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Job description
Benefits:
Bonus based on performance
Competitive salary
Employee discounts
Free uniforms
Opportunity for advancement
Co-Director — The Learning Experience, Graham WA
We're hiring a Co-Director to run day-to-day operations at our Graham, WA center, You'll lead a team that lives and breathes the TLE mission — safe, nurturing, high-quality early education that families trust with the most important person in their life.
Who You Are
You believe in what high-quality early childhood education does for a child's first five years — and for the families who entrust us with them. You lead with ownership, accountability, and self-motivation, and build that same culture in everyone around you. You see what needs to be done and you do it, or make sure the right person does.
What You'll Own
Child safety (non-negotiable): Full DCYF licensing compliance, TLE safety standards, unobstructed door and window sightlines, proper ratios, secure drop-off and pick-up. Audit-ready every day.
Family experience & trust: Build real relationships with parents at drop-off and pick-up, address concerns before they become complaints, and personally know the families who walk through your door. Family trust is your scoreboard.
TLE brand & value delivery: Live and breathe L.E.A.P. curriculum, brand standards in every classroom, and the experience that justifies a family's trust. The center should make a family proud to say their child goes here.
Culture of ownership & accountability: Build a team that owns their classrooms, their kids, and their outcomes. Reward ownership, address its absence quickly, and model it yourself.
Growing our TLE community: Help more families in Graham discover TLE through local partnerships, referrals, online reputation, and employer connections. Step in personally on tours that matter most.
Operations: Daily walkthroughs, brand standards, room organization, leave and coverage planning, and full SOP compliance.
Financial stewardship: Run the center responsibly — P&L, labor cost, DCYF subsidy reimbursement, tuition collection, weekly reporting to ownership.
Team development & 1:1s: Hold a monthly 1:1 with every teacher (more often when needed) to recognize what's going well, coach on what needs to improve, and understand what's really happening in their classroom. Hire, coach, develop, and when necessary let people go — directly and with care, without escalating every hard conversation to ownership.
Partnership with the Assistant Director: AD owns lead response, tours, and the day-to-day welcome. You own community presence, family relationships, financial health, and overall accountability.
DCYF Qualifications (Required at Start)
Must be approvable as a WA Center Director per WAC from day one:
ECE State Certificate or equivalent verified in MERIT, or a credible plan to complete within five years
Two years of teaching experience in a licensed early learning program
At least six months of administration or management experience
Active MERIT registration
Cleared DCYF background check
Preservice requirements complete or in progress per WAC
Candidates who do not meet these qualifications at start will not be considered.
What Else We're Looking For
Large center experience required — 100+ enrolled children, multiple classrooms across age groups, team of 15+ staff. Small in-home or single-classroom experience alone is not a fit.
3+ years in childcare or early education leadership; director or AD experience preferred
Track record of building a center that families want to join and stay at
Comfortable reading a P&L and managing labor cost
Self-motivated and ownership-driven
Willing to have hard conversations directly
Bachelor's preferred
Compensation
Competitive base salary
Performance bonus tied to the health of the center — gated by full compliance with child safety, brand standards, and DCYF licensing
PTO, professional development, childcare discount
Worksite address
graham, WA, 98338, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.