Executive Director - Operational Leadership Role

Are you an experienced early childhood leader who wants real responsibility, clear authority, and room to lead-not just manage daily chaos?

We're hiring an Executive Director to lead operations at a well-established early childhood program in Billings, Montana. This is a senior leadership role for someone who understands that excellent childcare requires both strong people leadership and strong business operations.

If you're currently leading in a large metro area and craving:

• Less bureaucracy
• More decision-making authority
• A better quality of life

...this role is worth a closer look.

About the Organization

We are a growing early childhood organization committed to high standards, strong leadership, and sustainable operations. Our centers prioritize quality, accountability, and long-term impact for children, families, and staff. We believe great childcare is built through clear expectations, strong systems, and capable leaders.

About the Role

This is not a classroom position and not a caretaker role.

The Executive Director is accountable for the operational and financial performance of the center, leading adults, managing systems, and ensuring consistent results across staffing, enrollment, compliance, and family experience.

You will work within established systems and policies-and you'll have the authority needed to make day-to-day operational and people decisions.

What You'll Be Accountable For

• Enrollment and occupancy (FTE)
• Staffing stability, scheduling, and labor cost management
• Licensing compliance and operational readiness
• Team performance, development, and accountability
• Family experience and professional representation of the organization

This role requires the ability to review and understand basic financial and operational reports, identify trends, and make decisions that support long-term center health.

Key Responsibilities:


Operations & Performance

• Lead daily center operations to meet enrollment, staffing, compliance, and performance targets
• Proactively manage schedules, ratios, and staffing plans to ensure consistency and cost control
• Maintain audit-ready compliance with all licensing, health, and safety regulations
• Use required systems and technology to track enrollment, staffing, documentation, and communication
• Review operational and financial summaries and adjust decisions accordingly

People Leadership & Accountability

• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, and termination decisions
• Set clear expectations and follow through consistently
• Address performance issues promptly and professionally
• Build and retain a high-performing, accountable team

Family Experience & Professional Representation

• Serve as the primary on-site leader for families, tours, and meetings
• Ensure proactive communication and professional issue resolution
• Maintain a consistent, high-quality experience for families, children, and staff

Business & Financial Competence (Required)

You do not need to be a finance expert-but you must be comfortable engaging with the numbers.

This includes:

• Reviewing and discussing center-level financial summaries
• Understanding how enrollment, staffing, and scheduling decisions impact financial performance
• Monitoring labor costs and operational efficiency
• Using data to identify issues, anticipate challenges, and improve outcomes

How Success Is Measured

• Enrollment (FTE) and enrollment stability
• Staffing retention and schedule effectiveness
• Labor cost management and adherence to financial targets
• Licensing compliance and inspection readiness
• Team performance and leadership development
• Family satisfaction and trust

Who Thrives in This Role

This role is a strong fit for leaders who:

• Lead with clarity, calm, and decisiveness
• Are comfortable holding adults accountable
• Think in systems-not quick fixes
• Make decisions based on data and long-term impact
• Value structure, professionalism, and continuous improvement

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 basic business operations (budgeting, labor management, financial reporting)
• Eligible for Montana ECP Practitioner Registry Level 3+ (Level 4 preferred)
• Strong organizational, communication, and decision-making skills
• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent leadership experience

Why Consider Relocating to Montana?

Billings offers:

• A lower cost of living than many major metro areas
• Access to outdoor recreation, national parks, and open space
• A strong sense of community
• The opportunity to lead at a high level without big-city burnout

Relocation support is available for the right candidate, and we will assist with the transition.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: $50,000-$75,000, based on experience and performance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Relocation assistance
• Clear expectations, defined authority, and established systems
• Support from an engaged executive leadership team

A Note on Fit

This role requires consistency, accountability, and comfort with responsibility. It is not suited for leaders who avoid financial awareness, resist structure, or prioritize comfort over results.

If you're ready to lead operations, develop people, and drive strong outcomes, we encourage you to apply.

Submit your resume and a brief statement describing your leadership approach.