Executive Director

Title: School Director

Department: Operations

Reports To: Regional Manager

Supervisory Position: Yes

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Lawrence

 Are You Ready to Make an Immediate Impact?

Babilou Family US is part of the global Babilou Family network and brings a local, community-focused approach to early childhood education through our Little Sprouts, Building Blocks, and Heartworks schools. We are looking for a proactive and collaborative team member who will support our mission and contribute meaningfully to this role. The School Director plays a vital leadership role in ensuring a safe, high‑quality, and nurturing environment for children and families. This position is ideal for someone ready to lead with a people‑first mindset, elevate school operations, mentor staff, engage families, and drive strong enrollment and financial performance. You will be the key decision‑maker responsible for the daily success of the school, reporting directly to the Regional Manager. Our work is guided by our educational approach, Sustainable Education®, which bridges research and daily practice to help children thrive and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. We’re in what we like to call the science of children. Everything we do is rooted in research about how young minds grow— how they learn, connect, and build the skills that last a lifetime. We also lead our HONOR values: Humility, Open-Mindedness, Nurture, Ownership, and Recognition. This guiding framework fosters an environment where educators, children, families, and partners feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow.

• Maintain a safe, compliant, and high‑quality learning environment.
• Achieve 95%+ operational audit scores with zero major safety incidents.
• Ensure 100% licensing compliance with zero violations.
• Strengthen staff culture, reduce turnover, and build a high‑performing team.
• Elevate parent satisfaction to 90%+ through exceptional communication and engagement.
• Grow enrollment 5–10% annually while maintaining healthy profit margins.
• Host meaningful family events to build community and connection.

• Recruit, train, and mentor, and support staff.
• Build a positive, collaborative workplace culture.

o KPIs:

▪ Staff turnover below 25% annually

▪ 100% completion of required staff training

▪ 80%+ employee engagement score

• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents through consistent communication.
• Address parent questions and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Host family‑focused events to strengthen community connection.

o KPIs:

▪ 90%+ parent satisfaction

▪ Respond to 100% of inquiries within 24 hours

▪ Host at least 4 family events annually

• Manage the school’s budget and overall financial performance.
• Implement local marketing strategies to increase enrollment.

o KPIs:

▪ 5–10% annual enrollment growth 

▪ Maintain profit margins (15-20%) 

 

• Exercises independent judgment and decision‑making authority on matters related to school operations, staffing, parent communication, culture, compliance, budgeting, and safety—consistent with the FLSA Executive Exemption criteria.
• Manages and directs the work of teachers and staff, including hiring recommendations, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions, demonstrating clear supervisory responsibility.
• Holds primary responsibility for the overall success of the school, including operational performance, compliance readiness, financial stewardship, staff engagement, and family satisfaction.
• Leads non‑manual, high‑level administrative and managerial work that requires specialized knowledge of ECE licensing, curriculum implementation, staffing models, safety practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Exercises autonomy in setting priorities, solving problems, and determining how to meet operational, financial, and enrollment goals, without day‑to‑day supervision.
• Serves as the school’s top‑level leader, representing the organization in external communications, licensing interactions, inspections, community partnerships, and parent relations.
• Develops and implements operational processes and school‑wide improvements, using discretion to interpret company policies, local needs, and regulatory environments.
• Makes decisions that directly impact business performance, including enrollment strategy, cost management, staffing ratios, and classroom allocation.
• Provides direct supervision to staff who collectively contribute to the business operations of the school, solidifying the role as one that “customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees,” per FLSA standards.
• Holds authority to influence employment decisions, including hiring, corrective action, performance evaluations, and training requirements.
• Leads organizational culture at the school level, shaping employee engagement, morale, retention, and team effectiveness.
• Functions as a strategic partner to Regional Managers and senior leadership, offering insights and recommendations that directly influence organizational practices and school‑level outcomes.

• The School Director role requires active involvement in both administrative and classroom environments. To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, the following physical abilities are required:

o Ability to move throughout the school for prolonged periods, including standing and walking for up to 75 percent of the workday.

o Ability to transition between sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, and squatting throughout the day to engage with children and support staff.

• Ability to safely lift, carry, and move items up to 30 pounds, including classroom materials, supplies, and occasional assistance with children’s belongings.
• Ability to sit on the floor, engage at a child’s eye level, and participate in age-appropriate activities including light running, outdoor play supervision, and interactive learning experiences.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, sometimes noisy environment with frequent interruptions and regular movement between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Ability to supervise children on playgrounds, in classrooms, hallways, entryways, and common areas.
• Ability to respond quickly and safely in emergency situations, including evacuations, drills, and urgent classroom needs.
• Ability to follow and model all safety procedures.