J-1 Visa Childcare Center Director Jobs
Childcare Center Director roles in the U.S. are most commonly accessible through the J-1 Specialist or Trainee program categories, both requiring a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019. Securing sponsorship depends on matching your credentials to a qualifying program and a willing host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
High school graduates and college students: apply today to be an Intern Teacher at Bright Horizons and grow your skills in the early childhood field!
During this 8-week, full–time internship, you’ll work in an early childhood classroom under the supervision and leadership of an early childhood educator who will help you practice and refine your skills. You’ll have the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers across the country and learn from early childhood curriculum experts that will help guide your experience.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with hands-on activities to meet the needs and interests of the children
- Actively participate in all classroom activities and complete required training
- Ensure a safe and clean classroom by following essential procedures and guidelines
Qualifications
Candidates must pass required state and company background checks, and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:
- 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED before start of internship (June 15, 2026) is required
- Experience working in child care, daycare, or preschool settings is preferred
- This internship requires full‑time availability, Monday through Friday, from June 15 through August 7, 2026
Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.
Physical Requirements:
Candidates must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and received COVID-19 booster and flu shot to ensure compliance with enhanced health and safety protocols and to keep yourself and others safe and free from illness.
This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons’, and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training.
If hired, you will work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide supervision, care, curriculum delivery and services per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure the safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.
- Frequently lift, carry, or hold children with a range of weight from 10 to 40 pounds; occasionally lift, carry, or hold weight more than 40 pounds
- Demonstrate full range of motion to lift, reach, squat, climb, sit, and otherwise fully participate in activities
- Respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies
- Maintain mental and physical alertness and an appropriate level of energy to perform essential job requirement
The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at the Bright Horizons careers page. Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations.
This position requires in-person work in the Somerville, MA area.
Compensation:
The hourly rate for this position is between $17.64 - $24.45 per hour. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.
Benefits:
Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
Life at Bright Horizons:
At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.
Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).
If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855-877-6866 or bhrecruit@brighthorizons.com. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
INTRODUCTION
High school graduates and college students: apply today to be an Intern Teacher at Bright Horizons and grow your skills in the early childhood field!
During this 8-week, full–time internship, you’ll work in an early childhood classroom under the supervision and leadership of an early childhood educator who will help you practice and refine your skills. You’ll have the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers across the country and learn from early childhood curriculum experts that will help guide your experience.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with hands-on activities to meet the needs and interests of the children
- Actively participate in all classroom activities and complete required training
- Ensure a safe and clean classroom by following essential procedures and guidelines
Qualifications
Candidates must pass required state and company background checks, and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:
- 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED before start of internship (June 15, 2026) is required
- Experience working in child care, daycare, or preschool settings is preferred
- This internship requires full‑time availability, Monday through Friday, from June 15 through August 7, 2026
Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.
Physical Requirements:
Candidates must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and received COVID-19 booster and flu shot to ensure compliance with enhanced health and safety protocols and to keep yourself and others safe and free from illness.
This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons’, and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training.
If hired, you will work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide supervision, care, curriculum delivery and services per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure the safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.
- Frequently lift, carry, or hold children with a range of weight from 10 to 40 pounds; occasionally lift, carry, or hold weight more than 40 pounds
- Demonstrate full range of motion to lift, reach, squat, climb, sit, and otherwise fully participate in activities
- Respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies
- Maintain mental and physical alertness and an appropriate level of energy to perform essential job requirement
The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at the Bright Horizons careers page. Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations.
This position requires in-person work in the Somerville, MA area.
Compensation:
The hourly rate for this position is between $17.64 - $24.45 per hour. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.
Benefits:
Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
Life at Bright Horizons:
At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.
Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).
If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855-877-6866 or bhrecruit@brighthorizons.com. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Childcare Center Director
Align your credentials to program requirements
The J-1 Specialist category requires at least five years of expertise in early childhood education or center administration. Gather transcripts, professional certifications like CDA or state director credentials, and employment letters before approaching any designated sponsor.
Distinguish host employers from designated sponsors
Your hiring employer is the host childcare center or nonprofit network, not your visa sponsor. The sponsor organization issues your DS-2019 and signs your training plan. Clarify this distinction early so your host employer understands their compliance role.
Target licensed childcare chains with HR infrastructure
Smaller independent centers rarely have the administrative capacity to coordinate with a designated sponsor. Focus your outreach on licensed multi-site childcare networks, nonprofit early education organizations, or university-affiliated child development programs that have hosted J-1 participants before.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1 compatible roles
Director-level childcare roles open to international candidates are not always labeled as J-1 positions in job postings. Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship eligibility for education and training program categories.
Build a detailed individual training plan early
Your designated sponsor requires a structured Individual Development Plan or training plan before issuing the DS-2019. Map your proposed U.S. experience to specific competencies in curriculum leadership, staff supervision, or licensing compliance so the plan satisfies SEVP and State Department review.
Verify home-country residency requirement exposure
J-1 participants from certain countries or government-funded programs face a two-year home residency requirement before changing status or applying for an immigrant visa. Confirm your exposure before accepting a host placement, since waivers through USCIS involve a separate application process and take additional time.
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Find Childcare Center Director JobsChildcare Center Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Childcare Center Director role?
Most Childcare Center Directors qualify under the J-1 Specialist or Trainee category. The Specialist category applies if you have at least five years of recognized expertise in early childhood education or center administration. The Trainee category suits professionals earlier in their careers who are gaining structured U.S. experience. Current students enrolled in a degree program may qualify under the Intern category instead.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for a childcare director position?
Your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your childcare employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue your DS-2019 and monitor your program compliance. The childcare center or network where you work is your host employer. Both parties must agree to participate, but only the designated sponsor holds legal responsibility for your J-1 status.
How do I find U.S. childcare employers willing to host a J-1 participant?
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers and director-level childcare roles that align with J-1 sponsorship. Many host employers don't advertise J-1 compatibility explicitly, so filtering for organizations open to international candidates saves significant time. Multi-site licensed childcare networks and university-affiliated child development centers are often more experienced with the hosting process.
Does a Childcare Center Director role trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
It can. The two-year home residency requirement applies if your J-1 program is government-funded, if your home country lists your occupation on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or if you receive graduate medical education. Childcare administration is not inherently exempt. Check your DS-2019 for a Section 212(e) notation and confirm with your designated sponsor before assuming the requirement doesn't apply to you.
What documents does a childcare director applicant need before approaching a designated sponsor?
You'll typically need academic transcripts, proof of professional credentials such as a CDA credential or state-issued director certificate, and employment verification letters documenting your years of relevant experience. Many designated sponsors also require a detailed proposed training plan and a signed host organization agreement before they'll issue a DS-2019 for a Specialist or Trainee application.
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