Childcare Center Director

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. Our award-winning concept has received numerous accolades, including Top 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity by Entrepreneur Magazine, 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America by Inc Magazine, and The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies. Each Tierra Encantada location is privately owned and operated by either Tierra Encantada Franchising LLC franchisees or by the corporate office (Tierra Encantada LLC). Franchise owners set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.

Position Overview

The Center Director at Tierra Encantada is the cornerstone of our early childhood education center, embodying our commitment to excellence in business operations, educational quality, and customer service. This leadership role requires a dynamic individual who can inspire and lead the center team, foster a strong community, and drive the center towards achieving high enrollment and exceptional educational outcomes. The Center Director should exemplify our core values of Valuing Diversity, being Team Focused, Taking Ownership, and having a Passion for Excellence in every aspect of their role.

Key Responsibilities

As the Center Director, your responsibilities at Tierra Encantada are extensive and crucial to our success. Below is a detailed description of the various aspects of the role:

Leadership and Team Culture

• Model Core Values: Embrace and exemplify Tierra Encantada's core values of diversity, teamwork, ownership, and excellence to foster a professional environment. Encourage diverse perspectives and create an environment where everyone feels valued.
• Employee Engagement: Lead, manage, and develop a collaborative team culture. Emphasize recognition, continuous feedback, and coaching to promote long-term staff retention and ensure team alignment towards common goals.
• Lead by Example: Demonstrate proactive engagement in daily operations, fostering collaboration and inspiring team members through hands-on leadership.
• Communication & Relationships: Maintain professional, prompt communication with families, staff, vendors, licensing authorities, and corporate partners.
• Professional Development: Complete at least 20 hours of professional development annually while contributing to the organization's continuous improvement. Set and pursue leadership enhancement goals, including participation in Tierra Encantada's annual Directors Summit and other professional events. Actively seek personal development opportunities through workshops, additional certifications, and peer networking. Ensure that your professional growth aligns with Tierra Encantada's strategic goals.

Hiring, Training, and Staff Management

• Hiring & Onboarding: Oversee the entire employment lifecycle, including developing hiring plans, recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding. Manage performance evaluations and ensure new hires are thoroughly integrated into the team.
• Staffing & Scheduling: Manage staff schedules, time-off requests, and payroll reporting. Proactively plan for staffing changes and transitions by maintaining a bench of potential candidates. Ensure compliance with employment laws and maintain adequate staffing levels to meet operational needs.
• Training & Performance Management: Conduct regular performance assessments, provide consistent feedback, and implement professional development plans to enhance staff growth and overall performance. Ensure all employees receive necessary training and foster continuous learning to maintain educational excellence.
• Child Development : Monitor and review student progress regularly with teachers, ensuring comprehensive assessments are conducted and families are informed about their child's development.
• Accreditation: Achieve and uphold local and national accreditation standards, continuously pursuing improvements in educational quality.

Operational and Financial Management

• Operations Ownership: Take full responsibility for the center's day-to-day operations, ensure strict adherence to childcare licensing requirements, commercial kitchen regulations, Tierra Encantada's internal policies, and maintain high operational standards.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Develop and enforce risk management procedures, including regular safety drills and robust security protocols to protect the center's community.
• Facility & Safety Management: Maintain the center's physical space, manage inventory, keep a safe and clean space, and ensure all resources and equipment are in optimal condition and ready for use.
• Culinary Program Supervision: Ensure the center's food program meets strict food safety standards and dietary guidelines. Oversee meal preparation and inventory to provide healthy and safe food options for children.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage the center's annual budget, balance operational expenses with revenue goals, and supervise accurate and timely billing and collections in partnership with the finance team.
• Financial Performance Monitoring: Regularly review financial metrics to ensure profitability and enrollment targets are met. Adjust strategies as needed to support the center's financial and operational growth.

Community Engagement and Enrollment

• Local Marketing: Drive local marketing initiatives to increase visibility and attract new families. Organize open houses, community events, and other promotional activities.
• Community Partnerships: Develop and nurture partnerships with local businesses, schools, and organizations to enhance community engagement to support enrollment efforts.
• Customer Experience : Foster strong relationships through exceptional service, responsive feedback, and a supportive community to ensure high retention.
• Enrollment Management: Utilize the CRM system to manage enrollment processes, track prospective families, and achieve occupancy targets.

Position Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience, ideally in an educational setting, demonstrating the ability to develop, engage, and inspire teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Management, Business, Marketing, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.
• Fluent in both English and Spanish, proficient in oral and written communication.
• Familiarity with business functions such as human resources, marketing, and budget management; experience in revenue generation preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional maturity, strong work ethic, attention to detail, and proactive attitude.
• Proven track record of building a supportive team culture focused on professional development and continuous improvement.
• Organized, adept at multitasking, and skilled in strategic problem-solving.
• Strong customer service orientation, capable of collaborating effectively across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• CPR, First Aid, and Food Protection Manager certification required (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) and G-Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar); ability to learn new technologies as needed.
• Excellent hearing and eyesight; capable of bending, crouching, reaching, and lifting up to 50 lbs in scenarios involving child handling, safety, and emergencies.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is dependant on qualifications, education, and experience, and position is eligible for performance bonus. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid parental leave, 12 paid holidays, 15 days paid time off, 401(k) with employer match, performance bonus, discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment, and company paid professional development. Once a job offer has been accepted, the candidate must pass a background check and fingerprinting. E-verify is used to verify work authorization status.

Job Type: Full-time Exempt

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday (Occasional nights/weekends - a few times per year for special events)

Ability to Commute:

• Columbus, OH (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Columbus, OH : Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person / Onsite (Every Day)