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.