Childcare Operations Director/ Enrollment Specialist

Reports To: Center Director
Supervises: Assistant Director, Lead Teachers, Teachers, and Classroom Support Staff

Position Summary

The Operations Manager / Enrollment Specialist supports the Center Director in the daily operation of the school, with a primary focus on staff management, classroom operations, enrollment, tours, and prospective family follow-up.

This position serves as a key member of the leadership team and works directly under the supervision of the Center Director.

The Operations Manager / Enrollment Specialist helps ensure that the school operates smoothly each day, teachers are meeting expectations, classrooms remain properly staffed and compliant, and prospective families receive a professional and welcoming enrollment experience.

The Center Director maintains overall leadership and final decision-making authority for the school.

Operations & Staff Management

• Oversee the daily operations of the school under the direction of the Center Director.
• Provide daily supervision and direction to teaching staff.
• Support and supervise the Assistant Director in daily operational responsibilities.
• Monitor staff attendance, punctuality, professionalism, and performance.
• Ensure employees are following assigned schedules and responsibilities.
• Coordinate classroom coverage, teacher breaks, lunches, call-outs, and staffing adjustments.
• Ensure teacher-to-child ratios are maintained throughout the day.
• Conduct regular classroom walkthroughs.
• Observe teacher performance and classroom management.
• Ensure classrooms are clean, organized, safe, and properly supervised.
• Monitor compliance with classroom schedules, lesson plans, meals, diapering/toileting, nap, outdoor activities, and transitions.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and feedback to teachers.
• Follow up on expectations and instructions provided by the Center Director.
• Address routine staff concerns and performance issues.
• Document recurring concerns and report them to the Center Director.
• Assist with staff improvement plans and disciplinary documentation when requested.
• Help maintain a positive, professional, and accountable work environment.
• Ensure staff understand and follow school policies and procedures.

Enrollment & Tours

• Conduct professional school tours for prospective families.
• Explain the school’s programs, classrooms, curriculum, schedules, policies, and enrollment process.
• Create a welcoming and positive first impression for prospective families.
• Answer questions regarding classroom availability and program options.
• Explain tuition, registration fees, deposits, and enrollment requirements using information approved by the Center Director.
• Follow up with families after tours.
• Maintain communication with prospective families throughout the enrollment process.
• Track tour leads and enrollment opportunities.
• Follow up with families who have expressed interest but have not yet enrolled.
• Assist families with enrollment paperwork and required documentation.
• Coordinate start dates and classroom placement with the Center Director.
• Communicate upcoming enrollments to teachers and the leadership team.
• Maintain accurate enrollment and prospective-family records.
• Help identify opportunities to increase enrollment and classroom occupancy.
• Support enrollment events, open houses, and school marketing initiatives.

Family Communication

• Provide professional and courteous communication with current and prospective families.
• Assist with routine parent questions and concerns.
• Direct significant concerns, complaints, financial matters, or sensitive situations to the Center Director.
• Help ensure families receive accurate and consistent information regarding school procedures.
• Support communication between families, teachers, and administration when appropriate.

Classroom & School Oversight

• Monitor the overall flow of the building throughout the day.
• Ensure classrooms are operating according to school expectations.
• Identify areas that need immediate support.
• Assist in classrooms when necessary to maintain ratios or safe operations.
• Verify that classroom documentation and daily reports are completed correctly.
• Monitor staff interactions with children to ensure appropriate supervision and professionalism.
• Immediately address or report safety concerns.
• Help ensure that opening, transition, nap, meal, outdoor, and closing procedures are followed properly.

Safety & Compliance

• Support the Center Director in maintaining compliance with state licensing requirements.
• Monitor staff compliance with health, safety, sanitation, supervision, and classroom procedures.
• Conduct routine safety checks throughout the school.
• Ensure required ratios are maintained.
• Immediately report serious incidents, injuries, licensing concerns, or policy violations to the Center Director.
• Assist with preparation for licensing visits, inspections, and internal compliance reviews.

Administrative Support

• Assist the Center Director with daily administrative responsibilities as needed.
• Help maintain employee schedules and staffing coverage.
• Assist with onboarding and orientation of new staff.
• Maintain organized enrollment and operational records.
• Assist with staff meetings and training.
• Communicate daily priorities and expectations to staff.
• Follow up to ensure assigned tasks are completed.
• Support special events, school programs, and family activities.

Leadership Responsibilities

The Operations Manager / Enrollment Specialist is expected to act as a visible leader throughout the school.

This includes:

• Being available and present in classrooms and common areas.
• Providing clear and respectful direction to employees.
• Holding staff accountable for school expectations.
• Supporting teachers while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Helping resolve routine operational challenges before they escalate.
• Communicating important concerns promptly to the Center Director.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding staff, children, families, and school matters.
• Modeling professionalism, reliability, communication, and teamwork.

Scope of Authority

The Operations Manager / Enrollment Specialist has authority to:

• Direct teachers and classroom staff during daily operations.
• Assign or adjust classroom coverage.
• Manage staff breaks and lunches.
• Address routine performance concerns.
• Reinforce existing school policies.
• Provide coaching and corrective feedback.
• Coordinate and conduct tours.
• Follow up with prospective families.
• Assist families through the enrollment process.

The following remain under the final authority of the Center Director and/or Ownership:

• Hiring and termination decisions
• Final disciplinary decisions
• Changes to employee compensation
• Tuition changes or special financial agreements
• Refunds or account adjustments
• Changes to school policies
• Serious parent complaints
• Licensing decisions
• Major incident response
• Final enrollment exceptions
• Budget and financial decisions