Salary: $65,000–$75,000 annually
Location: Milford, CT
Employment Type: Full-Time
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Childcare Discount, Tuition Reimbursement, Professional Development and more
About the Opportunity
The Learning Experience is opening a brand-new childcare center in Milford, CT, and we're looking for an experienced Child Care Center Director to help build and lead our school from the ground up.
This is an exciting opportunity for an early childhood leader who wants more than managing an established center. You'll have the opportunity to help build your team, establish a positive school culture, welcome our first families, drive enrollment, and create an exceptional experience for children, teachers, and families from day one.
We're looking for a hands-on leader with experience in licensed childcare or preschool operations who enjoys developing teachers, building relationships with families, and growing a successful early childhood education program.
What You'll Do
Build and Lead Your Team
- Recruit, hire, onboard, coach, and develop teachers and center leadership
- Build a positive, collaborative culture focused on employee engagement and retention
- Coach teachers through classroom observations, feedback, and professional development
- Create staffing plans that support enrollment and classroom needs
Lead Center Operations
- Oversee daily operations of the childcare center
- Ensure compliance with Connecticut childcare licensing, health, safety, and company standards
- Maintain appropriate staffing, classroom ratios, and operational readiness
- Partner with ownership and TLE support teams to achieve center goals
Grow Enrollment and Family Relationships
- Conduct center tours and convert prospective families into enrollments
- Build strong relationships with current and prospective families
- Support community outreach, marketing events, and local partnerships
- Drive enrollment growth, family retention, and customer satisfaction
Support Curriculum and Educational Quality
- Champion implementation of The Learning Experience's proprietary L.E.A.P.® Curriculum
- Maintain high standards for classroom quality and early childhood education
- Support teachers in creating safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classrooms
Manage Business Performance
- Monitor enrollment, staffing, labor, and key center performance metrics
- Support budgeting, payroll, accounts receivable, and financial performance
- Identify opportunities to improve center operations and business results
What We're Looking For
- 2+ years of leadership or management experience in a licensed childcare center, preschool, daycare, or early childhood education program preferred
- Previous experience as a Center Director, Assistant Director, Education Director, Head Teacher, or similar childcare leadership role
- Must meet Connecticut requirements applicable to the Director position
- Connecticut Head Teacher approval or qualifications to obtain approval strongly preferred
- Strong knowledge of early childhood education, childcare licensing, and developmentally appropriate practices
- Experience recruiting, coaching, and developing teachers
- Experience supporting enrollment growth and family engagement
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Bachelor's or Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or related field preferred
Why Join The Learning Experience
- Unique opportunity to lead a brand-new childcare center from the beginning
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits
- Opportunity to build your own team and shape center culture
- Established curriculum, systems, training, and operational resources
- Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
- Support from a nationally recognized early childhood education organization
- Opportunity to make a lasting impact on children, families, and educators throughout the Milford community
If you're an experienced childcare leader ready to build an exceptional school and team, we'd love to meet you.
Apply today to become the founding Center Director of The Learning Experience – Milford!