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Executive Director - Learning Center
Posted: 02/04/2026
Employment Type:
Direct Hire
Industry: Non-Profit
Job Number: 17720
Field of Expertise: Accounting & Finance
Remote Friendly: No
Job Description
Our client, a respected early childhood learning center in the Atlanta/Buckhead area, is seeking an Executive Director to provide visionary leadership and oversee all aspects of the center’s operations.
Overview
The Executive Director will lead staff; guide programs and curriculum; ensure health, safety, licensing, and regulatory compliance; manage enrollment; and drive operational efficiency while ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization through timely, accurate financial and operational reporting to the Board of Directors.
They will be a visible and approachable leader, holding team members accountable, delivering difficult news with transparency, and fostering a culture of trust, high expectations, and continuous improvement, while building strong relationships with families, staff, the Board, and the broader community.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
1. Program & Curriculum Management
6. Health, Safety & Crisis Management
Qualifications & Education
Final determination of salary will be based on an evaluation of experience, education, budget, etc.
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Overview
The Executive Director will lead staff; guide programs and curriculum; ensure health, safety, licensing, and regulatory compliance; manage enrollment; and drive operational efficiency while ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization through timely, accurate financial and operational reporting to the Board of Directors.
They will be a visible and approachable leader, holding team members accountable, delivering difficult news with transparency, and fostering a culture of trust, high expectations, and continuous improvement, while building strong relationships with families, staff, the Board, and the broader community.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
1. Program & Curriculum Management
- Oversee daily classroom operations and ensure activities follow developmentally appropriate practices.
- Support teachers in implementing curriculum, lesson plans, and learning objectives.
- Ensure classrooms maintain proper schedules for meals, naps, indoor/outdoor play, and structured learning.
- Monitor child progress and ensure documentation and assessments are completed.
- Create daily staffing schedules, ensuring ratios are always maintained.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and in-classroom support to teachers and aides.
- Conduct daily check-ins with staff and address any issues that arise.
- Manage staff absences, substitutes, breaks, and coverage to maintain compliance.
- Onboard new staff and provide ongoing training in safety, curriculum, and child development.
- Ensure the center complies with all state licensing regulations (ratios, sanitation, safety, documentation, emergency procedures).
- Confirm daily health checks are performed on all children.
- Monitor incident reports, medication logs, attendance records, and sign-in/out procedures.
- Conduct regular facility safety checks (playground, classrooms, equipment).
- Maintain required records (staff files, child files, health forms, certifications).
- Greet families during drop-off and pick-up and maintain an approachable presence.
- Communicate daily updates, child progress, and any incidents or concerns.
- Arrange and conduct parent meetings or conferences as needed.
- Support families with enrollment, orientation, and transitions between classrooms.
- Address parent questions, concerns, or complaints promptly and professionally.
- Oversee enrollment, waitlists, tours, and admissions documentation.
- Track current and projected enrollment numbers and report insights to the Board of Directors.
- Manage financial operations, including tuition billing, fee collection, and the preparation of monthly P&L and Balance Sheet statements for the Board.
- Create and maintain staff schedules, payroll records, and timesheets.
- Handle purchasing, supplies, food service coordination, and inventory management.
- Develop and/or enforce center policies, handbooks, and operational procedures.
6. Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Ensure food safety, allergy protocols, and sanitation procedures are followed.
- Respond to injuries, illnesses, and emergencies, completing required documentation.
- Conduct regular emergency drills (fire, lockdown, weather).
- Train staff on first aid, CPR requirements, and safe supervision practices.
- Observe classrooms regularly and provide coaching to maintain high-quality standards.
- Lead staff meetings, professional development, and team-building activities.
- Implement accreditation standards (NAEYC, QRIS) if applicable.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, child-centered environment.
- Coordinate with licensing inspectors, early childhood specialists, local agencies, and vendors.
- Build partnerships with churches, local schools, resource centers, and community programs.
- Represent the center at community events, professional networks, or partnerships.
- Ensure the Director personally (or via staff) completes the 40-hour Director Training (or equivalent) before or shortly after assuming the role.
- Verify that all staff have completed required trainings (initial & annual), are credentialed appropriately, and that training records are maintained.
- Confirm that background checks (fingerprint, criminal history) are completed for all required personnel and any adults assisting at the center.
- Maintain staff-to-child ratios and group size requirements each day and monitor mixed-age group logic.
- Maintain and review the facility’s documentation: staff records, child records, attendance, incident logs, training logs, maintenance logs.
- Ensure facility meets required physical standards (building, playground, health/safety) and that inspections and approvals (zoning, fire, health) are current.
- Lead the annual renewal process: ensure licensing fee is paid, application is submitted timely, and any changes (ownership, location, capacity) are reported.
- Prepare and lead the center through inspections: maintain readiness for unannounced visits and address any plan of correction for non-compliance.
Qualifications & Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (Early Childhood Education, Education Leadership, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or related field)
- 10+ years of operational leadership experience in early childhood education, with prior experience as a Center Director or Executive Director
- Demonstrated experience managing the financial operations of an educational facility, including budgets, tuition revenue, and financial sustainability models
- Proven ability to work with finance committees, auditors, and accountants, and to align resources with strategic priorities
- Track record of program growth, quality improvement, or organizational stabilization
- Demonstrated success working with boards, ideally parent-governed boards
- Knowledge of Georgia DECAL licensing rules and early learning best practices
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with ability to hold staff accountable and deliver difficult messages with transparency
- CPR/First Aid certification (or ability to obtain) and successful background check required
Final determination of salary will be based on an evaluation of experience, education, budget, etc.
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Meet Your Recruiter
Trista Wearing
Senior Director Recruiting
Trista joined Corps Team in 2006. She is a results-oriented Talent Acquisition professional with 20 years of Recruiting, Account Management and HR experience. Trista received her bachelor's degree in Human Ecology with a minor in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee. She is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and consistently amazes our clients with her ability to find the "purple squirrel" (the one in a million candidate for the job).
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