Director

Director

Rochester, Buffalo, & Amherst, NY

JK Executive Strategies is proud to partner with a leading early childhood education and childcare provider in search of multiple Center Directors to lead and oversee operations at its childcare centers across New York State.

Our client is a growing early childhood education organization committed to providing high-quality childcare and educational programming to children and families across New York State. As the organization continues to expand, it offers an exciting opportunity for passionate leaders to make a meaningful impact while benefiting from a strong commitment to professional development, mentorship, and long-term career advancement.

Reporting to a Regional Director, the Center Director will lead the daily operations, educational programming, staff development, and overall success of an individual childcare center. This is an ideal opportunity for a hands-on, people-focused leader who enjoys building strong teams, fostering a positive and engaging learning environment, and making a lasting difference in the lives of children and families.

With opportunities for advancement into regional leadership, curriculum, and training roles, this position offers the chance to grow alongside an expanding organization while playing an integral role in its continued success.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily center operations, taking ownership of the building, staff, child and family experience, program quality, and center performance.
• Build a positive, supportive culture through regular staff meetings, individual conversations, coaching, and employee development; strengthen engagement and retention.
• Interview, hire, orient, supervise, and evaluate center staff; partner with the Assistant Director and Regional Director to support effective team leadership.
• Manage staffing schedules, breaks, time off, and classroom coverage; provide hands-on classroom support and serve as a mentor and role model when needed.
• Observe classrooms and supervise developmentally appropriate curriculum implementation that supports learning through play and meets program quality and accreditation expectations.
• Develop trusted relationships with children and families through frequent, respectful communication; respond to questions and concerns with patience, empathy, and sound judgment.
• Conduct center tours, engage prospective families, and convert enrollment inquiries into registrations; maintain family relationships that support continued enrollment.
• Monitor and manage payroll, enrollment, staff turnover, food and supply costs, and other center operating metrics; prepare budgets, maintain financial records, collect tuition, and meet earnings targets.
• Implement organization policies and procedures and maintain compliance with applicable New York childcare licensing, health, and program requirements.
• Maintain accurate attendance, personnel, program, and financial documentation; protect confidential information and provide timely reports to regional leadership.
• Oversee purchasing, supplies, food orders, housekeeping, and facility and playground maintenance to support safe, effective center operations.
• Build community connections, identify opportunities to improve the center, and participate in professional development and ongoing early-childhood training.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or at least 12 credits in early childhood education.
• Management or people leadership experience, with the ability to supervise, coach, motivate, and develop staff. Prior childcare or early-childhood center leadership experience is preferred; candidates from other relevant settings will be considered.
• Knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate practices, early-childhood programming, and New York childcare regulations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, employees, and community partners.
• Patience, empathy, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm, professional, and resourceful under pressure.
• Strong organization, time management, and problem-solving skills; ability to balance people leadership, staffing coverage, administration, and compliance.
• Comfort with financial and operating metrics, including payroll, enrollment, retention, and program costs. Office management or financial recordkeeping experience is preferred.
• Computer literacy and the ability to learn and use center systems, including Q-pilot, Bill.com, and Order.co, for attendance, family communication, expenses, and purchasing.
• Ability to work on site and adapt the schedule to center needs, including opening or closing coverage; the Director must be on site by 8:30 a.m.
• Ability to respond promptly to children's needs and emergencies, lift approximately 30 pounds, reach a child 20-30 feet away within 30 seconds, crouch to a child's level, and sit on the floor for extended periods.
• Ability to satisfy the required health documentation, New York State Registry clearance, and criminal history fingerprint clearance described by our client.
• Commitment to ongoing professional growth, required early-childhood training, and maintaining an Aspire account to document education and training.

Salary Range

• $63,000-$70,000 annually, based on center size and experience; enrollment-based bonus per quarter.

JK Executive Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of JK Executive Strategies to provide equal opportunity in employment and conditions of employment to all individuals regardless of age, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, veteran or military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, predisposing genetic characteristics, genetic information, marital status, familial status, prior arrest, domestic violence victim status, non-job related convictions, participation in lawful activities outside of our workplace, or any other status protected by law.