Salary: $90,000–$100,000 annually
Required: Early Childhood Education Experience
Employment Type: Full-Time | Field Based
Territory: Central New Jersey | Multi-State Region
Travel: Approximately 85%
Location Requirement: Candidates must currently reside within the Central New Jersey market to effectively support the assigned childcare centers.
Location
This field-based leadership role supports franchise childcare centers throughout Central New Jersey and neighboring markets.
To provide consistent onsite leadership, coaching, and operational support, candidates must live within the Central New Jersey market. Living within the assigned territory allows the District Manager to respond quickly to center needs, build strong partnerships with franchise owners and leadership teams, and maintain a regular onsite presence across the portfolio.
Candidates should also reside within approximately 30 miles of a major airport to support regional travel. Applicants who live outside the Central New Jersey market will not be considered.
About the Role
The Learning Experience is seeking a results-driven District Manager to lead operational performance across a portfolio of franchise childcare centers throughout Central New Jersey. This role serves as a strategic business partner to franchise owners and Center Directors, helping drive enrollment growth, strengthen leadership teams, improve financial performance, and ensure operational excellence.
This position is dedicated to supporting centers within the Central New Jersey market, and the successful candidate must live within the assigned territory to provide frequent onsite coaching, operational guidance, and hands-on leadership. If you thrive in a fast-paced, relationship-driven environment and enjoy developing leaders while improving business performance, we'd love to hear from you.
What You Will Do
Multi-Site Operations
- Lead and support multiple childcare centers across the assigned territory
- Conduct regular onsite visits to coach Center Directors and leadership teams
- Drive accountability for enrollment, staffing, retention, customer experience, and operational performance
- Ensure consistent execution of company initiatives, operational standards, and best practices
Business Performance and Growth
- Analyze enrollment, labor, profitability, and other key performance indicators
- Review profit and loss statements and develop action plans to improve business results
- Partner with franchise owners to identify growth opportunities and operational efficiencies
- Support strategic planning and execution across the assigned market
Leadership Development
- Coach and mentor Center Directors to strengthen leadership capabilities
- Support recruiting, onboarding, training, and employee retention initiatives
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Licensing and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with childcare licensing regulations, franchise agreements, and company standards
- Support centers during licensing visits, audits, corrective action plans, and operational reviews
- Promote safe, compliant, and high-quality learning environments
New Center Openings
- Partner with Operations, Marketing, Licensing, and Training teams to support new center openings
- Assist franchisees with operational readiness, staffing plans, and enrollment strategies
- Help ensure successful transitions from development to ongoing operations
Qualifications
- Required experience in early childhood education within a licensed childcare environment
- 5+ years of multi-unit leadership, district management, franchise operations, or field-based management experience
- Strong understanding of childcare licensing regulations and operational compliance
- Proven ability to analyze financial performance, KPIs, and profit and loss statements
- Exceptional leadership, coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Strong business acumen and problem-solving abilities
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and reporting systems
- Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent leadership experience
- Must currently reside within the Central New Jersey market and be available to travel approximately 85% throughout the assigned territory
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required
Why Join The Learning Experience
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- High-impact leadership role supporting a growing portfolio of childcare centers
- Opportunity to directly influence enrollment, operational excellence, and business performance
- Professional growth and career advancement opportunities
- Join a mission-driven organization committed to making a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities
The Learning Experience
At The Learning Experience, we make early education joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow.
Our curriculum focuses on the six ages and stages of early childhood development and engages children in hands-on learning activities that encourage them to explore and solve problems at their own rate of development. This forms a foundation for kids to Learn, Play and Grow under the care of our nurturing teachers and staff.
At TLE®, we’ve created a full cast of characters that become our little learners’ educators, partners and friends through their preschool education journey. Each character has a unique personality and area of interest and brings learning to life by allowing children to explore the world through fun and imagination.