Founding Director: HavenStone Childcare Center
HavenStone Childcare Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Full-Time, $72,500/year + up to $20,000 in milestone bonuses
About HavenStone
HavenStone is a new, premium early childhood education center being built in Colorado Springs to serve up to 120 children and their families.
We are looking for an experienced early childhood leader to serve as our Founding Director, a hands-on leader who wants the opportunity to build something exceptional from the ground up.
Our philosophy is simple: In Safety. For Well-Being. To Wonder. We believe children thrive when they feel safe, supported, and inspired, and that starts with an exceptional team and a strong center culture.
The Opportunity
As Founding Director, you will serve as the operational leader of HavenStone. You will help bring the center from final preparation through opening and assume full responsibility for its day-to-day operation.
This is a highly visible leadership role with significant ownership over children and family success, employees, scheduling, licensing, enrollment, curriculum quality, facility operations, and center culture.
We expect our Director to be visible and engaged throughout the center, observing classrooms, supporting teachers, building relationships with families, and ensuring that daily operations run consistently and safely.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Opening
· Lead and finalize Colorado childcare licensing requirements and readiness.
· Implement policies, procedures, and operational systems.
· Support hiring, interviewing, onboarding, and staff scheduling.
· Build staff training and development plans.
· Support enrollment, admissions, family onboarding, and parent engagement.
· Help finalize classroom environments, FF&E, and program readiness.
· Support implementation of Brightwheel and other center systems.
· Ensure curriculum and classroom practices align with licensing requirements and HavenStone standards.
Operations
· Lead daily center operations to ensure a safe, professional, and high quality environment.
· Oversee staffing, classroom coverage, schedules, ratios, and daily operational needs.
· Establish a positive culture built on accountability, professionalism, and care.
· Maintain accurate records and ensure required information is documented in the appropriate systems.
· Ensure curriculum fidelity and consistently high classroom quality.
· Serve as the primary onsite leader and steward of HavenStone's mission and values.
Staff Leadership & Development
· Recruit, interview, onboard, coach, and develop teachers and staff.
· Build a culture of professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and care.
· Provide regular coaching and feedback through day-to-day interactions.
· Monitor employee morale, training progress, staffing needs, and professional development.
· Develop lead teachers and supervisors and identify future leadership potential.
Families, Enrollment & Community
· Build strong, trusting relationships with children and families.
· Lead admissions, enrollment, family onboarding, and parent engagement.
· Monitor enrollment activity, waitlists, withdrawals, and retention.
· Respond professionally to parent concerns and escalations.
· Identify opportunities to continuously improve the family experience.
· Help establish HavenStone as a trusted member of the Colorado Springs community.
What We’re Looking For
We are seeking a leader who combines character, competence, and teamwork.
The ideal candidate:
· Has proven leadership experience in a licensed childcare, preschool, or early childhood education setting.
· Understands Colorado childcare licensing requirements and regulatory compliance.
· Has experience hiring, coaching, developing, and retaining staff.
· Is organized, decisive, and comfortable taking ownership in a startup environment.
· Builds trust with families and communicates clearly and professionally.
· Is passionate about high-quality early childhood education.
· Welcomes feedback, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
· Leads with calm authority, empathy, consistency, and integrity.
Required: Candidate must meet Colorado requirements to serve as a qualified Child Care Center Director and successfully complete all required background checks, fingerprinting, education/credential verification, and professional reference checks.
Compensation and Benefits
· $72,500 annual salary
· Up to $20,000 in one-time milestone bonuses, tied to major organizational achievements including:
o Colorado Child Care License
o Colorado Shines Level 3
o Child Care Aware/MCCYN approval
o NAEYC Accreditation
o Colorado Shines Level 5
· $5,000 retention bonus after two years of continued employment in good standing
· Paid Vacation
o Year 1: 10 days
o Year 2: 15 days
o Year 3 and onward: 18 days
· Annual Sick Leave: 7 days
· Eight paid Holidays (New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas)
· 401(k) plan with no employer match during Year 1
· $1,500 annual professional development allowance
· Company laptop and cell phone
· Required licensing, certification, and professional renewal expenses covered
Our compensation package is designed to reward both leadership and long-term commitment as HavenStone grows.
A Systems Driven Leadership Environment
HavenStone is intentionally designed to allow the Director to lead rather than become buried in administration.
Our operating model uses systems of record, including Brightwheel, Gusto, Provider Hub, PDIS, CABS, and Microsoft 365, to maintain accurate operational information and provide organizational visibility.
The Director is expected to keep systems accurate and current, but routine reporting and unnecessary administrative work are minimized. Ownership provides strategic direction and oversight while the Director owns the daily operation of the center.
The result is a leadership environment built around autonomy, accountability, and problem-solving, not micromanagement.
Why HavenStone?
This is more than a center management position. It is an opportunity to help build the culture, systems, team, and reputation of a childcare center from day one.
You will have the opportunity to shape an organization where children can thrive, families feel confident, and educators find purpose in their work.
If you are an experienced early childhood leader who is ready to build something meaningful, and wants genuine ownership in its success, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today to become the Founding Director of HavenStone Childcare Center.