Childcare Center Director

Center Director

Lead the Team. Shape the Culture. Drive the Future of Early Education.

First Learning is one of North America’s Top 50 for-profit childcare organizations, and we are continuing to grow across New York.

Founded in 1991 with the opening of Care-a-Lot’s first childcare center in Greece, NY, our organization has built a long-standing reputation for exceptional early childhood education. In recent years, we have expanded through the addition of Generations Child Care, Storybook Academy, Island Kids, and Windsor Academy—bringing together multiple respected programs under one unified organization: First Learning.

Today, we operate a growing network of early learning centers dedicated to providing high-quality education, strong leadership, and outstanding family experiences.

We are seeking a Center Director who is ready to lead a team, strengthen program quality, and create an environment where children, families, and educators thrive.

The Role

The Center Director is the operational and educational leader of the center.

This role requires a professional who can successfully lead people, manage operations, and maintain the highest standards of care and education while driving enrollment, family satisfaction, and team development.

You will oversee:

• Educational excellence and program quality
• Staff leadership, coaching, and professional development
• Family relationships and community engagement
• Enrollment growth and retention
• Operational performance and financial management
• Compliance with New York State regulations and licensing requirements

This position reports to the Regional Director and supervises all center staff.

Key Responsibilities

Educational Leadership

• Ensure a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment
• Oversee implementation of curriculum and learning programs, including STEAM initiatives
• Maintain program quality aligned with national accreditation standards
• Ensure full compliance with New York State childcare licensing regulations
• Model positive engagement with children and classrooms

Team Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and develop high-performing educators
• Foster a positive, professional, and accountable workplace culture
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, and performance management
• Support the development of future leaders within the organization
• Ensure proper staffing levels and schedule management

Family Experience & Community Engagement

• Build strong relationships with families and maintain high satisfaction
• Ensure effective communication between staff and parents
• Maintain high enrollment and student retention
• Represent the center within the local community

Operations & Financial Management

• Manage the center’s budget and financial performance
• Monitor enrollment, staffing efficiency, and payroll
• Maintain accurate documentation and compliance records
• Ensure the facility is safe, organized, and properly maintained
• Track and achieve operational and enrollment goals

Director Levels

Director positions are aligned with center capacity:

• Director III: Licensed capacity 0–49
• Director II: Licensed capacity 50–99
• Director I: Licensed capacity 100

Qualifications

Candidates must meet New York State licensing requirements for child care center directors.

Typical qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field
• OR
• NYS Children’s Program Administrator CredentialAdditional pathways may include:
• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Child Development Associate (CDA) with appropriate supervisory experience and an active plan toward a bachelor’s degree or Administrator Credential

Preferred experience:

• Leadership experience in an early childhood education setting
• Staff supervision and team development
• Knowledge of New York State childcare regulations
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills
• Commitment to professional growth and quality early education

Required clearances:

• New York State Registry clearance
• Criminal history fingerprint clearance
• Physician statement confirming good health and freedom from tuberculosis

Physical ability to:

• Lift approximately 30 pounds
• Respond quickly to children’s needs and emergencies
• Sit on the floor and interact at a child’s level

Who Succeeds in This Role

Our strongest leaders:

• Lead with both compassion and accountability
• Care deeply about child development and educational quality
• Are energized by developing teams and mentoring educators
• Are comfortable managing both people and performance metrics
• Thrive in a growing, fast-moving organization

Career Growth Opportunities

At First Learning, we believe in building long-term leadership careers.

Our Center Directors have opportunities to:

• Advance to larger capacity centers (Director III → II → I)
• Move into Regional Director roles
• Lead accreditation and program initiatives
• Participate in cross-center leadership projects
• Contribute to company-wide growth and strategy

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually (based on experience and center capacity)

Benefits include:

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Discounted childcare
• Health insurance (including telehealth)
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company contributions
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Professional development and education assistance
• Employee referral program
• Employee Assistance Program

Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $69,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Industry Experience: Do you have prior professional experience in a childcare or early childhood education setting?
• Education: Do you possess a degree or formal education related to early childhood education, education, human services, or a related field?
• Professional Development: Are you willing to pursue additional education or credentials, if required for the role?
• Leadership Experience: Have you held a supervisory or management role with direct oversight of 10 or more employees?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,000 - $69,000