Early Education Center Director

Job Description

EEC Program Director

Job Summary

The EEC Program Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Rainbow Fleet’s Montessori-inspired Early Education Center. This position is responsible for the overall management, quality, compliance, staffing, family engagement, enrollment, and fiscal sustainability of the Early Education Center.

The EEC Program Director leads the EEC management structure, including the Assistant Director. The Assistant Director may directly supervise designated teachers, support staff, and day-to-day operational functions as assigned; however, the EEC Program Director retains ultimate oversight and accountability for the performance, compliance, staffing, and overall operation of the Early Education Center.

The EEC Program Director reports directly to the Executive Director and serves as the primary program leader responsible for ensuring the center operates in accordance with Rainbow Fleet policies, Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and organizational expectations.

Essential Functions

Leadership & Staff Supervision

• Provide direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and performance oversight to the Assistant Director and other designated EEC leadership or supervisory positions.
• Maintain ultimate oversight and accountability for all EEC employees, including employees whose direct day-to-day supervision is delegated to the Assistant Director or another designated supervisor.
• Establish clear supervisory responsibilities and expectations for the Assistant Director and ensure delegated management responsibilities are carried out consistently with Rainbow Fleet policies and licensing requirements.
• Partner with the Assistant Director to ensure teachers and support staff receive consistent coaching, professional development, performance feedback, and supervisory support.
• Oversee recruitment, selection, hiring, and onboarding of qualified EEC staff who align with Rainbow Fleet’s mission and Montessori-inspired approach.
• Maintain ultimate responsibility for employee performance management within the EEC, including evaluations, coaching, performance improvement plans, corrective action, and staff development.
• Ensure classrooms maintain appropriate ratios, staffing levels, coverage, and scheduling necessary to meet OKDHS licensing requirements and operational needs.
• Work through the Assistant Director and other supervisory staff, as appropriate, to address daily staffing needs, classroom coverage, attendance concerns, and operational issues.
• Promote a professional, collaborative, accountable, and child-centered workplace culture throughout the Early Education Center.
  
  

Program Quality & Curriculum

• Oversee daily implementation of the Montessori-inspired curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Evaluate classrooms regularly to ensure learning environments promote curiosity, independence, exploration, and age-appropriate development.
• Provide overall direction for curriculum quality and classroom expectations in partnership with the Assistant Director and instructional leadership staff.
• Lead continuous quality improvement efforts, including curriculum planning, assessment, classroom observations, and reflective practice.
• Ensure consistent implementation of educational standards and developmentally appropriate practices across classrooms.
• Maintain readiness for state monitoring, accreditation reviews, quality assessments, and internal audits.
  
  

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with OKDHS licensing regulations, health and safety standards, and Rainbow Fleet policies.
• Maintain ultimate accountability for EEC regulatory compliance, including responsibilities delegated to the Assistant Director or other supervisory staff.
• Maintain documentation required for licensing inspections, audits, corrective action plans, and internal reviews.
• Serve as the designated program representative for licensing and regulatory communications.
• Coordinate with the Assistant Director and designated staff to ensure required licensing documentation, classroom records, employee credentials, safety procedures, and operational records remain current and compliant.
• Implement and oversee emergency procedures, drills, and safety practices in accordance with state and organizational requirements.
• Ensure corrective actions resulting from licensing visits, incidents, audits, or compliance concerns are completed appropriately and within required timelines.
• Support and enforce all mandated reporter, child safety, confidentiality, and professional conduct requirements.
  
  

Family & Community Engagement

• Build and sustain strong relationships with families through consistent, respectful, and professional communication.
• Respond to family concerns promptly and professionally while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Provide overall leadership for family communication and engagement while allowing the Assistant Director and designated staff to address routine family matters within their assigned responsibilities.
• Address or provide oversight for significant, escalated, sensitive, or program-level family concerns.
• Coordinate family events, parent conferences, and engagement opportunities that reflect Rainbow Fleet’s Montessori-inspired mission.
• Represent Rainbow Fleet in community initiatives that support early childhood education, child development, and family well-being.
• Promote a welcoming, inclusive, and responsive environment for children and families.
  
  

Fiscal & Operational Management

• Develop and manage the EEC budget, including staffing, tuition, supplies, and operational expenses.
• Monitor enrollment and waitlists to support classroom capacity, program sustainability, and financial stability.
• Maintain overall accountability for daily EEC operations while delegating appropriate operational responsibilities to the Assistant Director.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to identify staffing, supply, facility, scheduling, and operational needs that may affect program quality or performance.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and finance team to ensure accurate billing, reporting, and fiscal compliance.
• Monitor operational resources and expenditures to support responsible stewardship and long-term sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, enrollment stability, and program quality.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning for program sustainability, growth, and continued improvement.
  
  

Professional Conduct & Continuous Improvement

• Represent Rainbow Fleet and the Early Education Center with professionalism, integrity, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to high-quality early childhood education.
• Model Rainbow Fleet’s values and leadership expectations in interactions with staff, families, children, regulators, and community partners.
• Maintain current knowledge of OKDHS licensing requirements, accreditation standards, early childhood best practices, and applicable organizational policies.
• Participate in leadership meetings, professional development, and organizational planning activities.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities that may affect program quality, staffing, enrollment, compliance, or financial sustainability.
• Promote continuous improvement by evaluating systems, practices, staffing structures, and program outcomes.
• Maintain consistent communication with the Executive Director regarding program performance, staffing, compliance, family concerns, and operational needs.
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education or program administration.
• Knowledge of Montessori-inspired practices and developmentally appropriate early learning environments.
• Demonstrated success managing staff, budgets, and compliance with licensing and accreditation standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through supervisors or managers while maintaining accountability for overall program performance.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and child care management systems.
• Valid Oklahoma driver’s license and ability to travel locally as needed.
• Ability to pass required background checks, health screenings, and drug testing.
  
  

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, or related field.
• Experience in Montessori-inspired or Reggio Emilia-based early learning environments.
• Experience with national accreditation and QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System).
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish).
  
  

Environmental & Physical Requirements (ADA Standards)

• Ability to work in classroom and office settings with regular movement, bending, standing, and walking.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds of classroom materials or children as needed.
• Ability to move throughout classrooms and outdoor learning environments while monitoring program operations and safety.
• Visual, auditory, and verbal abilities sufficient for supervision, safety monitoring, staff leadership, and communication with families and regulatory representatives.
• Ability to respond appropriately in emergency or safety-related situations.
• Occasional exposure to typical child care environments, outdoor activities, and varying weather conditions.
  
  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Performance Indicators

• Compliance with all OKDHS licensing and accreditation standards.
• Effective implementation of Montessori-inspired curriculum and developmentally appropriate classroom practices.
• Effective leadership and development of the Assistant Director and other supervisory staff.
• Effective delegation of responsibilities while maintaining appropriate Director-level oversight and accountability.
• Staff retention, development, engagement, and performance levels.
• Appropriate classroom staffing, ratios, scheduling, and operational coverage.
• Family satisfaction and effective resolution of family concerns.
• Enrollment stability and effective management of classroom capacity and waitlists.
• Fiscal responsibility and program sustainability.
• Timely completion of licensing, audit, corrective action, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership aligned with Rainbow Fleet’s mission, vision, values, and organizational expectations.
  
  

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance
  
  

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (Required)

Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field.

Experience

Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education, child care center administration, program management, licensing compliance, staff supervision, or related early childhood program operations (Required)

Experience with Montessori-inspired or Reggio Emilia-based early learning environments, national accreditation, or QRIS systems (Preferred)