Child Care Director

Little Sprouts•Winchester, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Child Care Director, also referred to as the School Director, is the school’s key decision-maker and is responsible for its daily success. The role leads a safe, high-quality, nurturing early childhood environment; oversees operations, licensing compliance, staffing, family relationships, budget, enrollment, and financial performance; and reports directly to the Regional Manager. The Director applies Babilou Family US’s Sustainable Education® approach and HONOR values—Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition—to support children, families, educators, and community partners. The Director leads school operations and improvement with substantial autonomy, manages and directs teachers and staff, and represents the school in licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations. The position includes both administrative and classroom responsibilities in an active setting with regular interaction with children, families, and team members, and movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Physical duties include prolonged standing and walking, changing positions to engage with children and support staff, lifting items up to 30 pounds, sitting on the floor, participating in age-appropriate activities, supervising children in varied areas, and responding safely to emergencies. The position is expected to maintain strong operational, safety, compliance, quality, staff, family, enrollment, and financial outcomes. The stated targets include operational audit scores of at least 95%, classroom quality ratings of at least 90%, full licensing compliance with no violations, staff turnover below 25%, 100% completion of required staff training, employee engagement of at least 80%, parent satisfaction of at least 90%, responses to all inquiries within 24 hours, at least four family events annually, annual enrollment growth of 5–10%, and profit margins of 15–20%. All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, or a related field.
Director II EEC State Credentials.
3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
Strong knowledge of state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
Ability to manage budgets and drive enrollment growth.
Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75% of the workday.
Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day.
Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds.
Ability to sit on the floor and participate in age-appropriate activities, including light running and outdoor play supervision.
Ability to work in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Ability to supervise children in school areas and respond quickly and safely to emergencies, evacuations, and drills.
Ability to follow and model safety procedures.
Completion of a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business.
Prior experience leading school-level operational improvement or quality initiatives.

Responsibilities

Oversee smooth daily school operations in accordance with company standards and maintain safe, clean, nurturing classroom environments.
Ensure compliance with state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards; prepare for and manage state inspections.
Serve as a mandated reporter and recognize, document, and immediately report suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment in accordance with state law.
Recruit, train, mentor, and support staff; build a positive, collaborative workplace culture and manage hiring recommendations, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
Build trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication, address questions and concerns promptly and professionally, and host family-focused events.
Manage the school budget and overall financial performance, including cost management and maintaining profit margins.
Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment and meet enrollment growth goals.
Exercise independent judgment in school operations, staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety, and set priorities and solve problems without day-to-day supervision.
Represent the organization in external communications, licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.
Develop and implement operational processes and school-wide improvements, interpreting company policies in light of local needs and regulatory requirements.
Make decisions affecting enrollment strategy, cost management, staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.
Lead school-level organizational culture and contribute strategic insights and recommendations to Regional Managers and senior leadership.
Supervise children in classrooms, playgrounds, hallways, entryways, and common areas; follow and model safety procedures and respond to emergencies.

Benefits

Up to 50% childcare tuition discount.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance effective on the first day of employment.
Free First Stop Health membership with 24/7 access to virtual primary care, urgent care, and short-term mental health support.
401(k) retirement plan with annual discretionary employer match contribution.
Optional life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
Performance-based pay, including increases tied to certification and/or degree completion.
Career growth and professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and the CHILD Conference.
Generous paid time off and holiday benefits, including an annual Winter Break closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
Employee Assistance Program offering confidential mental health, financial wellness, work-life balance, and other personal support resources.
Employee referral bonus program.
Tuition and professional development reimbursement.
Pet insurance.
Other lifestyle and fringe benefit programs.