Director | Childcare Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Managing Director 

The Children’s Center | Allentown

Location Name: The Children’s Center – Allentown, PA
Parent Company: Building Blocks Learning Center
Reports To: Vice President of Operations
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt Leadership Position

Position Overview

Building Blocks Learning Center is seeking an exceptional Managing Director to lead The Children’s Center in Allentown.

We are looking for a strong leader, team builder, and enrollment driver who can take ownership of an entire school. This position requires someone who can inspire employees, build a high-performing culture, connect naturally with families, and confidently grow enrollment.

The Managing Director is ultimately responsible for the success of the school: its people, enrollment, family experience, quality, compliance, culture, and overall performance.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, the Managing Director will be empowered to lead the school while having the resources and support of Building Blocks Learning Center's broader leadership team.

This is not a position for someone who simply wants to manage the daily schedule. We are looking for someone who wants to lead, grow, and build something exceptional.

Leadership Is at the Center of This Role

Our Managing Director must be an outstanding people leader. You will set the tone for the entire school. Teachers should know what is expected of them, feel supported by their leadership, and understand how their work contributes to the success of the children and families we serve.

The Managing Director will:

• Build, motivate, develop, and retain a high-performing team.
• Create a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and accountable.
• Set clear expectations and consistently follow through.
• Coach employees and develop future leaders.
• Recognize strong performance while addressing concerns quickly and directly.
• Be highly visible in classrooms and throughout the school.
• Know the employees, children, and families in the program.
• Lead by example and demonstrate professionalism, positivity, urgency, and accountability.
• Create an environment where great teachers want to stay and grow.
• Take ownership when something is not working and develop a plan to fix it.

Great programs require great leadership. The Managing Director is responsible for creating that leadership every day.

Enrollment & Growth

Enrollment is a major responsibility of this position. The Managing Director must be comfortable talking with prospective families, conducting tours, following up with leads, building relationships within the community, and turning interest into enrollment.

We are looking for someone who understands that enrollment is not simply an administrative function, it is a reflection of the experience families have from their very first interaction with our school.

The Managing Director will:

• Take ownership of the school's enrollment goals.
• Conduct engaging, personalized, and professional tours.
• Build immediate trust and connection with prospective families.
• Clearly communicate what makes The Children’s Center and Building Blocks Learning Center special.
• Follow up consistently with prospective families and enrollment opportunities.
• Partner closely with Family Services to move families from inquiry to enrollment.
• Understand classroom capacity, availability, waitlists, and enrollment opportunities.
• Monitor enrollment and retention trends and develop action plans when goals are not being met.
• Build relationships within the Allentown and Lehigh Valley community.
• Create an experience that makes families excited to choose our school.
• Maintain strong relationships with current families to support retention and referrals.

We want a Managing Director who gets excited about filling classrooms and growing their school.

School Operations & Performance

The Managing Director has overall responsibility for the daily operation and performance of The Children’s Center.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the daily operation of the school.
• Maintain appropriate staffing and classroom ratios.
• Effectively manage employee schedules and labor utilization.
• Monitor enrollment, staffing, attendance, retention, family satisfaction, and other key performance indicators.
• Identify problems early and take action before they become larger concerns.
• Maintain an organized, professional, welcoming, and high-energy school environment.
• Partner with the Vice President of Operations on school goals, performance, and improvement plans.
• Balance exceptional childcare and education with responsible business management.

Quality, Education & Compliance

The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring the school consistently operates at the highest level of quality and compliance.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintain compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services childcare regulations.
• Maintain applicable Keystone STARS standards and expectations.
• Ensure the school is inspection-ready every day.
• Maintain accurate regulatory documentation and records.
• Regularly walk classrooms and observe program quality.
• Ensure classrooms are safe, engaging, organized, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate.
• Coach teachers and leadership employees when improvements are needed.
• Partner with BBLC leadership to continuously strengthen program quality.

Family Experience

Families should know and trust their Managing Director.

The Managing Director will:

• Build genuine relationships with children and families.
• Maintain frequent and professional communication with parents.
• Be visible and accessible during key arrival and departure periods.
• Address concerns promptly and professionally.
• Create a welcoming environment where families feel known and valued.
• Ensure the experience promised during enrollment continues throughout the family's time at the school.
• Build the type of family relationships that lead to retention, referrals, and a strong reputation within the community.

Who Will Be Successful Here?

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a leader first, not simply an administrator.
• Has a proven ability to build and develop teams.
• Can motivate people while also holding them accountable.
• Is naturally confident, energetic, and engaging.
• Loves interacting with families.
• Is comfortable selling the value of their school.
• Understands that enrollment growth is part of their responsibility.
• Can walk into a room and establish credibility without losing warmth.
• Is competitive about achieving goals and improving performance.
• Takes ownership rather than making excuses.
• Can handle difficult conversations professionally and directly.
• Is highly organized and follows through.
• Knows how to create a positive culture without sacrificing accountability.
• Wants to build a school that employees and families are proud to be part of.

Qualifications

• Must meet all Pennsylvania regulatory qualifications required to serve as a Child Care Center Director.
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Child Development, Human Services, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of leadership or management experience preferred.
• 2+ years of Early Childhood or Elementary Education required.
• Demonstrated success supervising, coaching, and developing employees.
• Previous childcare, early childhood education, education, or related leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with enrollment, admissions, sales, business development, or customer relationship management is highly valued.
• Knowledge of Pennsylvania DHS childcare regulations and Keystone STARS strongly preferred.
• Strong communication, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to successfully complete all required background clearances and regulatory requirements.

How We Measure Success

Our Managing Directors are accountable for the overall health of their schools.

Success includes:

Strong Leadership — Employees are engaged, supported, accountable, and developing.

Enrollment Growth — Classrooms are filling and enrollment goals are being achieved.

Family Retention — Families are satisfied, engaged, and choosing to stay.

Employee Retention — Strong teachers want to remain part of the team.

Program Quality — Children receive an exceptional educational and childcare experience.

Compliance — The school is organized, compliant, and inspection-ready every day.

Culture — The building feels positive, professional, welcoming, and energized.

Ownership — Problems are identified, addressed, and solved.

Why Building Blocks?

Building Blocks Learning Center is a growing early childhood education organization serving children and families throughout Pennsylvania.

Our Managing Directors are not expected to lead alone. You will have access to centralized operational, family services, human resources, quality, education, and executive support while being empowered to lead your school.

We are looking for someone who wants more than a job. We are looking for a leader who wants to build a great team, grow a great school, and make an impact on the children and families of the Lehigh Valley.

Building Blocks Learning Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.