Director of Field Operations

Tierra Encantada HQ • Minneapolis, MN

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

Tierra Encantada is hiring for a Director of Field Operations, who will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day performance, operational excellence, and strategic initiatives of field locations (corporate-owned sites). This leader will ensure that all locations operate efficiently, deliver high-quality customer service, meet financial goals, and comply with company standards and regulatory requirements. The Director of Field Operations will provide leadership, guidance, and support to District Manager, Center Directors and local teams, driving performance, consistency, and growth. This position reports directly to our Chief Operations Officer.

This is a full time, exempt position with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday, this role is based out of our corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, MN expected to be on site either at a center or at our corporate headquarters 4 days per week, with 1 day per week remote
The starting salary range for this position is $120,000 – $140,000 annually depending on qualifications, education, and experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Management, Business, Marketing, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.
• 7+ years of multi-site operational leadership experience, ideally in childcare industry
• Proven ability to lead through layers of management (e.g., District Managers, Center Directors) and scale leadership capacity in a growing organization.
• Strong track record of managing large, distributed teams and driving operational excellence.
• Strong customer service orientation, capable of collaborating effectively across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Financial acumen, including experience managing P&L, budgets, and cost controls.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel regularly (up to 40% depending on region and company needs).
• Experience with change management, scaling operations, and process improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Master's preferred.
• Being bilingual is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop District Managers and Center Directors to deliver exceptional center performance and uphold the highest operational standards.
• Partake in joint business planning meetings and actively monitor KPIs related to enrollment, budget adherence, staff retention, and quality benchmarks to ensure sustainable growth and success.
• Oversee center-level budgets, driving fiscal discipline and accountability across all locations.
• Partner with finance to analyze center P&Ls, forecast trends, and implement initiatives that optimize revenue and control expenses.
• Ensure financial goals align with company growth objectives and operational realities.
• Champion a culture of safety, ensuring all centers meet or exceed state licensing, regulatory, and internal compliance standards.
• Oversee safety audits, incident reviews, and proactive risk management strategies to maintain a secure environment for children and staff.
• Partner with quality and training teams to standardize best practices and elevate center experiences.
• Collaborate with HR, Marketing, Finance, and Facilities to align field operations with company initiatives and long-term goals.
• Support new site openings, relocations, and large-scale capital improvements with operational readiness plans.
• Provide field insights to senior leadership, contributing to strategic planning and growth initiatives.
• Directly manage and develop the Facilities team member, providing clear priorities, coaching, accountability, and performance oversight across all corporate-owned centers.
• Own facilities strategy and execution, including preventative maintenance, repairs, vendor coordination, and capital improvement work, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and with minimal disruption to operations.
• Establish and uphold standards for center appearance, functionality, safety, and operational readiness, including support for new center openings, relocations, renovations, and facilities-related risk mitigation.
• Mentor and grow high-potential leaders within the field organization to build a strong bench of future operational leaders.
• Foster a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• PTO accrual of 160 hours
• 401(k) with 3% employer match
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company paid professional development
• Corporate office amenities (gym, wellness/nursing room, onsite company cafe with coffee, espresso bar, beverages, and snacks available to employees at no cost, onsite free parking), casual work environment, and employee-focused events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees