Child Care Center Director

Ducklings Child Care Center Director

Location: Oxford, PA
Pay: $50,000–$65,000 per year, based on experience
Reports To: Owner
Work Location: In person

Position Summary

Ducklings Early Learning Center is seeking an experienced, hands-on Center Director to lead our early learning centers located in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

The Center Director is responsible for the overall success of the center, including staff leadership and development, licensing and Keystone STARS compliance, enrollment and family experience, classroom quality, staffing and scheduling, and daily operations.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who can balance the administrative responsibilities of running a childcare center with being actively engaged with teachers, children, and families. The Director will partner closely with ownership while taking primary responsibility for the center's day-to-day operations, performance, and culture.

Essential Responsibilities:

Center Leadership & Operations

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the center and its staff.
• Oversee daily center operations and ensure the building operates safely, efficiently, and professionally.
• Create and maintain a positive, accountable, team-oriented workplace culture.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and ensure compliance with required teacher-to-child ratios.
• Oversee staff schedules, classroom assignments, breaks, call-outs, and coverage.
• Maintain a strong leadership presence throughout the center and provide hands-on support when needed.
• Identify operational challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Partner with ownership on center goals, priorities, staffing needs, and opportunities for continued growth.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and hold staff accountable to center expectations.
• Oversee recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, and retention of employees.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Manage employee performance, including coaching, recognition, corrective action, and performance improvement when necessary.
• Develop emerging leaders and create opportunities for professional growth.
• Ensure staff complete required training, professional development, clearances, and certifications.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, teamwork, accountability, and positive communication.

Family Experience & Enrollment

• Build strong, trusting relationships with current and prospective families.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for family questions, concerns, and sensitive situations.
• Conduct center tours and effectively communicate the value of the Ducklings program to prospective families.
• Oversee enrollment and onboarding for new families.
• Monitor enrollment, classroom availability, upcoming transitions, and anticipated openings.
• Support family retention by proactively addressing concerns and maintaining a high-quality family experience.
• Lead and support family events and other community-building activities.

Licensing, Keystone STARS & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with all Pennsylvania childcare licensing requirements and applicable health and safety regulations.
• Maintain and support the center's Keystone STARS quality standards and continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Ensure required child and employee records are complete, accurate, organized, and current.
• Conduct routine center and classroom inspections for safety, supervision, cleanliness, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure incidents and required regulatory notifications are documented and reported appropriately and within required timelines.
• Maintain readiness for licensing visits, STARS reviews, inspections, and audits.
• Oversee emergency preparedness, drills, safety procedures, and required documentation.

Curriculum & Classroom Quality

• Ensure classrooms provide safe, nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environments.
• Support teachers in effectively implementing curriculum, lesson plans, classroom routines, and developmental activities.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide coaching to continuously improve quality.
• Monitor classroom organization, cleanliness, materials, displays, and overall presentation.
• Ensure children are actively supervised and center policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Support classroom transitions and placement decisions based on age, development, readiness, and available space.
• Step into classrooms when necessary to support staff and maintain continuity of care.

Enrollment, Staffing & Center Performance

• Monitor enrollment and classroom capacity and work with ownership to achieve enrollment goals.
• Maintain awareness of staffing levels in relation to enrollment and classroom needs.
• Manage staffing and scheduling thoughtfully to maintain quality while controlling unnecessary overtime and labor costs.
• Follow up promptly with prospective families and support enrollment conversion and retention efforts.
• Identify opportunities to improve center efficiency, family satisfaction, employee retention, and overall performance.
• Provide ownership with regular updates regarding staffing, enrollment, compliance, family concerns, and center needs.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Oversee attendance, staffing records, employee documentation, and required center records.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of administrative responsibilities.
• Coordinate classroom supplies, materials, and facility needs.
• Support center communications, special events, marketing initiatives, and community outreach.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling employee, family, and child information.
• Perform additional leadership and administrative responsibilities necessary for the successful operation of the center.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) with the PA Director's Credential OR Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field
• Must meet all Pennsylvania requirements to serve as a Child Care Center Director
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in early childhood education
• Minimum of 2 years of childcare leadership or management experience, preferably as a Director, Assistant Director, or comparable center leadership role
• Experience with Keystone STARS strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing employees
• Strong understanding of Pennsylvania childcare regulations, child development principles, and early childhood best practices
• Experience with enrollment, family relations, staffing, scheduling, and center operations
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills
• Comfortable addressing difficult employee and family situations professionally and confidently
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and required training

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and actively participate in classroom and center activities throughout the day
• Ability to move throughout the building frequently and respond quickly in emergency situations

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a confident, proactive, and highly engaged leader who takes ownership of the center's success.

The ideal candidate enjoys developing people, solving problems, building relationships with families, and maintaining high standards. This individual should be comfortable making decisions, providing clear direction, holding others accountable, and stepping in wherever needed.

We are especially interested in someone who can see both the big picture and the details — building a strong team and culture while ensuring schedules, classrooms, documentation, enrollment, and compliance are managed effectively every day.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Performance-driven bonus opportunity
• 401(k) / retirement plan
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Childcare discount
• Professional development assistance
• Training and leadership development opportunities
• Opportunity for advancement

Why Join Ducklings?

• Lead an established early learning center positioned for continued growth
• Have meaningful ownership over center operations, culture, and quality
• Partner directly with local ownership on strategy and long-term goals
• Lead and develop a growing team of early childhood professionals
• Work in an environment that values professionalism, accountability, communication, and strong relationships
• Make a measurable impact on children, families, employees, and the broader community

If you are an experienced early childhood leader who enjoys developing teams, maintaining high standards, building strong relationships with families, and taking ownership of center operations, we would love to connect.

Ducklings Early Learning Center is independently owned and operated by a franchisee dedicated to excellence in early childhood education. All hiring decisions for this location are made by the local ownership team.

Ducklings Early Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and children under our care.

Work Location: In person – Oxford, PA

Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Center Director: 2 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Oxford, PA 19363 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $65,000