Executive Director

Executive Director – Early Childhood Education Center Salary: $70,000–$75,000 Location: Tallahassee, FL 32308 Full-Time | Leadership Position About the Opportunity We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Executive Director to lead our early childhood education center in Tallahassee, Florida. While the title is Executive Director, this is a hands‑on center leadership role with direct responsibility for the day-to‑day operations, staff leadership, family relationships, regulatory compliance, program quality, and enrollment growth of the school. Our center currently serves Infants through VPK, as well as a summer camp program. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Center Director, Preschool Director, or exceptional Assistant Director who is ready to take the next step in their career. What You’ll Do As Executive Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the center while building a positive, collaborative culture for children, families, and staff. Key Responsibilities Lead daily center operations, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment. Lead, coach, develop, and retain teaching and administrative staff. Recruit and onboard qualified team members and address staffing challenges effectively. Build strong relationships and communication with children, families, and staff. Support families with behavioral, developmental, and classroom‑related concerns. Drive enrollment growth through recruitment, community outreach, and retention strategies. Ensure compliance with Florida childcare regulations, licensing requirements, and accreditation standards. Oversee high‑quality programs for infants through VPK, including summer camp. Coordinate operations and communication across two buildings. Promote an inclusive environment for children with disabilities and diverse developmental needs. Collaborate with onsite therapy and support services. Identify and support staff professional development opportunities. Communicate regularly with the CEO, HR, Finance, and organizational leadership regarding center performance and priorities. Participate in professional development activities, including approximately one Saturday per month. Perform other leadership and operational duties as needed. What We’re Looking For We are seeking a confident, compassionate leader who can step into an established school community, earn the trust of long‑term employees, and bring energy and accountability to the center. Qualifications Bachelor's degree, ideally in Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field. Several years of Director‑level experience in early childhood education, preschool, childcare, or a similar setting strongly preferred. Experience with childcare licensing, regulatory compliance, and quality standards. Ability to work 7:30-5:30, Monday-Friday, with additional hours occasionally required based on operational needs, special events, or unforeseen circumstances! Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain staff. Proven ability to build and sustain enrollment. Strong parent and family communication skills. Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills. Experience working with children with disabilities, special education/ESE, or diverse developmental needs is strongly preferred but not required. A genuine commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment for every child and family. Compensation & Benefits $70,000–$75,000 annual salary Health, Dental, Vision insurance Paid time off & Paid holidays Eligibility for the organization's 457 retirement plan Professional development opportunities Employee child enrollment benefit #LEA112 #J-18808-Ljbffr