Early Education & Care School Director

Job Description

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make an Immediate Impact? 

Babilou Family US is part of the global Babilou Family network and brings a local, community-focused approach to early childhood education through our Little Sprouts, Building Blocks, and Heartworks schools. We are looking for a proactive and collaborative team member who will support our mission and contribute meaningfully to this role.

The School Director plays a vital leadership role in ensuring a safe, high‑quality, and nurturing environment for children and families. This position is ideal for someone ready to lead with a people‑first mindset, elevate school operations, mentor staff, engage families, and drive strong enrollment and financial performance. You will be the key decision‑maker responsible for the daily success of the school, reporting directly to the Regional Manager.

Our work is guided by our educational approach, Sustainable Education®, which bridges research and daily practice to help children thrive and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re in what we like to call the science of children. Everything we do is rooted in research about how young minds grow— how they learn, connect, and build the skills that last a lifetime. We also lead our HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. This guiding framework fosters an environment where educators, children, families, and partners feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow.

• Maintain a safe, compliant, and high‑quality learning environment.

• Achieve 95%+ operational audit scores with zero major safety incidents.

• Ensure 100% licensing compliance with zero violations.

• Strengthen staff culture, reduce turnover, and build a high‑performing team.

• Elevate parent satisfaction to 90%+ through exceptional communication and engagement.

• Grow enrollment 5–10% annually while maintaining healthy profit margins.

• Host meaningful family events to build community and connection. 

Operational Management

• Ensure smooth daily operations that meet company standards.

• Maintain safe, clean, and nurturing classroom environments. 

o KPIs:

▪ 95%+ operational audit score

▪ 90%+ classroom quality rating 

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all state childcare and school regulations.

• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining full responsibility to recognize, document, and immediately report any suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.Prepare for and manage all state inspections. 

o KPIs:

▪ 100% compliance during inspections

▪ Zero licensing violations annually 

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, train, and mentor, and support staff.

• Build a positive, collaborative workplace culture. 

o KPIs:

▪ Staff turnover below 25% annually

▪ 100% completion of required staff training

▪ 80%+ employee engagement score 

Family Engagement

• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication.

• Address parent questions and concerns promptly and professionally.

• Host family‑focused events to strengthen community connection. 

o KPIs:

▪ 90%+ parent satisfaction

▪ Respond to 100% of inquiries within 24 hours

▪ Host at least 4 family events annually 

Business & Enrollment Growth

• Manage the school’s budget and overall financial performance.

• Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment. 

o KPIs:

▪ 5–10% annual enrollment growth

▪ Maintain profit margins (15-20%) 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Exercises independent judgment and decision‑making authority on matters related to school operations, staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety—consistent with the FLSA Executive Exemption criteria.

• Manages and directs the work of teachers and staff , including hiring recommendations, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions, demonstrating clear supervisory responsibility.

• Holds primary responsibility for the overall success of the school , including operational performance, compliance readiness, financial stewardship, staff engagement, and family satisfaction.

• Leads non‑manual, high‑level administrative and managerial work that requires specialized knowledge of ECE licensing, curriculum implementation, staffing models, safety practices, and regulatory requirements.

• Exercises autonomy in setting priorities, solving problems, and determining how to meet operational, financial, and enrollment goals , without day‑to‑day supervision.

• Serves as the school’s top‑level leader , representing the organization in external communications, licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.

• Develops and implements operational processes and school‑wide improvements , using discretion to interpret company policies, local needs, and regulatory environments.

• Makes decisions that directly impact business performance , including enrollment strategy, cost management, staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.

• Provides direct supervision to staff who collectively contribute to the business operations of the school, solidifying the role as one that “customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees,” per FLSA standards.

• Holds authority to influence employment decisions , including hiring, corrective action, performance evaluations, and training requirements. 

• Leads organizational culture at the school leve l, shaping employee engagement, morale, retention, and team effectiveness.

• Functions as a strategic partner to Regional Managers and senior leadership , offering insights and recommendations that directly influence organizational practices and school‑level outcomes. 

Required Qualifications

• Must pass required state and company background checks.   

• Comply with all VT Public Health and Child Care Regulations. 

• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Human Development, or a related field, or 30 college credits with an Early Childhood or School Age focus.  

• Program Director Step 1 or Step 2 certificate or willingness to take classes towards that level; Vermont Early Educator License is preferred.  

• 3-10 years of experience in early childhood education or classroom management.

• Ensure classroom environments meet NAEYC’s Anti-Bias Early Education standards. 

• Demonstrated commitment to kindness, respect, and community engagement. 

Work Environment

▪ Active classroom environment with regular interaction with children, families, and team members

▪ Movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces throughout the day

▪ Collaborative setting with consistent communication and teamwork 

Physical Requirements

▪ The School Director role requires active involvement in both administrative and classroom environments. To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, the following physical abilities are required: 

o Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75 percent of the workday.

o Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day to engage with children and support staff. 

o Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasional assistance with children’s belongings.

Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running, outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.

▪ Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.

▪ Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.

▪ Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs.

▪ Ability to follow and model all safety procedures. 

All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Legal Notice

We are an equal opportunity employer and value a workplace where everyone feels welcome. Employment here is offered on an at‑will basis, meaning either the employee or the company may end the relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, consistent with applicable state and federal laws. 

•Up to 75% discount on your child's tuition, including tax-friendly tuition reduction options.  

•Comprehensive health benefits package, including health, dental, & vision all effective from start date. Additional benefit selections, including pet insurance, are also available.    

•Free subscription to First Stop Health for 24/7 access to virtual doctors.    

•401(k) plan with eligibility for a discretionary employer contribution each year (Must be 21+ to enroll. Eligibility to contribute starts after 60 days of employment).  

•Pay increase opportunities related to job performance, updates in certification credentials, and degree completion.    

•Opportunities for career advancement and ongoing coaching, including a dedicated Child Conference.    

•Employee referral program available.  

Babilou Family US is part of a global network of 1,100 early education and child care centers. We provide quality early education and child care across 42 New England schools. Through the experience and talents of nearly 900 early education professionals and in partnership with nearly 4,000 families, we are on a meaningful journey to create optimal learning spaces where children ages 0-5 can learn, grow, and thrive.   

Our teams, whether at our home office or inside our schools, are change makers – they inspire, create, model, and most importantly make this a great place to work. At Babilou Family US we are consistently recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity within the communities in which we operate. Our focus on equity and inclusion allows us to develop a broader scope of ideas and approaches, offering a collaborative and dynamic educational experience for the youngest members of society.    

#LI-Onsite 

Salary Range: $77,000-$84,000 per year for Director Qualified Candidates. 

This position qualifies for an annual bonus plan based on qualitative and quantitative metrics.

The compensation range represents Heartworks' intention for this position. Actual offers may vary based on experience, education, and other business factors.  

#INDHW

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.