Early Childhood Center Director

Job Description

Job Description

Children’s Land is committed to fostering academic excellence and nurturing every child’s full potential. With locations across Chicagoland and ambitious growth plans, we combine rigorous academic programming with a compassionate, child-centered approach. Our mission is to provide a premier learning environment where children thrive, teachers are empowered, and families are supported.

Position Summary

The Center Director is the operational and instructional leader of the school, responsible for overseeing daily center operations, driving enrollment, ensuring regulatory compliance, supporting curriculum implementation, and cultivating a high-performing team. This individual will uphold the values of Children’s Land while maintaining excellence in safety, learning, staffing, and parent communication.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Lead all aspects of center operations including scheduling, staffing, compliance, and quality assurance.

• Ensure compliance with DCFS regulations and all local/state licensing standards.

• Model and promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and warmth among staff.

• Supervise, support, and develop teachers and assistant staff through regular observations, feedback, and coaching.

• Coordinate and lead team meetings, professional development, and performance evaluations.

Educational Excellence

• Oversee implementation of Children’s Land curriculum and age-appropriate academic programming.

• Ensure that all classrooms meet the organization’s standards for learning environments, documentation, and child assessments.

• Work with the Curriculum Director to enhance teaching quality and school readiness outcomes.

Parent & Community Engagement

• Build strong relationships with families through daily communication, parent-teacher conferences, and community events.

• Manage sensitive situations, including behavioral or developmental concerns, with compassion and professionalism.

• Represent the center to the local community and participate in outreach and enrollment events.

Administrative Operations

• Monitor budgets, staffing ratios, enrollment goals, tuition collection, and other operational KPIs.

• Coordinate onboarding and training of new staff in partnership with the HR team.

• Maintain accurate records in Brightwheel - school management platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field (required).

• DCFS Director Credential Level I or higher (required).

• Minimum 2 years of leadership experience in a licensed childcare setting.

• Strong understanding of DCFS regulations, curriculum planning, staff management, and child development best practices.

• Exceptional communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

• Proficiency with digital tools (email, shared drives, school apps) and comfort learning new platforms (e.g., Brightwheel).