Assistant Director

Step into a leadership opportunity with Bright Horizons as a Child Care Assistant Director, where your work supports a strong, welcoming, and well-run early childhood center. Partnering closely with the Center Director, you’ll help guide daily operations while maintaining our high standards for care, learning, and safety. From supporting educational programming and mentoring teachers to building meaningful relationships with families, your leadership will play an important role in shaping a center where children and teams can thrive. Bring your leadership skills and passion for early childhood education to Bright Horizons, and be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.

Responsibilities:

• Uphold our mission, culture, and values to ensure an inclusive environment and strong relationships with families, staff, and clients
• Monitor program quality, ensuring children’s learning is documented and visible
• Ensure compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, health and safety protocols, and company policies

Qualifications:

• Candidates must pass required state and company background checks, and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements: Associate or higher degree in early childhood education, education, or child development related field is required; bachelor’s degree is preferred
• At least two years of leadership experience in high-quality child care, daycare, or preschool settings is required
• Strong understanding of center quality, compliance, health, safety and licensing standards is required

Physical Requirements:

This leadership role requires work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide center supervision, curriculum delivery, business management, and customer and client services per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee. This role has a mixture of duties including office/computer/phone-based work, in-person supervision of care delivery and employees throughout all areas of the center, family/prospective family interactions which may take place in various areas of the center, and the ability to temporarily serve as a supervising caregiver for relatively brief periods of time on an as-needed basis (e.g., covering employee breaks or unscheduled absences). The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodation for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations. This position requires in-person work in the Portland, ME area.

Compensation:

The annual rate for this position is between $59,000 to $74,000 annually. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools
• Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
• Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family
• Learn more at

Life at Bright Horizons:

At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.

Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

You’re the difference Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. Whether you're supporting children, families, or our client partners, your work matters — and so do you. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.