYF licensing knowledge or direct experience serving as a licensee.
• Experience reporting to and partnering with a Board of Directors.
• Multi-site management experience.
• Experience with organizational growth and transformation.
• Experience managing family- or client-facing communications systems (newsletters, websites, social media).
• Familiarity with childcare management or registration platforms.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The position may require standing for extended periods, walking, using hands to handle, feel, or operate equipment, and communicating verbally. The employee may occasionally be required to climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities may include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor conditions. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud, depending on the activity level of the children.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of $115,000-$140,000, depending on experience.
• Medical and dental insurance.
• Paid holidays and personal, sick, safe, jury, bereavement, and disability leave.
• Professional development stipend.
• Employee childcare discount.
• Optional retirement and insurance benefits.

Schedule

Regular, Full-time. Primarily on-site during operational hours at Bryant and Laurelhurst Elementary Schools, with occasional evening or weekend commitments.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of an established, community-centered organization. LASER's Board is committed to supporting the incoming Executive Director through a structured transition and onboarding process.

We recognize that exceptional leaders bring different strengths. You do not need to meet every qualification. If you are passionate about children and families, bring strong leadership skills, and are excited to grow with our organization, we encourage you to apply!