Lead Early Childhood Educator

Wonderhouse, Mill Valley; Mill Valley (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

On-site workplace

Job summary

Wonderhouse in Mill Valley seeks an experienced early childhood educator to lead the Play Studios for birth to five. This full-time, on-site role will help shape systems and routines as we launch Fall 2026, partnering with the Guide Team to create meaningful play experiences.

You’ll oversee operations, engage children, support families, and wear multiple hats in a dynamic startup environment, with opportunities to influence programming and community culture from day one.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional training (substantial ECE coursework).
• Experience as preschool/early childhood lead teacher.
• Reliable transportation; in-person role.
• Tech-savvy for online communication and scheduling.
• Ability to lift and be physically active; emergencies readiness.
• Experience leading a team; Montessori/Waldorf/RIE training or certifications.
• Startup, small business, or new-site opening experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Play Studios.
• Engage with children, lead activities, adapt programming.
• Manage and partner with the Guide team across Studios.
• Ensure staffing and supplies; keep Studios stocked.
• Build warm relationships with families and children.
• Support day-to-day operations and wear multiple hats.

Skills

Early childhood educator

Exceptional communicator

Team management

Multitasking

Relationship-building

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent ECE training

Tools

Scheduling tools

Online communication tools

Job description

Pay range: $75K-85K/year (based on experience)

ABOUT US

Wonderhouse is a hospitality-forward coworking and community space for modern families in downtown Mill Valley - an all-ages environment where adults can work and gather while children engage in their own important work of play nearby. Founded by a longtime educator and local parent, we believe families deserve spaces that are both beautiful and functional, where children are genuinely welcome and adults don't have to choose between productivity and connection. Opening Fall 2026, we're assembling the founding team that will bring this vision to life - and given where we are, this hire will play an important part in shaping the systems and routines that define Wonderhouse for years to come.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

At Wonderhouse, we believe young children learn best through play, exploration, meaningful relationships, and responsive environments that honor their natural curiosity - not only through planned activities, but through everyday moments of connection. Our Play Studios are designed to support developmental milestones while fostering independence, imagination, and social-emotional growth. Guides serve as facilitators, coming alongside children as partners - asking thoughtful questions, offering gentle guidance, and providing just enough support to scaffold new skills and a lifelong love of learning.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We're looking for an educator to lead the overall play and early learning experience for children ages birth to five. While parents or caregivers accompany infants and children under 18 months, this role requires strong knowledge of early childhood development across that full age range - developmental milestones, emerging play skills, and age-appropriate environments - to curate meaningful experiences and support the Guide Team in facilitating them. Because some of our systems and programming are still being built as a pre-launch business, this role will help shape them in real time; expect no two days to look exactly the same.

What You’ll Do:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Play Studios, ensuring each space is organized, inviting, well-maintained, and safe
• Actively engage with children, leading activities and stepping into any Studio as needed, while staying attuned to group dynamics and adapting programming accordingly
• Manage and partner closely with the Guide team across both Studios to ensure smooth transitions, high engagement, and programming tailored to each day’s group
• Anticipate the needs of families, the team, and the space - taking thoughtful action rather than waiting on direction, and partnering with the General Manager to keep Studios fully stocked and staffed
• Build warm, trusted relationships with families and children, managing group dynamics and anticipating challenges before they arise
• Pitch in wherever the day calls for it - from a supply hiccup to a short-staffed Studio to testing out a new routine

Who You Are:

• A passionate early childhood educator and exceptional communicator
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing a team
• A skilled multitasker who balances child supervision, team support, and operations with ease
• Relationship-oriented, with a genuine interest in building trust with families
• Comfortable with ambiguity and change - energized, not overwhelmed, by building something new, and ready to wear multiple hats as needed

This person will help establish the tone, rhythm, and operational excellence of our little ones programming from day one.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional training (substantial ECE coursework)
• Robust experience as a preschool/early childhood lead teacher
• Reliable transportation, as this is an in-person role
• Tech-savvy (for online communication, scheduling, etc.)
• Physically able to lift, carry, or hold children (10-40 lbs regularly, 40+ lbs occasionally) and to reach, squat, climb, and stay in motion throughout the day
• Able to respond immediately and appropriately to emergencies, with the mental and physical alertness this role requires
• Experience leading a team
• Montessori, Waldorf, RIE training and/or other educational philosophy certifications
• Previous experience in a startup, small business, or new-site opening

THE DETAILS

• Full-time, salaried role with benefits, based on-site in Mill Valley
• Traditional business hours serve as the primary schedule, with flexibility for occasional evenings, weekends, and special events
• Reports to the General Manager - you'll be the on-the-ground captain of the Play and Learning Studios day to day, working closely with the rest of the leadership team
• Given the presence of minors, a background check is required for this role

Wonderhouse is built on the belief that the right people come in many forms. If this role excites you but you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. We're building something new, and we value potential, passion, and perspective as much as credentials. Reach out - we'd love to hear from you