The Regional Director is responsible for establishing, growing, and sustaining fiscally sound, high-quality programs across an assigned region. This role leads regional teams to meet organizational goals in financial management, staffing, enrollment, compliance, program quality, family experience, and child safety, while identifying opportunities to strengthen existing programs and expand services.
The Regional Director reports to the Senior Regional Director or Sr. Deputy Director, Center Operations, and is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with school districts, community partners, and other external stakeholders. Internally, this role partners with department leaders to implement organizational priorities, improve systems and processes, support regional growth, and contribute to statewide projects that strengthen program operations and quality.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead regional operations across assigned centers to ensure programs are fiscally sound, fully staffed, compliant, high-quality, and aligned with organizational priorities
- Develop and use regional plans and performance data to monitor progress, identify trends, and support continuous improvement throughout the year
- Identify and pursue new program opportunities within and beyond the assigned regional footprint, including stand-alone programs, expanded services at existing locations, contract expansion, pilots, and other growth opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and community need
- Develop, monitor, and adjust regional and center budgets in partnership with organizational and center leadership, using enrollment trends, staffing needs, local market conditions, competitor activity, UTK/ELO-P impacts, displacement risks, and other external factors to support program sustainability and financial health
- Partner with center leaders to establish center-specific goals and address barriers related to staffing, enrollment, compliance, program quality, fiscal performance, and family experience
- Coach, develop, and hold direct reports accountable through regular communication, performance feedback, mentorship, site visits, and follow-up
- Develop direct reports' leadership and business management skills, including budget ownership, enrollment awareness, staffing alignment, labor management, and use of data, while adapting coaching and support based on role, experience, and performance needs
- Build and maintain strong relationships with school districts, principals, licensing representatives, community partners, and other external stakeholders
- Attend key partner, district, and community meetings to support contract retention, program growth, regional visibility, and team connection to the communities served
- Develop and implement strategies to address gaps in enrollment, visibility, and family engagement
- Ensure assigned programs meet licensing, contract, safety, quality, staffing, supervision, audit readiness, and organizational compliance expectations
- Lead and participate in regional and statewide projects that support program operations, quality, growth, and field implementation
- Partner with department leaders to gather and use family, staff, district, and stakeholder feedback to improve service and strengthen regional operations
- Partner with Human Resources to support recruitment, selection, performance management, evaluation, and retention of regional leaders and staff
- Build a regional leadership bench by identifying internal talent and supporting succession planning for future program and regional needs
- Facilitate regular communication with regional teams and department partners to align priorities, address barriers, and support follow-through
- Perform other duties that are reasonably related to the position's key responsibilities and are consistent with the employee's job classification, skills, and training
Required Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Early Childhood Education/Child Development, or related field
- 5-8 years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education, child development, expanded learning, human services, or multi-site operations
- Experience leading multi-site teams, including supervision, performance management, staffing, budgeting, and operational accountability
Preferred Qualifications:- Master's degree in Business, Child Development, or related field
- Program Director Permit or eligibility to obtain
- Working knowledge of licensing, compliance, contract requirements, and program quality expectations applicable to child development
Key Competencies:- Leads multiple programs while balancing day-to-day needs, regional priorities, and organizational expectations
- Understands budgets, enrollment, staffing, labor, and other factors that impact program health
- Identifies issues early, uses sound judgment, and moves teams toward practical solutions
- Communicates clearly with staff, families, districts, community partners, and internal departments
- Builds trust and maintains strong working relationships with center leaders, organizational partners, and external stakeholders
- Develops leaders through clear expectations, feedback, follow-up, and support
- Responds effectively to changing needs, shifting priorities, staffing challenges, enrollment trends, and external factors that affect programs
Working Conditions:- Generally pleasant working conditions
- Less than 50% of daily assignments involve prolonged physical effort
- Position requires regular travel, schedule flexibility, and the ability to respond to changing operational needs
- Travel: Up to 80% to assigned centers, meetings, community events, and other organizational-related activities
Shift Type: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 hours per day
Compensation: $97,957 - $146,936 annually
What We Offer:- Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
- 401(k) Retirement plan and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Personal Health Advocate
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Commuter pre-tax benefit
- Discounted childcare
- Access to the Calm app
- Tickets at Work employee discounts
- Be constantly in a learning and growth process with training and professional growth advisory
