Director of Operations - Early Childhood

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Goddard School is seeking an organized, dependable and hands-on Director of Operations to support the daily administrative and operational needs of our early childhood school. Working closely with the School Owner/On-Site Operator, Director of Education and administrative team, this individual helps maintain a safe, compliant and welcoming environment for children from infancy through Pre-K. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver who can manage details, support faculty, build strong relationships with families, exceptionally organized, meticulous, proactive, and highly dependable Director of Operations who thrives on structure, accountability, and attention to detail.

This position requires an individual who takes complete ownership of responsibilities, anticipates needs before they become problems, and consistently follows through without the need for reminders. The ideal candidate is disciplined, systems-oriented, and committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, compliance, and operational excellence. Given the critical nature of this role, accuracy, reliability, organization, and timely execution are essential.

Qualifications & Personal Attributes

• At least 3 years of experience teaching in early childhood education and 2+ year in a leadership role
• Familiarity with NYC DOHMH Article 47 Child Care Regulations
• Strong knowledge of child development, early learning best practices and team leadership
• Excellent communication, organizational and problem-solving skills
• A genuine love for children and commitment to high-quality education
• Must pass required state background check
• Exceptional attention to detail: Must be meticulous, thorough, and highly attentive to accuracy, particularly when managing health and safety compliance, documentation, and regulatory requirements.
• Extremely organized: Demonstrates outstanding organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate records, organized files, schedules, and tracking systems.
• Proactive and forward-thinking: Anticipates needs, identifies potential issues before they arise, and takes initiative without requiring constant direction or reminders.
• Highly reliable and dependable: Consistently follows through on commitments, meets deadlines, and takes full ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• Strong sense of urgency: Understands the importance of time-sensitive responsibilities and addresses critical matters promptly without procrastination.
• Exceptional follow-through: Ensures tasks are completed accurately and thoroughly, with no loose ends or outstanding items left unresolved.
• Accountable and results-driven: Takes personal responsibility for outcomes, maintains high standards, and demonstrates a strong commitment to operational excellence.
• Excellent time management and prioritization: Effectively manages multiple competing priorities, deadlines, and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Systems-oriented and process-driven: Thrives on structure, checklists, calendars, tracking tools, and established procedures to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Strong planning and scheduling abilities: Capable of coordinating complex staff schedules, tracking upcoming training requirements, and ensuring adequate staffing coverage.
• Self-motivated and independent: Works effectively with minimal supervision, demonstrates sound judgment, and takes initiative to move projects and responsibilities forward.
• Consistent and disciplined: Maintains the same high level of accuracy, organization, and performance on a daily basis.
• Excellent problem-solving skills: Identifies operational challenges, develops practical solutions, and takes decisive action to resolve issues.
• Strong multitasking abilities: Comfortably manages a wide range of operational responsibilities without sacrificing accuracy, quality, or attention to detail.
• Effective communicator: Communicates clearly and professionally with teachers, administrators, families, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Confident and assertive: Comfortable holding staff and vendors accountable, enforcing policies, and addressing performance or compliance concerns.
• Calm and composed under pressure: Maintains professionalism, sound judgment, and attention to detail when handling urgent situations or unexpected challenges.
• High standards and commitment to excellence: Takes pride in maintaining a safe, organized, compliant, and exceptionally well-run school environment.
• Strong technology and administrative skills: Proficient with spreadsheets, digital calendars, document management, and systems used to track deadlines, certifications, staffing, and operational tasks.
• Unwavering commitment to health and safety: Recognizes that regulatory compliance, staff training, facility maintenance, and child safety are non-negotiable priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Operations & Staffing
•  Support faculty schedules, classroom ratios and coverage, staff breaks, absences and classroom transitions to ensure smooth daily operations.
•  Help maintain clean, safe and tour-ready facilities; coordinate maintenance, vendors, supplies, deliveries and meal/snack program logistics.
•  Assist with staff timekeeping, PTO records, payroll preparation, operational calendars and school events.

Health, Safety & Compliance
•  Help uphold applicable licensing requirements, Goddard Quality Assurance standards and school health and safety policies.
•  Conduct routine classroom, facility and playground checks; maintain inspection-ready records, safety postings, emergency plans, drill logs and required training documentation.
•  Support incident and illness reporting, medication and immunization records, and prompt follow-up on safety or compliance concerns.

Administrative & Faculty Support
•  Maintain accurate, confidential student and faculty records, enrollment documentation and administrative systems.
•  Assist with recruiting, staff onboarding, training, policy implementation, evaluations and follow-up on performance expectations.
•  Provide day-to-day guidance and administrative coverage; help create a positive faculty culture and escalate important issues to school leadership.

Family Experience & School Community

•  Build trusted relationships with families, respond to operational questions and deliver clear, timely communication and follow-through.
•  Support new-family orientation, schoolwide communications and family information systems.
•  Partner with educational leadership on school events, celebrations, classroom transitions and other cross-functional priorities.

What Success Looks Like
•  Daily school routines, staffing coverage and facilities run safely, smoothly and consistently.
•  Required documentation and training records remain accurate, current and inspection-ready.
•  Faculty and families receive responsive service, practical solutions and dependable support.

Preferred Background & Qualities
•  Experience in early childhood education, childcare administration, school operations or a related leadership role is preferred.
•  Strong organization, communication, discretion, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
•  A collaborative, approachable leadership style, sound judgment and a willingness to step in wherever needed.

As the Director of Operations, the benefits you will receive include:

• Twenty-Nine (29) paid personal days per year which includes twelve (12) paid personal days per calendar year, five (5) paid personal days between Christmas and New Year's Day when the school is closed and seven (7) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Five (5) sick days per year 
• Employer will match up to 3% of your contributions to the 401K plan 
• Employees will be eligible for annual performance-based pay increases
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
• Subsidized health and dental insurance

*Wonder of Learning® is our exclusive education program designed to embrace how children learn best — through play and curiosity. Our curriculum is designed to make learning enjoyable while instilling vital 21st-century skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and social-emotional relationships.