Childcare Center Director Jobs for OPT Students

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides high-quality language immersion education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. At Tierra Encantada, our values fuel everything we do. We are passionate about nurturing children's growth and creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development. We celebrate the richness of diversity, embracing the unique perspectives it brings to our community. Guided by optimism, we are driven by a shared vision for a brighter future for every child, family, and team member we serve. Join us and be part of a mission-driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact—one child, one family, and one community at a time.

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 optimism, accountability, drive, and being growth minded 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.
• CommunicationRelationships: 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

• HiringOnboarding: 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.
• StaffingScheduling: 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.
• TrainingPerformance 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.
• ComplianceRisk Management: Develop and enforce risk management procedures, including regular safety drills and robust security protocols to protect the center's community.
• FacilitySafety 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.
• Ability to meet the Minnesota requirements for directors in Childcare Centers as defined in MN administrative rule 9503.0031.
• 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.

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Requires the ability to carry and lift 25 pounds or less, use repetitive or fine hand movements, and occasionally push, pull, run short distances, and carry and lift 25-50 pounds.
• Requires excellent long distance and near vision to monitor children's activities both indoors and outdoors in various light conditions, as well as hearing capabilities to respond to children's needs and maintain safety in a moderately noisy environment.

Pay and Schedule

• This is a full-time, exempt position that works Monday-Friday, with some weekends required occasionally.
• Base salary range is $59,000 to $65,000 depending on qualifications, education, and experience.
• This position is eligible for additional compensation in the form of a monthly performance bonus.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous PTO package
• 401(k) with employer match
• Performance bonus
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company paid professional development.

Additional Information About the Position

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.