Preschool Center Director

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Wellness resources

Competitive salary

Job summary

The Learning Experience is opening a brand-new childcare center in Milford, CT, and is seeking an experienced Center Director to lead the school from ground up. You will balance educational quality, people leadership, family experience, and strong business operations.

You will recruit and develop a high-performing team, drive enrollment, manage budgeting, and ensure CT licensing compliance. This hands-on leadership role offers growth and meaningful impact in the Milford community.

Qualifications

• Experience in a licensed childcare, preschool, daycare, or early childhood setting.
• 2+ years of leadership or management experience in childcare.
• Connecticut requirements for the Director position preferred.
• Experience with center operations, staffing, payroll, budgeting, or financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead a brand-new center by building a high-performing team of teachers and center leaders.
• Oversee daily center operations, staffing, ratios, health, safety, and licensing compliance.
• Drive enrollment through tours, follow-ups, community outreach, and family engagement.
• Manage payroll, labor costs, scheduling, and staffing to align with enrollment.
• Support budgeting, accounts receivable, and overall financial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organization

Business Management

Education

Early Childhood Education

Business Degree

Job description

Benefits

• Company parties
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources

Salary

65,000 - 75,000

Full-Time

Benefits

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Paid Time Off
• Childcare Discount
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Development

About the Opportunity

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

This is an exciting opportunity to build your team, shape center culture, welcome our first families, and grow a successful center from day one. We're looking for a hands‑on early childhood leader who can balance educational quality, people leadership, family experience, and strong business operations.

What You’ll Do

Lead Your Team & Center

• Recruit, hire, coach, and develop a high‑performing team of teachers and center leaders
• Build a positive culture focused on employee engagement and retention
• Oversee daily center operations, staffing, classroom ratios, health, and safety
• Ensure compliance with Connecticut child care 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, community outreach, and relationship building
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, labor, and other key center performance metrics
• Manage payroll, labor costs, scheduling, and staffing levels in alignment with enrollment
• Support center budgeting, accounts receivable, expense management, and financial performance
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, enrollment, retention, and overall business results
• Partner with ownership and TLE support teams to achieve center goals

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of leadership or management experience in a licensed childcare, preschool, daycare, or early childhood education setting preferred
• Previous Center Director, Assistant Director, Education Director, or similar leadership experienceMust meet Connecticut requirements applicable to the Director position
• Connecticut Head Teacher approval or qualifications to obtain approval strongly preferred
• Experience with center operations, staffing, payroll, budgeting, or financial management
• Experience recruiting, coaching, and developing teachers
• 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 related field preferred

Why Join The Learning Experience?

• Lead a brand-new center from the beginning
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits
• Build your own team and shape center culture
• Established curriculum, systems, training, and operational support
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Make a lasting impact on children, families, and educators in the Milford community