Assistant Director

The Assistant Director is the operational backbone of the school, accountable for day-to-day stability, staff execution and accountability, classroom quality oversight, and parent communication. This role maintains a consistent, visible leadership presence on the floor and in classrooms, ensuring that the Director’s priorities and standards are executed with excellence every day. The Assistant Director partners closely with the School Director to build a strong, engaged team and a high-quality school experience. In the absence of the School Director, the Assistant Director assumes decision-making authority for school operations. This position participates in opening and closing procedures at least 50% of the time.

Essential Functions

• Leadership & Personnel Management

• Support and execute all people management functions by assisting the Director with staff scheduling, performance evaluations, improvement plans, recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training; ensure all new employees receive complete orientation materials, policies, job descriptions, and compliance documentation in a timely manner.

• Maintain a visible, engaged floor leadership presence throughout the building and classrooms daily; actively recognize staff contributions, provide real-time coaching, reinforce a culture where team members feel supported and valued, and assume full supervisory responsibility in the Director's absence.

• Invest in team growth and pipeline development by identifying high-potential staff, providing coaching and stretch opportunities, and sharing observations with the Director to support internal advancement and succession planning.

• Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements including state childcare licensing, teacher-to-child ratios, company policies, and applicable wage and hour laws; fulfill all mandated reporter responsibilities by promptly reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate agency as required by law.

• Maintain a safe, healthy, and operationally sound environment by adhering to all company procedures for accidents, injuries, and incident response; communicating hazards to staff; and conducting routine visual safety inspections.

• Uphold facility and cleanliness standards by assisting with attendance record maintenance, coordinating equipment maintenance and repairs, ensuring daily cleaning checklists are completed, and performing cleaning responsibilities as needed to keep the school compliant and tour-ready.

• Educational Quality & Family Engagement

• Drive classroom quality through active oversight by conducting regular walkthroughs, providing real-time staff coaching and corrections, supporting the development of engaging and developmentally appropriate environments, and encouraging student work displays, evidence of learning, and instructional technology.

• Build proactive, trust-based family relationships by maintaining consistent written and verbal communication about each child's development, participating in parent conferences, conducting professional school tours, and responding to inquiries about curriculum, tuition, enrollment, and operations.

• Represent and grow the school's presence by effectively communicating the company's brand, educational philosophy, curriculum, and program offerings to staff, families, and prospective parents, and supporting enrollment growth and retention through exceptional service and local marketing assistance.

• Administrative & Operational Accountability

• Own the accuracy and completeness of all school records including child and staff files, compliance documentation, corporate reporting, USDA Food Program administration, and agency/voucher billing.

• Monitor key operational indicators including daily attendance patterns, staff scheduling efficiency, classroom capacity, and enrollment trends; proactively flag risks and concerns to the School Director.

• Support financial integrity and asset protection by assisting with accurate financial record-keeping, supporting budget management within approved expectations, and adhering to all company procedures for safeguarding financial and physical assets.

• Leadership Team Collaboration & Communication

• Function as a true leadership partner to the School Director by contributing to shared decisions, maintaining alignment on operational priorities, and following through consistently on all commitments.

• Maintain open, responsive communication with the Director and regional/support teams by providing timely updates on staff issues, family concerns, and operational risks.

• Reinforce a culture of shared accountability by supporting staff through organizational change with a steady, positive presence and holding themselves and others to consistent standards.