Childcare Center Director

Kiddie Academy of Mount Prospect | Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Full-Time | Monday–Friday | NEGOTIABLE COMPETITIVE SALARY BASE WITH COMPETITIVE BONUS : [$68,000 – $78,000 /year Performance Bonus] SERIOUS AND QUALIFIED CANIDATES ONLY (PLEASE SEE FULL REQUIREMENTS)

Ready to Apply? We're Interviewing This Week!

• Text a quick introduction to 630...430...6280 (preferred and fastest)
• Then email your resume, college transcripts (to verify DCFS Director qualification), and availability to kiddieacademy5 at gmail.com

Lead a School. Grow a Team. Inspire a Community.

Are you an experienced Childcare Director, Preschool Director, Daycare Director, or Assistant Director ready for the next step in your early childhood career? Kiddie Academy of Mount Prospect is hiring a caring, motivated Center Director to lead our school. You'll have the support of an experienced multi-site ownership team, a nationally recognized brand, and a work-life balance you can count on.

This is more than a job. You'll shape the first learning experiences of hundreds of children, mentor a team of passionate educators, and become a trusted leader in the Mount Prospect community.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive salary plus performance and enrollment bonuses
• Monday–Friday schedule with no nights or weekends
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Childcare tuition discount for your own children
• Health, dental, and life insurance, plus a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid professional development and support with Gateways to Opportunity credentials
• Career growth within a growing multi-location organization in the Northwest Suburbs
• Supportive owners who invest in their directors, not just their buildings

What You'll Do

• Lead daily operations of a licensed childcare and preschool center serving infants through school-age children
• Recruit, hire, train, coach, schedule, and retain qualified early childhood teachers and staff
• Build a positive, professional, and accountable team culture where teachers want to stay
• Ensure full compliance with Illinois DCFS licensing, health, safety, and staff-to-child ratio requirements
• Maintain NAEYC accreditation and ExceleRate Illinois quality standards
• Support implementation of our Life Essentials® curriculum and developmentally appropriate classroom practices
• Build strong relationships with children, families, staff, and community partners
• Respond to parent concerns quickly, warmly, and professionally
• Lead prospective-family tours, enrollment follow-up, and family retention
• Grow enrollment and classroom occupancy through strategic planning and outreach
• Manage budgets, payroll hours, vendors, facilities, and operational priorities
• Take part in marketing, community events, and grassroots outreach
• Partner with ownership on continuous improvement and Academy growth

What We're Looking For

• Illinois DCFS Director Qualified (required)
• Illinois Director Credential or Gateways ECE/DIRECTOR Credential
• Bachelor's or Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development, or a related field (preferred)
• 2 years of leadership experience in a licensed childcare center, preschool, or daycare
• Prior experience as a Center Director, Preschool Director, Daycare Director, Assistant Director, or Early Childhood Administrator
• Proven experience supervising, coaching, and developing early childhood educators
• NAEYC accreditation experience
• Solid knowledge of childcare licensing, compliance, health, and safety standards
• A track record of team building, enrollment growth, and family retention
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Comfortable with technology (Procare or similar childcare management software is a plus)
• CPR/First Aid certified, or willing to get certified
• Able to juggle multiple priorities while staying professional and keeping information confidential

Location

We're located at 920 Perimeter Dr., Mount Prospect, IL. This role is a great fit for candidates living in or near Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Prospect Heights, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, and Schaumburg. We prefer candidates within about 15 miles of the Academy.

We're scheduling interviews now, so reach out soon!

Kiddie Academy of Mount Prospect is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance