Preschool Center Director

The Learning Experience; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Childcare Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development

Job summary

The Learning Experience in Alexandria, VA is seeking a founding Center Director to open and lead a brand-new preschool center from day one. You will build your team, establish culture, and partner with families from the outset to ensure a premiere early childhood program.

This role demands hands-on leadership in childcare operations, recruiting and coaching staff, overseeing licensing, enrollment growth, budgeting, and delivering high-quality curriculum with our L.E.A.P.® approach.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of leadership or management experience in a licensed childcare or early childhood setting.
• Experience leading a Center Director or similar leadership role.
• Experience recruiting, coaching, and developing teachers.
• Experience with center operations, staffing, payroll, budgeting, or financial management.
• Experience supporting enrollment growth and family engagement.
• Must meet Virginia requirements for Center Director.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
• Build a positive culture focused on engagement and retention.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, and classroom ratios.
• Maintain health, safety, and licensing standards.
• Ensure compliance with licensing requirements and standards.
• Champion curriculum and high-quality classroom experiences.
• Drive enrollment through tours, family follow-up, and outreach.
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, payroll, budgeting, and center performance.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Communication

Business Operations

Enrollment Growth

Budgeting

Payroll

Scheduling

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or related field

Job description

Salary: $65,000–$75,000

Employment Type: Full-Time

Benefits: Paid Time Off, Childcare Discount, Tuition Reimbursement, Professional Development & More

About the Opportunity

The Learning Experience is opening a brand-new childcare center in Alexandria, VA and we're looking for an experienced Preschool Center Director to build and lead our school from the ground up.

This is an exciting opportunity to:

• Build and lead your own team
• Shape center culture from day one
• Welcome and build relationships with your first families
• Drive enrollment and center growth
• Make a meaningful impact in the Milford community

We're looking for a hands-on early childhood leader who can balance educational quality, team leadership, family experience, and strong business operations.

What You'll Do

Lead Your Team & Center

• Recruit, hire, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
• Build a positive culture focused on engagement and retention.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, and classroom ratios.
• Maintain health, safety, and licensing standards.
• Ensure compliance with Connecticut childcare licensing requirements and TLE standards.
• Champion TLE's proprietary L.E.A.P.® Curriculum and high-quality classroom experiences.

Grow the Business

• Drive enrollment through center tours, family follow-up, and community outreach.
• Build strong relationships with prospective and current families.
• Support family retention and satisfaction.
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, labor, and key center performance metrics.
• Manage payroll, labor costs, scheduling, and staffing levels.
• Support budgeting, accounts receivable, and expense management.
• Identify opportunities to improve enrollment, retention, efficiency, and business results.
• Partner with ownership and TLE support teams to achieve center goals.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a confident, relationship-driven leader with experience in childcare, preschool, daycare, or early childhood education.

Preferred qualifications

• 2+ years of leadership or management experience in a licensed childcare or early childhood setting.
• Previous Center Director, Child Care Director, Assistant Director, Education Director, or similar leadership experience.
• Experience recruiting, coaching, and developing teachers.
• Experience with center operations, staffing, scheduling, payroll, budgeting, or financial management.
• Experience supporting enrollment growth and family engagement.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and business management skills.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or a related field required.

Virginia Requirement

• Must meet applicable Virginia requirements for the Center Director position.

Why Join The Learning Experience?

• Lead a brand-new center from opening day.
• Build your own team and shape the center's culture.
• Make a lasting impact on children, families, and educators.
• Benefit from established curriculum, systems, training, and operational support.
• Access professional development, tuition reimbursement, and leadership growth opportunities.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Ready to Build Something Great?

If you're an experienced Child Care Center Director, Preschool Director, Assistant Director, or early childhood leader ready to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Join The Learning Experience – Alexandria, VA as our Founding Center Director.