Early Education & Care School Director

Heartworks Early Education • Essex Junction, VT

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Babilou Family US is seeking a proactive and collaborative School Director to lead one of its early childhood education centers. This role is crucial for ensuring a safe, high-quality, and nurturing environment for children and families. The ideal candidate will have a people-first mindset, be ready to elevate school operations, mentor staff, engage families, and drive enrollment and financial performance. The School Director is the key decision-maker for the daily success of the school and reports to the Regional Manager. The company's educational approach, Sustainable Education®, is rooted in research about child development, aiming to help children thrive and build lifelong learning skills. The company also operates under HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition, fostering a valued, empowered, and inspired environment for all stakeholders.

Requirements

• Must pass required state and company background checks.
• Comply with all VT Public Health and Child Care Regulations.
• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Human Development, or a related field, or 30 college credits with an Early Childhood or School Age focus.
• Program Director Step 1 or Step 2 certificate or willingness to take classes towards that level; Vermont Early Educator License is preferred.
• 3-10 years of experience in early childhood education or classroom management.
• Ensure classroom environments meet NAEYC’s Anti-Bias Early Education standards.
• Demonstrated commitment to kindness, respect, and community engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Vermont Early Educator License

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, compliant, and high-quality learning environment.
• Achieve 95%+ operational audit scores with zero major safety incidents.
• Ensure 100% licensing compliance with zero violations.
• Strengthen staff culture, reduce turnover, and build a high-performing team.
• Elevate parent satisfaction to 90%+ through exceptional communication and engagement.
• Grow enrollment 5–10% annually while maintaining healthy profit margins.
• Host meaningful family events to build community and connection.
• Ensure smooth daily operations that meet company standards.
• Maintain safe, clean, and nurturing classroom environments.
• Ensure full compliance with all state childcare and school regulations.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with state law, maintaining full responsibility to recognize, document, and immediately report any suspected child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
• Prepare for and manage all state inspections.
• Recruit, train, and mentor, and support staff.
• Build a positive, collaborative workplace culture.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication.
• Address parent questions and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Host family‑focused events to strengthen community connection.
• Manage the school’s budget and overall financial performance.
• Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment.
• Exercises independent judgment and decision‑making authority on matters related to school operations, staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety—consistent with the FLSA Executive Exemption criteria.
• Manages and directs the work of teachers and staff, including hiring recommendations, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions, demonstrating clear supervisory responsibility.
• Holds primary responsibility for the overall success of the school, including operational performance, compliance readiness, financial stewardship, staff engagement, and family satisfaction.
• Leads non‑manual, high‑level administrative and managerial work that requires specialized knowledge of ECE licensing, curriculum implementation, staffing models, safety practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Exercises autonomy in setting priorities, solving problems, and determining how to meet operational, financial, and enrollment goals, without day‑to‑day supervision.
• Serves as the school’s top‑level leader, representing the organization in external communications, licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.
• Develops and implements operational processes and school‑wide improvements, using discretion to interpret company policies, local needs, and regulatory environments.
• Makes decisions that directly impact business performance, including enrollment strategy, cost management, staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.
• Provides direct supervision to staff who collectively contribute to the business operations of the school, solidifying the role as one that “customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees,” per FLSA standards.
• Holds authority to influence employment decisions, including hiring, corrective action, performance evaluations, and training requirements.
• Leads organizational culture at the school level, shaping employee engagement, morale, retention, and team effectiveness.
• Functions as a strategic partner to Regional Managers and senior leadership, offering insights and recommendations that directly influence organizational practices and school‑level outcomes.

Benefits

• Up to 75% discount on your child's tuition, including tax-friendly tuition reduction options.
• Comprehensive health benefits package, including health, dental, & vision all effective from start date.
• Additional benefit selections, including pet insurance, are also available.
• Free subscription to First Stop Health for 24/7 access to virtual doctors.
• 401(k) plan with eligibility for a discretionary employer contribution each year (Must be 21+ to enroll. Eligibility to contribute starts after 60 days of employment).
• Pay increase opportunities related to job performance, updates in certification credentials, and degree completion.
• Opportunities for career advancement and ongoing coaching, including a dedicated Child Conference.
• Employee referral program available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager