Salary: $65,000 - $75,000 + Bonus Eligible
Benefits: Paid time off, Professional Development, Wellness Benefits, Childcare Discount
About the Opportunity
The Learning Experience is opening a brand-new childcare center in Bartlett, IL, and we're seeking an experienced, driven Preschool Center Director to lead its launch, build a strong team, and establish a thriving early childhood education program.
This is more than a Center Director position—it's an opportunity to:
- Build, hire, and lead your own team.
- Establish a positive school culture from day one.
- Welcome your first families and create lasting relationships.
- Drive preschool enrollment, retention, and center growth.
- Make a meaningful difference in the Bartlett community.
We're looking for a hands-on childcare leader who combines early childhood education expertise, people leadership, family engagement, and business management skills to create an exceptional learning environment.
What You'll Do
Lead Your Team & Center Operations
- Recruit, hire, train, coach, and develop a high-performing teaching team.
- Create a positive workplace culture that supports employee engagement and retention.
- Oversee daily childcare operations, staffing, scheduling, and classroom ratios.
- Maintain health, safety, and licensing standards.
- Ensure compliance with Illinois childcare licensing requirements and TLE standards.
- Champion TLE's proprietary L.E.A.P.® Curriculum and exceptional classroom experiences.
Drive Enrollment & Business Performance
- Grow enrollment through center tours, prospective family follow-up, and community outreach.
- Build meaningful relationships with prospective and current families.
- Strengthen family satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
- Monitor enrollment, staffing, labor, and key center performance metrics.
- Manage payroll, labor costs, scheduling, and staffing levels.
- Support budgeting, accounts receivable, and expense management.
- Identify opportunities to improve enrollment, operational efficiency, retention, and profitability.
- Partner with ownership and TLE support teams to achieve business and educational goals.
What We're Looking For
We're seeking a confident, relationship-focused early childhood education leader with experience in childcare, preschool, daycare, or licensed learning center management.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2+ years of leadership or management experience in a licensed childcare or early childhood education setting.
- Previous experience as a Preschool Director, Child Care Center Director, Assistant Director, Education Director, or similar leader.
- Proven ability to recruit, coach, mentor, and develop teachers.
- Experience managing childcare center operations, staffing, scheduling, payroll, budgeting, or financial performance.
- Experience driving preschool enrollment, family engagement, and retention.
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and business management skills.
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or a related field required.
Illinois Licensing Requirements
Must meet all applicable Illinois qualifications and regulatory requirements for a licensed childcare center Director position.
Why Join The Learning Experience?
- Lead a brand-new preschool and childcare center from opening day.
- Build your own team and establish a culture of excellence.
- Make a lasting impact on children, families, and educators.
- Benefit from established curriculum, proven systems, professional training, and operational support.
- Access professional development, tuition reimbursement, and leadership advancement opportunities.
- Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
Ready to Build Something Great?
If you're an experienced Childcare Center Director, Preschool Director, Assistant Director, or Early Childhood Education Leader ready to lead a new school, grow a team, and take the next step in your career, we want to meet you!
Join The Learning Experience – Bartlett, IL as our Founding Preschool Center Director.
Apply today and help create a place where children thrive, teachers grow, and families feel at home!