Executive Director – Operational Leadership Role

Sunshine Academy•Billings, MT

13h•$50,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Are you an experienced early childhood leader who wants real responsibility, clear authority, and room to lead —not just manage daily chaos? We’re hiring an Executive Director to lead operations at a well-established early childhood program in Billings, Montana. This is a senior leadership role for someone who understands that excellent childcare requires both strong people leadership and strong business operations . If you’re currently leading in a large metro area and craving: Less bureaucracy More decision-making authority A better quality of life …this role is worth a closer look. About the Organization We are a growing early childhood organization committed to high standards, strong leadership, and sustainable operations. Our centers prioritize quality, accountability, and long-term impact for children, families, and staff. We believe great childcare is built through clear expectations, strong systems, and capable leaders . About the Role This is not a classroom position and not a caretaker role. The Executive Director is accountable for the operational and financial performance of the center , leading adults, managing systems, and ensuring consistent results across staffing, enrollment, compliance, and family experience. You will work within established systems and policies—and you’ll have the authority needed to make day-to-day operational and people decisions. What You’ll Be Accountable For Enrollment and occupancy (FTE) Staffing stability, scheduling, and labor cost management Licensing compliance and operational readiness Team performance, development, and accountability Family experience and professional representation of the organization This role requires the ability to review and understand basic financial and operational reports , identify trends, and make decisions that support long-term center health. Key Responsibilities: Operations & Performance Lead daily center operations to meet enrollment, staffing, compliance, and performance targets Proactively manage schedules, ratios, and staffing plans to ensure consistency and cost control Maintain audit-ready compliance with all licensing, health, and safety regulations Use required systems and technology to track enrollment, staffing, documentation, and communication Review operational and financial summaries and adjust decisions accordingly People Leadership & Accountability Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, and termination decisions Set clear expectations and follow through consistently Address performance issues promptly and professionally Build and retain a high-performing, accountable team Family Experience & Professional Representation Serve as the primary on-site leader for families, tours, and meetings Ensure proactive communication and professional issue resolution Maintain a consistent, high-quality experience for families, children, and staff Business & Financial Competence (Required) You do not need to be a finance expert—but you must be comfortable engaging with the numbers. This includes: Reviewing and discussing center-level financial summaries Understanding how enrollment, staffing, and scheduling decisions impact financial performance Monitoring labor costs and operational efficiency Using data to identify issues, anticipate challenges, and improve outcomes How Success Is Measured Enrollment (FTE) and enrollment stability Staffing retention and schedule effectiveness Labor cost management and adherence to financial targets Licensing compliance and inspection readiness Team performance and leadership development Family satisfaction and trust Who Thrives in This Role This role is a strong fit for leaders who: Lead with clarity, calm, and decisiveness Are comfortable holding adults accountable Think in systems—not quick fixes Make decisions based on data and long-term impact Value structure, professionalism, and continuous improvement Qualifications 3+ years of leadership experience in early childhood education or a comparable operational leadership role Demonstrated experience managing teams, schedules, and center operations Working knowledge of basic business operations (budgeting, labor management, financial reporting) Eligible for Montana ECP Practitioner Registry Level 3+ (Level 4 preferred) Strong organizational, communication, and decision-making skills Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent leadership experience Why Consider Relocating to Montana? Billings offers: A lower cost of living than many major metro areas Access to outdoor recreation, national parks, and open space A strong sense of community The opportunity to lead at a high level without big-city burnout Relocation support is available for the right candidate, and we will assist with the transition. What We Offer Competitive salary: $50,000–$75,000 , based on experience and performance Paid time off and holidays Professional development and leadership growth opportunities Relocation assistance Clear expectations, defined authority, and established systems Support from an engaged executive leadership team A Note on Fit This role requires consistency, accountability, and comfort with responsibility. It is not suited for leaders who avoid financial awareness, resist structure, or prioritize comfort over results. If you’re ready to lead operations, develop people, and drive strong outcomes, we encourage you to apply. Submit your resume and a brief statement describing your leadership approach.

Requirements

3+ years of leadership experience in early childhood education or a comparable operational leadership role
Demonstrated experience managing teams, schedules, and center operations
Working knowledge of basic business operations (budgeting, labor management, financial reporting)
Eligible for Montana ECP Practitioner Registry Level 3+
Strong organizational, communication, and decision-making skills

Nice To Haves

Montana ECP Practitioner Registry Level 4 preferred
Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent leadership experience

Responsibilities

Lead daily center operations to meet enrollment, staffing, compliance, and performance targets
Proactively manage schedules, ratios, and staffing plans to ensure consistency and cost control
Maintain audit-ready compliance with all licensing, health, and safety regulations
Use required systems and technology to track enrollment, staffing, documentation, and communication
Review operational and financial summaries and adjust decisions accordingly
Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, and termination decisions
Set clear expectations and follow through consistently
Address performance issues promptly and professionally
Build and retain a high-performing, accountable team
Serve as the primary on-site leader for families, tours, and meetings
Ensure proactive communication and professional issue resolution
Maintain a consistent, high-quality experience for families, children, and staff
Reviewing and discussing center-level financial summaries
Understanding how enrollment, staffing, and scheduling decisions impact financial performance
Monitoring labor costs and operational efficiency
Using data to identify issues, anticipate challenges, and improve outcomes