School Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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.
Compensation: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This Is Your Moment
The joy of childhood comes from those bright sparks of discovery -- moments that delight and surprise us. Your career at The Goddard School can be just as exciting. For more than 35 years, Goddard Schools have put each teacher at the heart of everything we do because teachers put each student at the heart of everything they do. The Goddard School trusts, empowers, and honors its exceptional educators. Develop your teaching skills in a vibrant and nurturing environment and make a difference in children's lives every day.
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.