Center Director

The Learning Experience•Surprise, AZ

About The Position

Join the fastest growing Academy of Early Education in the nation where “Happy Happens Here”! At The Learning Experience, we are committed to giving everyone a platform to display their talents, share their ideas, and grow their careers in Early Childhood Education. As a Center Director, you’ll lead a passionate team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, their families, and your community. What We Offer: Competitive Benefits: Health, Vision, Dental Insurance, 401K, Pet Discount Plan, Childcare Discounts, and more! State-of-the-Art Classrooms: Lead in an immersive school and classroom setting utilizing the latest technology, materials, and resources to allow children to learn, play, and grow. Opportunities for Growth: Ongoing training and professional development, tuition reimbursement, and leadership pathways to help you meet your goals as an educator. At The Learning Experience, we make early education joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow. Our curriculum focuses on the six ages and stages of early childhood development and engages children in hands-on learning activities that encourage them to explore and solve problems at their own rate of development. This forms a foundation for kids to Learn, Play and Grow under the care of our nurturing teachers and staff. At TLE®, we’ve created a full cast of characters that become our little learners’ educators, partners and friends through their preschool education journey. Each character has a unique personality and area of interest and brings learning to life by allowing children to explore the world through fun and imagination.

Requirements

Two or more years of center management or people leadership experience highly preferred. At least one year required.
Must possess a state-specific Director or Administrative Credential and meet all licensing and background screening requirements.
Strong knowledge of early childhood education, licensing standards, and classroom best practices.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead by example, inspiring trust, building strong relationships, and creating a culture of collaboration, care, and excellence.
Drive both the heart and the health of your center—ensuring high-quality early learning experiences while meeting enrollment, staffing, and business performance goals.
Prioritize recruiting and respond to applicants within 1 business day using tools like CareerPlug.
Ensure the center is fully staffed with well-trained, high-performing teachers using the onboarding SOP and celebrating milestone progress.
Create a team culture rooted in professionalism, kindness, and inclusion, aligned with TLE values and brand standards.
Conduct and document monthly team meetings focused on communication, recognition, and growth.
Deliver timely, constructive feedback and address performance issues promptly.
Keep employee turnover below 40% in a rolling 12-month period.
Complete and submit annual performance reviews using ADP, ensuring they are timely and properly filed.
Serve as the go-to for both staff and families—resolving concerns quickly, collaboratively, and respectfully.
Execute a formal marketing plan that includes outreach, social media, events, and community engagement.
Lead and convert prospective families with warmth and professionalism—through both in-person and virtual tours.
Maintain strong lead-to-start conversion and consistently meet or exceed the center’s active enrollment budget.
Use systems to accurately forecast enrollment trends and make data-informed decisions.
Post engaging content on social media and solicit positive online reviews.
Conduct competitive shops 2x per year and use the insights to stay market-relevant.
Build strong relationships with families, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and retention.
Understand and manage your center’s monthly and quarterly budget targets, especially EBITDA.
Review and analyze your P&L to confirm financial performance and identify opportunities.
Maintain accurate billing records and manage tuition collection in line with due dates.
Monitor and manage center discounts responsibly.
Escalate any financial discrepancies promptly and professionally.
Support growth by contributing to enrollment targets and operational efficiency.
Ensure health and safety SOPs are followed center-wide.
Maintain full compliance with all state and local licensing regulations.
Prioritize safe supervision practices, and ensure adherence to protocols around allergies, medications, and accommodations.
Keep the center clean, organized, safe, and always tour-ready.
Ensure student and staff files are accurate, up-to-date, and securely stored.
Leverage TLE tools, systems, and required platforms to optimize operations.
Replenish inventory on budget and as needed to maintain smooth center operations.
Process payroll on time and accurately.
Stay informed and responsive to labor laws, fire codes, health regulations, and internal policies.
Operate proactively, meet deadlines, and make sound decisions for your team, your center, and your business.