Child Care / Day Care Center Director / Operations Leader
Location: Tulsa suburb area
Job Type: Full-time, In-person
Pay: $45,000-$50,000 per year + bonus
About the Role
We are hiring an experienced Child Care Center Director for a 4 STAR rated child care center in the Tulsa suburb area.
We are looking for someone who understands what it takes to turn around and elevate a child care center, not just maintain daily activity. This person should bring real experience in center operations, staff management, scheduling, compliance, family relationships, process improvement, and quality advancement.
The right candidate has likely helped build, stabilize, grow, or improve a licensed child care program and understands both the daily realities and the leadership discipline required to operate a strong center. This role requires a person who can handle staff issues, keep the center running smoothly, introduce stronger systems and accountability, and help move the program from 4 STAR toward 5 STAR quality standards.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is operationally sharp, highly organized, and capable of raising standards across the center.
Key Responsibilities
Center Leadership & Daily Operations
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the center with strong ownership, urgency, and follow-through
- Ensure smooth daily execution across classrooms, staffing, child transitions, meals, breaks, ratios, parent communication, and administrative needs
- Identify operational gaps and implement better systems, routines, and processes to improve consistency and performance
- Maintain a center environment that is organized, compliant, calm, and high-functioning
Staffing, Scheduling & Team Development
- Recruit, hire, onboard, train, supervise, and evaluate teachers and support staff
- Build and manage efficient daily and weekly staff schedules based on attendance, classroom ratios, breaks, call-outs, and center needs
- Handle staffing shortages, coverage issues, performance concerns, and attendance problems quickly and effectively
- Develop and implement staff training and coaching programs to improve classroom quality, professionalism, and team consistency
- Mentor team members and help develop stronger future leaders within the center
- Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, reliability, and child-focused care
Compliance, Licensing & Quality Improvement
- Ensure compliance with OKDHS licensing, health and safety requirements, sanitation standards, recordkeeping expectations, and center procedures
- Maintain inspection readiness at all times and ensure all required certifications, documentation, and files are current
- Oversee compliance and quality efforts tied to STAR standards, staff development, and program expectations
- Maintain familiarity with CACFP requirements, documentation needs, and daily operational implications
- Use reporting, documentation, and operational data to identify trends, close gaps, and improve center performance
4 STAR to 5 STAR Readiness
- Help lead the center’s progression from a 4 STAR facility toward 5 STAR standards
- Assess gaps in program quality, systems, classroom consistency, family engagement, documentation, and staff performance
- Implement practical improvements that raise standards across operations and program execution
- Partner with ownership to strengthen the center’s systems, routines, staff performance, and overall quality positioning
Family Engagement & Community Relationships
- Build strong, professional relationships with families through clear communication, responsiveness, and trust
- Support family retention and satisfaction by ensuring a well-run, high-quality center experience
- Conduct tours and support enrollment conversations with prospective families
- Handle parent concerns and difficult conversations with professionalism and sound judgment
- Build constructive relationships with regulatory bodies, vendors, and community partners as needed
Administrative, Financial & Systems Oversight
- Maintain accurate child, staff, and operational records
- Use Procare effectively for attendance, reporting, communication, billing support, and center administration
- Monitor supply needs, ordering, curriculum materials, and general administrative flow
- Support budget awareness, resource allocation, and cost-conscious operational decisions
- Help identify areas to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen operational discipline
Required Qualifications
- Meet Oklahoma DHS Director qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of experience in early childhood education, including meaningful management or operational leadership responsibility
- Prior experience as a Center Director, Assistant Director, Director of Operations, School Leader, Program Director, or similar leadership role in a licensed child care or early childhood setting
- Strong understanding of the day-to-day operational demands of running a child care center
- Proven experience managing staff schedules, staffing issues, classroom coverage, performance management, and team accountability
- Strong working knowledge of OKDHS licensing requirements, child care compliance, and center administration
- Familiarity with STAR quality standards and what is required to improve center quality and readiness
- Familiarity with CACFP processes, daily requirements, and documentation expectations
- Experience using Procare or similar child care management software
- Current CPR/First Aid certification, or ability to obtain immediately upon hire
- Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience helping open, launch, stabilize, or significantly improve a child care center
- Experience with quality improvement initiatives, compliance strengthening, and raising program standards
- Experience developing employee training programs and coaching staff for stronger performance
- Experience using data, reporting, or metrics to improve compliance, staffing, or center operations
- Experience with vendor management, cost control, or operational budgeting
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Business, or a related field preferred
What We’re Looking For
- A real operator, not just an administrator
- Someone who understands what it takes to keep a center functioning well every single day
- A leader who can solve staffing and scheduling problems without constant escalation
- Someone who can build systems, improve accountability, and raise standards
- Calm under pressure, organized, decisive, and consistent
- Strong with families, credible with staff, and dependable with ownership
- Someone who knows how to move a center from “running” to “performing well”
How to Apply
Please submit your résumé along with your availability for a phone screen.
Benefits
- Childcare benefit
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
