Executive School Director – Premium Private Preschool
The Goddard School, Stirling, NJ, United States
Overview
A highly respected premium private preschool in New Jersey is seeking an exceptional
School Director
to lead a high-performing school known for strong standards, operational excellence, and a polished family experience. This opportunity is for a sophisticated, high-capacity early childhood leader who understands that a premium school requires more than day-to-day management. It requires executive presence, operational command, educational leadership, strong people management, and the ability to uphold a standard of excellence in every area of the school. We are seeking a Director who can lead with professionalism, warmth, urgency, and precision — someone who can successfully balance faculty leadership, family experience, compliance, enrollment, and school operations while protecting and strengthening the reputation of a high-performing school.
Position Summary
The School Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the school, including health and safety, regulatory compliance, faculty leadership, family experience, enrollment support, and operational excellence. The Director must be highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities at once, and capable of setting a polished, professional tone that reflects the caliber of the school.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Health, Safety & Compliance
Maintain a safe, secure, and exceptionally well-run school environment for children, families, and faculty
Ensure full compliance with all applicable state licensing requirements and school policies
Lead emergency preparedness, drills, crisis response, and corrective action when needed
Maintain classroom ratios and staffing coverage at all times
Oversee medication administration, documentation, faculty records, and required compliance files
Monitor regulatory updates and ensure the school remains current and fully aligned
Schedule and monitor required trainings, including CPR, First Aid, Infant Safe Sleep, and other mandated programs
High-Quality Programming & Family Experience
Build trust with families and create an exceptional first impression of the school
Communicate professionally and confidently with families, faculty, and children each day
Lead tours with warmth, polish, and a strong understanding of the premium value of the school
Drive retention through strong relationships, responsiveness, and consistency
Support family-teacher conferences through organization, preparation, scheduling, and follow-through
Faculty Leadership & Team Development
Lead, coach, support, and develop faculty to uphold high standards of performance and professionalism
Conduct classroom observations and provide meaningful feedback
Support curriculum implementation, lesson plan quality, parent communication, and classroom resources
Provide training, onboarding, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities
Lead recruitment, interviewing, hiring support, retention efforts, and culture-building
Create a strong, accountable, positive faculty environment built on trust, consistency, and clear expectations
Business Management & School Operations
Support enrollment growth through tours, lead follow-up, and a high-touch onboarding experience
Help identify enrollment opportunities, manage transitions, and maintain strong class list planning
Participate in marketing events, school events, and community visibility efforts
Oversee staffing schedules, faculty hours, and operational coverage
Manage budgets related to payroll, supplies, and consumables
Partner closely with ownership to maintain and further elevate school performance
Qualifications
Must meet all New Jersey state requirements for a preschool director
3+ years of director-level leadership experience required
in a private preschool or licensed early childhood education setting
Accepted prior titles may include
School Director, Center Director, Preschool Director, or Executive Director
Experience must include leadership of staff, school operations, family communication, licensing compliance, and enrollment oversight
Strong ability to train, coach, and hold faculty accountable
Excellent multitasking, organizational, operational, and decision-making ability
Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and professionally with families, children, faculty, and ownership
Ability to handle crisis situations calmly and effectively
Ability to work closely with children in a school setting and perform all duties required of the role
Candidates with only Assistant Director experience will not be considered for this role
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or a related field
Prior experience in a licensed childcare center or preschool
Compensation
$70,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience
Preferred Leadership Profile
Proven ability to lead a high-quality school while balancing people, operations, and compliance
A polished, professional presence aligned with a premium school environment
Strong instincts around family experience, staff management, and school culture
A high sense of urgency, ownership, accountability, and follow-through
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A highly respected premium private preschool in New Jersey is seeking an exceptional
School Director
to lead a high-performing school known for strong standards, operational excellence, and a polished family experience. This opportunity is for a sophisticated, high-capacity early childhood leader who understands that a premium school requires more than day-to-day management. It requires executive presence, operational command, educational leadership, strong people management, and the ability to uphold a standard of excellence in every area of the school. We are seeking a Director who can lead with professionalism, warmth, urgency, and precision — someone who can successfully balance faculty leadership, family experience, compliance, enrollment, and school operations while protecting and strengthening the reputation of a high-performing school.
Position Summary
The School Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the school, including health and safety, regulatory compliance, faculty leadership, family experience, enrollment support, and operational excellence. The Director must be highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities at once, and capable of setting a polished, professional tone that reflects the caliber of the school.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Health, Safety & Compliance
Maintain a safe, secure, and exceptionally well-run school environment for children, families, and faculty
Ensure full compliance with all applicable state licensing requirements and school policies
Lead emergency preparedness, drills, crisis response, and corrective action when needed
Maintain classroom ratios and staffing coverage at all times
Oversee medication administration, documentation, faculty records, and required compliance files
Monitor regulatory updates and ensure the school remains current and fully aligned
Schedule and monitor required trainings, including CPR, First Aid, Infant Safe Sleep, and other mandated programs
High-Quality Programming & Family Experience
Build trust with families and create an exceptional first impression of the school
Communicate professionally and confidently with families, faculty, and children each day
Lead tours with warmth, polish, and a strong understanding of the premium value of the school
Drive retention through strong relationships, responsiveness, and consistency
Support family-teacher conferences through organization, preparation, scheduling, and follow-through
Faculty Leadership & Team Development
Lead, coach, support, and develop faculty to uphold high standards of performance and professionalism
Conduct classroom observations and provide meaningful feedback
Support curriculum implementation, lesson plan quality, parent communication, and classroom resources
Provide training, onboarding, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities
Lead recruitment, interviewing, hiring support, retention efforts, and culture-building
Create a strong, accountable, positive faculty environment built on trust, consistency, and clear expectations
Business Management & School Operations
Support enrollment growth through tours, lead follow-up, and a high-touch onboarding experience
Help identify enrollment opportunities, manage transitions, and maintain strong class list planning
Participate in marketing events, school events, and community visibility efforts
Oversee staffing schedules, faculty hours, and operational coverage
Manage budgets related to payroll, supplies, and consumables
Partner closely with ownership to maintain and further elevate school performance
Qualifications
Must meet all New Jersey state requirements for a preschool director
3+ years of director-level leadership experience required
in a private preschool or licensed early childhood education setting
Accepted prior titles may include
School Director, Center Director, Preschool Director, or Executive Director
Experience must include leadership of staff, school operations, family communication, licensing compliance, and enrollment oversight
Strong ability to train, coach, and hold faculty accountable
Excellent multitasking, organizational, operational, and decision-making ability
Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively and professionally with families, children, faculty, and ownership
Ability to handle crisis situations calmly and effectively
Ability to work closely with children in a school setting and perform all duties required of the role
Candidates with only Assistant Director experience will not be considered for this role
Preferred Education
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or a related field
Prior experience in a licensed childcare center or preschool
Compensation
$70,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience
Preferred Leadership Profile
Proven ability to lead a high-quality school while balancing people, operations, and compliance
A polished, professional presence aligned with a premium school environment
Strong instincts around family experience, staff management, and school culture
A high sense of urgency, ownership, accountability, and follow-through
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