Childcare Jobs 2026 (Now Hiring) – Smart Auto Apply

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. Our award-winning concept has received numerous accolades, including Top 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity by Entrepreneur Magazine, 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America by Inc Magazine, and The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies. Each Tierra Encantada location is privately owned and operated by either Tierra Encantada Franchising LLC franchisees or by the corporate office (Tierra Encantada LLC). Franchise owners set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.

Position Overview

The Assistant Director at Tierra Encantada plays a crucial role in supporting the center's operations, maintaining high standards of educational quality, and enhancing team culture. The Assistant Director helps lead the center in achieving enrollment targets, fostering positive staff relationships, and maintaining a safe, compliant, and welcoming environment for children and families.

Key Responsibilities

As the Assistant Director, you will work closely with the Center Director to support the center's success in the following areas:

Leadership and Team Support -

• Assist the Center Director in embodying Tierra Encantada's core values in all aspects of center operations.
• Foster a collaborative team environment through coaching, feedback, and recognition, while supporting staff development and retention initiatives.
• Step into a leadership role during the Center Director's absence, ensuring seamless center operations and consistent staff performance.
• Lead a team of floats, aids and kitchen staff.
• Cover the classrooms and kitchen when needed due to breaks, PTO or sickness.

Administrative Tasks and Parent Communication -

• Manage daily administrative functions, including enrollment tasks, handling phone calls, responding to emails, updating child records, and ensuring timely communication with families.
• Serve as a point of contact for parents, addressing concerns, resolving issues, and communicating updates related to their child's progress, center policies, and upcoming events.
• Regularly update parents on center activities and important announcements, promoting transparent and proactive communication to enhance parent satisfaction.
• Coordinate parent-teacher meetings, ensuring open lines of communication and active parental involvement in their child's education.
• Maintain organization within facilities.
• Oversee purchasing of food and supplies within budget.

Operations and Compliance -

• Support the Center Director in managing daily operations, ensuring compliance with childcare licensing regulations and internal policies.
• Oversee the facility's safety protocols, conducting regular safety drills and ensuring the center remains a secure environment for children, staff, and families.
• Assist in monitoring staff schedules, managing time-off requests, and maintaining accurate payroll records to ensure proper staffing levels.

Educational Quality and Program Management -

• Collaborate with the Center Director to review and enhance the educational programs, maintaining Tierra Encantada's high standards of early childhood development.
• Work with teachers to monitor child development, ensuring comprehensive assessments and strong communication with families about their child's progress.
• Support the maintenance of accreditation standards and the continuous improvement of educational quality.

Community Engagement and Customer Service -

• Assist in local marketing initiatives to promote the center, supporting enrollment growth by participating in open houses, community events, and family engagement activities.
• Build strong relationships with families, providing responsive feedback and fostering a welcoming community that ensures high satisfaction and retention.

Position Requirements

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a lead teacher or assistant director position in a daycare, pre-k or educational setting is required.
• Teacher and director qualified for the state of Minnesota in accordance with Minnesota statute 9503.0031 and 9503.0032 is required.
• Bilingual Spanish and English is required.
• Familiarity with childcare licensing requirements, safety protocols, and best practices in early education strongly preferred.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with an emphasis on team building and problem-solving strongly preferred.
• CPR, First Aid, and Food Protection Manager certification (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire) strongly preferred.
• Must have strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Google Suites (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms).
• Must have the perceptual and cognitive judgment to be able to mitigate and respond to family concerns.
• Proven experience in managing customer service experience is a plus.
• Proven success in retention and onboarding of new hire experience is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Requires the ability to carry and lift 25 pounds or less, use repetitive or fine hand movements, and occasionally push, pull, run short distances, and carry and lift 25-50 pounds.
• Requires excellent long distance and near vision to monitor children's activities both indoors and outdoors in various light conditions, as well as hearing capabilities to respond to children's needs and maintain safety in a moderately noisy environment.

Pay and Schedule

• This is a full-time exempt position that works Monday-Friday, with some weekends required occasionally.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full time, salaried, and exempt position.

Base salary range is $49,000 to $55,000 depending on qualifications, education, and experience.

This position is eligible for additional compensation in the form of a monthly performance bonus.

Benefits include:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous PTO package
• 401(k) with employer match
• Performance bonus
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company paid professional development.

• Once a job offer has been accepted, the candidate must pass a background check and fingerprinting. E-verify is used to verify work authorization status.

Work Location: In person / Onsite