Childcare Center Executive Director

Executive Director Opportunity

We're hiring an Executive Director to lead our well-established early childhood center located on HWY 312 in Billings, Montana — just minutes from downtown, with quick access to the Yellowstone River, Lake Elmo, and everything the Billings Heights has to offer.

This is a senior leadership role for an experienced early childhood professional who wants real authority, clear expectations, and the chance to lead a quality program without big-city bureaucracy.

About the Role

The Executive Director leads operations, people, and performance at the center. This is not a classroom or caretaker position — it's a leadership role for someone who understands that excellent childcare is built on strong systems, capable staff, and sound business practices.

You'll work within established policies and systems, with the authority to make day-to-day operational and personnel decisions.

What You'll Own

• Enrollment and full-time occupancy (FTE)
• Staffing stability, scheduling, and labor cost management
• Licensing compliance and inspection readiness
• Team hiring, coaching, performance, and accountability
• Family experience and the center's reputation in the community
• Reviewing operational and financial summaries and making decisions that support long-term center health

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Performance Lead daily operations to hit enrollment, staffing, and compliance targets. Manage schedules, ratios, and staffing plans for consistency and cost control. Keep the center audit-ready at all times.

People Leadership Hire, onboard, coach, and when needed, make termination decisions. Set clear expectations and follow through. Build a team that stays and performs.

Family Experience Serve as the primary on-site leader for families, tours, and meetings. Handle concerns professionally and proactively. Represent the organization with warmth and competence.

Business Competence You don't need to be a finance expert, but you do need to be comfortable with numbers — reviewing center-level financials, understanding how staffing and enrollment drive the bottom line, and using data to make decisions.

How Success Is Measured

Enrollment and FTE stability, staff retention, labor cost adherence, licensing compliance, team performance, and family satisfaction.

Who Thrives Here

Leaders who are calm and decisive, comfortable holding adults accountable, think in systems, and value structure and continuous improvement. This is not the right role for someone who avoids financial conversations, resists structure, or wants to stay primarily in the classroom.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of leadership experience in early childhood education or a comparable operational leadership role
• Demonstrated experience managing teams, schedules, and center operations
• Working knowledge of budgeting, labor management, and financial reporting
• Eligible for Montana ECP Practitioner Registry Level 3+ (Level 4 preferred)
• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent leadership experience

What We Offer

• $50,000–$55,000 base salary, based on experience
• Bonus opportunities tied to center performance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Childcare benefit / employee discount
• Professional development and leadership growth
• Relocation assistance for the right candidate
• Clear expectations, real authority, and established systems
• Support from an engaged executive leadership team