Your role

As an Assistant Director at Child Development Schools, you will help lead a center where children thrive, families feel at home, and educators are set up to do their best work every day. You will partner closely with the Center Director to manage daily operations, support your teaching team, and keep the center running smoothly, safely, and in full compliance.

This is a role for someone ready to step into real leadership -- someone who is organized, people-focused, and motivated to grow. If your goal is to run a center of your own, this is the right starting point.

Essential functions

Operational stability: Manage staff schedules, ensure proper classroom ratios, coordinate coverage, and keep the center running smoothly on a day-to-day basis
Classroom monitoring and quality oversight: Conduct regular classroom walkthroughs, provide real-time coaching and corrections to staff, and ensure program quality standards are upheld
Administrative and compliance execution: Maintain accurate, up-to-date child and staff files; complete required compliance and corporate reporting; manage USDA and agency paperwork as applicable
Documentation: Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly compliance and corporate reporting documents
Parent communication and experience: Handle routine parent communication, conduct school tours for prospective families, and escalate complex concerns to the Director
Staff onboarding, coaching, and accountability: Support onboarding of new hires, assist with day-to-day staff coaching, enforce policies consistently, and provide supervisory coverage in the Director's absence
Opening and/or closing the center as assigned

What you can decide independently

Assistant Directors at CDS have real ownership and authority. You can independently make decisions on:

Daily staffing and coverage adjustments
Classroom-level corrections and coaching
Routine parent communication
Policy enforcement within established guidelines
Compliance with current standards
Supply orders within an approved budget
Immediate problem-solving during operations
Major parent or staff complaints and inquiries are escalated to the Director

Pay and benefits

Pay: $35,568-$37,440 based on experience and education.

Full-time employees receive:

Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability
401(k)
9 company-paid holidays and 8 days of PTO
50% tuition discount for your own children enrolled at a CDS center
Up to $5,250 in annual tuition reimbursement for continued education
Access to PerkSpot for discounts on major brands and services

ASPIRE -- Director in Training: Assistant Directors have access to our ASPIRE program, a 3-month leadership development initiative focused on business operations, customer service, and people management. It is designed to build the skills and confidence needed to run a center independently.

#CDSSEN

Qualifications

Requirements

At least 18 years old
High school diploma or GED
Ability to pass a background check
Minimum 2 years of experience in a licensed childcare center
Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate, and hold a team accountable
Genuine care for children and a commitment to their safety and well-being
Excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships with families and staff
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage compliance documentation accurately
Physical ability to meet the demands of working with young children

A degree or coursework in Early Childhood Education is a plus. We are looking for people who are ready to lead and committed to growing.

Assistant Director

Key skills

About this role