School Director

School Director The Goddard School of Trabuco Canyon, CA Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Job Details Full-time $100,000 - $120,000 a year 4 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Opportunities for advancement Qualifications Employee onboarding Faculty hiring Early childhood education center experience Community engagement Operations management Overseeing educational regulatory compliance Mid-level Bachelor's degree in early childhood education Managing budgets in a finance role Bachelor's degree in child development Bachelor's degree Team management Instructional leadership in education Overseeing academic personnel management Staff training Child Development Profit & Loss statement Organizational skills Classroom experience Bachelor's degree in education Enrollment management School policy and procedure enforcement Financial management Onboarding process management Private school experience Leadership Communication skills Staffing management Organizational budget management Early Childhood Education Staff development

Full Job Description Benefits:

Bonus opportunities Professional development State-of-the-Art facilities Affiliation with leaders in the early childhood education industry 401(k) Bonus based on performance Competitive salary Dental insurance Health insurance Opportunity for advancement Paid time off Training & development Vision insurance Join the founding team at The Goddard School® of Trabuco Canyon . We are seeking an experienced early childhood learning leader to help open and lead a new Goddard School with an anticipated Fall 2026 opening. The Center Director will partner with ownership to prepare for launch, recruit and support a founding faculty, lead family tours and enrollment, uphold licensing and brand standards, and build a warm school culture.

Director Key Responsibilities Leadership and Operations:

Lead daily operations while upholding Goddard brand standards, licensing requirements, school policies, and professionalism. Build systems for communication, staffing, family experience, and launch readiness.

Enrollment and Family Experience:

Lead family tours, admissions conversations, and enrollment. Build trust through warmth, responsiveness, professionalism, and clear communication while supporting enrollment goals.

Opening Preparation:

Partner with ownership on staff onboarding, classroom readiness, family communication, licensing preparation, and Fall 2026 launch priorities.

Staff Hiring and Culture:

Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and support a founding team of educators. Build a positive culture where teachers feel valued, supported, and equipped.

Curriculum, Licensing, and Safety:

Support the Wonder of Learning® program and classroom quality. Help maintain compliance with licensing, health, safety, supervision, records, staff qualifications, ratios, and safe classroom practices.

Family, Community, and Resources:

Build strong family and community relationships. Partner with ownership on enrollment goals, staffing plans, classroom resources, and operational priorities. Ownership manages P&L, budgeting, and reporting.

Qualifications California Director Qualifications:

Must meet applicable California Director qualification requirements before employment and provide documentation of qualifying education, coursework, permits, and experience.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or related field preferred. Equivalent coursework, permits, and leadership experience may be considered. Minimum 4 years of early childhood education experience preferred, including at least 2 years in a formal leadership role.

Center Leadership:

Experience in a larger or multi-classroom early childhood center preferred. Premium preschool, franchise early childhood, or private school experience is a plus.

Infant Program Readiness:

Candidates should have completed, or be willing and able to complete before licensing/employment requirements are finalized, required infant/toddler coursework and documentation.

Skills and Clearances:

Strong communication, organization, follow-through, problem-solving, enrollment, family communication, and team leadership skills. Must pass required LiveScan DOJ/FBI background checks and complete required health screening, TB clearance, immunization documentation, and other requirements.

Compensation and Benefits Base Salary:

Annual exempt salary range of $100,000-$120,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and role fit.

Performance Bonuses:

Eligible for up to $15,000 in milestone-based bonuses tied to licensing readiness, staffing readiness, enrollment goals, and launch priorities.

Childcare Tuition Benefit:

Tiered childcare benefit while employed, including complimentary tuition for the first enrolled child and discounts for additional children.

Benefits:

Health, dental, and vision insurance; Paid Time Off; paid holidays; professional development support; and the opportunity to help shape a new school with active ownership support. Wonder of Learning® is The Goddard School's exclusive education program designed to embrace how children learn best — through play and curiosity. The curriculum is designed to make learning enjoyable while supporting important skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and social-emotional development. Each Goddard School location is privately owned and operated by Goddard Franchisor LLC franchisees. The Goddard School franchise owner(s) are the employers at each school, and the franchise owner(s) set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.