Preschool Center Director

The Learning Experience; Bartlett (IL); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Childcare Discount

Professional Development & More

Job summary

The Learning Experience in Bartlett, IL is opening a brand-new preschool center and we’re looking for an experienced Center Director to build and lead our school from the ground up. You’ll shape the center’s culture, welcome families from day one, and drive enrollment and growth with a hands-on leadership style.

Lead a high-performing team, oversee daily operations, staffing, payroll, and budgeting, ensure health, safety and licensing standards, and champion our LEAP curriculum to deliver

Qualifications

• 2+ years of leadership or management in licensed childcare.
• Experience recruiting, coaching, and developing teachers.
• Experience with center operations, staffing, scheduling, payroll, budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team and build a positive center culture.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, and classroom ratios.
• Maintain health, safety, and licensing standards.
• Drive enrollment through tours, outreach, and family engagement.
• Support budgeting, accounts receivable, and expense management.

Skills

Leadership experience

Center Director experience

Teacher recruitment

Operations management

Enrollment growth

Leadership & communication

Business management

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's in ECE / Education / Business

Job description

Benefits:

• Bonus based on performance

Salary: $65,000–$75,000

Employment Type: Full-Time

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

About the Opportunity

The Learning Experience is opening a brand-new childcare center in Bartlett, IL 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.

Illinois Requirement

• Must meet applicable Illinois requirements for the 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 – Bartlett, IL as our Founding Center Director.

Apply today and help build a center where children thrive, teachers grow, and families feel at home.