Title: School DirectorDepartment: OperationsReports To: Regional ManagerSupervisory Position: YesFLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $75,000-$80,000 per year w/ bonus eligibility. Employment Type: Full TimeLocation: Wilton, CT School
Are You Ready to Make an Immediate Impact?
Babilou Family US is part of the global Babilou Family network and brings a local, community-focusedapproach to early childhood education through our Little Sprouts, Building Blocks, and Heartworksschools. We are looking for a proactive and collaborative team member who will support our missionand contribute meaningfully to this role.
The School Director plays a vital leadership role in ensuring a safe, high‑quality, and nurturing environment for childrenand families. This position is ideal for someone ready to lead with a people‑first mindset, elevate school operations,mentor staff, engage families, and drive strong enrollment and financial performance. You will be the key decision‑makerresponsible for the daily success of the school, reporting directly to the Regional Manager.
Our work is guided by our educational approach, Sustainable Education®, which bridges research anddaily practice to help children thrive and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re in what we liketo call the science of children. Everything we do is rooted in research about how young minds grow—how they learn, connect, and build the skills that last a lifetime. We also lead our HONOR values:Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. This guiding framework fosters anenvironment where educators, children, families, and partners feel valued, empowered, and inspiredto grow.
What We Will Achieve Together
- Maintain a safe, compliant, and high‑quality learning environment.
- Achieve 95%+ operational audit scores with zero major safety incidents.
- Ensure 100% licensing compliance with zero violations.
- Strengthen staff culture, reduce turnover, and build a high‑performing team.
- Elevate parent satisfaction to 90%+ through exceptional communication and engagement.
- Grow enrollment 5–10% annually while maintaining healthy profit margins.
- Host meaningful family events to build community and connection.
What you’ll do
Operational Management
KPIs:
- 95%+ operational audit score
- 90%+ classroom quality rating
Regulatory Compliance
KPIs:
- 100% compliance during inspections
- Zero licensing violations annually
Staff Leadership & Development
KPIs
- Staff turnover below 25% annually
- 100% completion of required staff training
- 80%+ employee engagement score
Family Engagement
- Build strong, trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication.
- Address parent questions and concerns promptly and professionally.
- Host family‑focused events to strengthen community connection.
KPIs
- 90%+ parent satisfaction
- Respond to 100% of inquiries within 24 hours
- Host at least 4 family events annually
Business & Enrollment Growth
- Manage the school’s budget and overall financial performance.
- Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment
KPIs
- 5–10% annual enrollment growth
- Maintain profit margins (15-20%)
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Exercises independent judgment and decision‑making authority on matters related to school operations,staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety—consistent with the FLSA ExecutiveExemption criteria.
- Manages and directs the work of teachers and staff, including hiring recommendations, onboarding, scheduling,coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions, demonstrating clear supervisory responsibility
- Holds primary responsibility for the overall success of the school, including operational performance,compliance readiness, financial stewardship, staff engagement, and family satisfaction.
- Leads non‑manual, high‑level administrative and managerial work that requires specialized knowledge of ECElicensing, curriculum implementation, staffing models, safety practices, and regulatory requirements.
- Exercises autonomy in setting priorities, solving problems, and determining how to meet operational,financial, and enrollment goals, without day‑to‑day supervision.
- Serves as the school’s top‑level leader, representing the organization in external communications, licensinginteractions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.
- Develops and implements operational processes and school‑wide improvements, using discretion to interpretcompany policies, local needs, and regulatory environments.
- Makes decisions that directly impact business performance, including enrollment strategy, cost management,staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.
- Provides direct supervision to staff who collectively contribute to the business operations of the school, solidifyingthe role as one that “customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees,” per FLSA standards.
- Holds authority to influence employment decisions, including hiring, corrective action, performance evaluations,and training requirements.
- Leads organizational culture at the school level, shaping employee engagement, morale, retention, and teameffectiveness.
- Functions as a strategic partner to Regional Managers and senior leadership, offering insights andrecommendations that directly influence organizational practices and school‑level outcomes.
Required & Preferred Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, or related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in childcare or school management.
- Strong knowledge of state childcare and school regulations and licensing standards.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
- Ability to manage budgets and drive enrollment growth.
- Director state credentials
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Business (optional but beneficial).
- Prior experience leading school‑level operational improvement or quality initiatives.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
Work Environment
- Active classroom environment with regular interaction with children, families, and team members
- Movement between indoor and outdoor learning spaces throughout the day
- Collaborative setting with consistent communication and teamwork
Physical Requirements
The School Director role requires active involvement in both administrative and classroom environments. To successfullyperform the essential functions of this position, the following physical abilities are required:
- Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to75 percent of the workday.
- Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day toengage with children and support staff.
- Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasionalassistance with children’s belongings.
Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running,outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.
- Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement betweenindoor and outdoor spaces.
- Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.
- Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs.
- Ability to follow and model all safety procedures.
All employees must complete a background check as required by the Department of Early Education and Care
Legal Notice
We are an equal opportunity employer and value a workplace where everyone feels welcome. Employment here is offered on anat‑will basis, meaning either the employee or the company may end the relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice,consistent with applicable state and federal laws.
$75,000 - $80,000 a year
Babilou Family US is part of a global network of 1,100 early education and child care centers. We provide quality early education and child care across 42 New England schools. Through the experience and talents of nearly 900 early education professionals and in partnership with nearly 4,000 families, we are on a meaningful journey to create optimal learning spaces where children ages 0-5 can learn, grow, and thrive.
Our teams, whether at our home office or inside our schools, are change makers – they inspire, create, model, and most importantly make this a great place to work. At Babilou Family US we are consistently recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity within the communities in which we operate. Our focus on equity and inclusion allows us to develop a broader scope of ideas and approaches, offering a collaborative and dynamic educational experience for the youngest members of society.
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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
