Executive Director- Early Childhood Education

Job description:

Title: Executive Director- Early Childhood Education

Location: Jersey City, NJ

Salary: $100,000-$110,000

Schedule: Monday-Friday

We are a private, community‑centered early education and elementary school serving a diverse and growing population in New Jersey. Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and inspiring learning environment where children's physical, cognitive, and social‑emotional growth comes first. With an adaptable curriculum and a team of dedicated educators, we help every child reach key developmental milestones in a way that honors their individual needs and strengths.

We are seeking a professional, driven, and highly accountable Executive Director to lead our expanding early childhood education programs. Reporting directly to the Owner, this role oversees a portfolio of Center Directors and provides the leadership, systems, and support they need to deliver consistent, high‑quality experiences for families across 2–3 centers.

This is a multi‑unit leadership role for someone who works hard, sets high standards, and thrives in a fast‑moving environment. The ideal candidate is mission‑aligned, solutions‑oriented, and comfortable wearing many hats while leading with clarity, teamwork, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership to Center Directors and site teams, ensuring strong collaboration and effective support across all departments.
• Oversee the planning, organization, and execution of daily operations and academic programs across multiple locations, creating efficient processes that enable consistency and scale.
• Lead annual budget planning, monthly and quarterly reviews, and regular forecasting for all centers in partnership with senior leadership.
• Drive a strong focus on consistency, quality, and educational excellence to maximize enrollment, family retention, and referrals.
• Create and manage KPIs that measure performance and drive accountability across the organization.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families and the community, ensuring decisions prioritize the well‑being of children and long‑term stability of the business.
• Manage a multi‑center business portfolio, identifying growth opportunities and steering decisions that increase revenue, customer acquisition, and retention.
• Hire, coach, develop, and retain a diverse, high‑performing team.
• Anticipate and plan for staffing, marketing, financial, and operational needs.
• Oversee processes, vendors, expenses, and operational infrastructure across all sites.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Self‑starter with minimal need for supervision; 5–7+ years of successful multi‑location leadership experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Management or related field (Master's degree preferred but not required).
• Proven experience managing budgets and P&Ls.
• Experience leading an organization of 50+ employees and serving thousands of customers.
• Strong ability to build, develop, and retain high‑performing teams.
• Solid business acumen with the ability to identify sales opportunities and drive financial results.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to engage professionally and warmly with students, staff, families, and community partners.
• Leadership experience in a customer‑focused, talent‑driven environment.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Life insurance 401(k) with company match
• Bonus eligibility (based on performance)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Long‑Term Disability Professional development opportunities