Childcare Center Director

Job Description

Job Description

About Cobb

For more than 30 years, Cobb Children's Learning Center has served children and families in Douglas County. Cobb is a nonprofit early-learning center committed to equitable access to high-quality care and education. Our approach is warm, inclusive, play-based, and focused on the whole child.

The Opportunity

Cobb is seeking a collaborative, capable, and hands-on Childcare Director to serve as our senior onsite leader. The Director leads a three-person administrative team, works closely with approximately 25 employees, and reports to the Board of Directors.

This is not a desk-only position. The Director should know our children, families, and employees; support teachers; respond to significant staffing, behavioral, family, and operational needs; and step in where strong leadership is needed.

Grant development and management are an important part of this role. Cobb is looking for a leader who will actively pursue grant opportunities that strengthen our existing childcare programs and then reliably manage awarded grants, restricted funds, reporting, deadlines, and funder relationships.

Compensation & Benefits

• $75,000-$90,000 annual salary, depending on experience and qualifications.
• 50% employee tuition discount for eligible child or children within the ages served by Cobb, subject to available enrollment space and Cobb policies.
• $135 monthly health care benefit stipend for marketplace coverage.
• Healthiest You virtual healthcare at no cost for full-time staff and eligible dependents.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Option to enroll in OregonSaves.
• Ongoing training and professional development.

What You'll Do

• Provide overall onsite leadership for daily operations, employees, children, families, licensing, safety, and organizational health.
• Lead, coach, and develop the administrative and teaching teams while building a positive, professional, and collaborative workplace.
• Support teachers with significant behavioral, emotional-regulation, developmental, safety, classroom, staffing, ratio, and break-coverage needs.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, scheduling, evaluations, employee development, performance management, and retention.
• Ensure compliance with Oregon childcare licensing and applicable health, safety, employment, and program requirements.
• Oversee enrollment, ERDC administration, facilities, vendors, emergency preparedness, records, and administrative systems through appropriate delegation and cross-training.
• Manage Cobb's Board-approved operating budget; oversee payroll administration and ensure payroll is accurate, timely, and properly coordinated; monitor financial performance; develop the annual fiscal-year budget; and present the proposed budget to the Board for approval.
• Actively identify and pursue grant opportunities that support Cobb's existing childcare programs, workforce, affordability, classroom resources, child supports, and operational sustainability.
• Develop or coordinate grant applications and manage awarded grants, including restricted funding, budgets, deliverables, reporting, deadlines, compliance, and funder communication.
• Provide clear operational and financial reporting to the Board, elevate significant risks, and implement Board-approved policies, priorities, and budgets.
• Build strong relationships with families, funders, community partners, and public agencies that support Cobb's mission.

Minimum Qualifications & What We're Looking For

We are looking for an approachable, steady leader who can move comfortably between people, programs, finances, grants, and the practical demands of a busy childcare center.

Minimum licensing qualification: The successful candidate must meet Oregon requirements to serve as the Director of a certified child care center.

• Leadership or supervisory experience in childcare, early childhood education, education, youth services, nonprofit operations, or a related field.
• Strong communication, organization, judgment, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and employee-development skills.
• Experience with budgets, financial oversight, and organizational operations.
• Demonstrated experience identifying grant opportunities, developing or coordinating applications, and managing or reporting on awarded grants or restricted funding.
• Must meet Oregon certified child care center Director qualifications. Applicants must qualify through at least Step 9 in the Oregon Registry, or through the alternative pathway requiring BOTH verifiable management/supervision knowledge and child-development knowledge. The alternative pathway may be met through qualifying college credit, training, or documented experience/teaching hours as described in Oregon's Director Qualifications table.
• Ability and willingness to be a visible, hands-on leader for children, families, and employees.
• Preferred: Leadership experience in a licensed childcare or early-learning setting and knowledge of Oregon childcare licensing.
• Preferred: Successful grant-writing experience and experience managing grant-funded programs, restricted funds, budgets, and reporting requirements.

Why Cobb?

You'll join an established nonprofit with an experienced administrative and teaching team and an engaged volunteer Board. This is an opportunity to lead a strong childcare program, support the people doing the work every day, and make a meaningful difference for children and families in Douglas County.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your leadership experience, relevant qualifications, grant experience, and interest in Cobb's mission.

Priority application deadline: September 18, 2026. Position open until filled.

Cobb Children's Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants who share our commitment to a safe, inclusive, supportive, and high-quality environment for children, families, and employees.