How to hire a day care center director

How to hire a day care center director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step day care center director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a day care center director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new day care center director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a day care center director job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a day care center director, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A day care center director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, day care center directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents day care center director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Day Care Center Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Day Care Center Director	Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead staffs, oversee daily activities, design curriculums, and prepare budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their center’s program.	$18-55
   Director	Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life... Show more	$31-92
   Parent Educator	A parent educator is a professional who specializes in tutoring parents on skills to help them raise children who are healthy and well-rounded. You will help parents learn the skills they may need to raise children who are healthy emotionally, psychologically, and physically... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • CPR
   • Kids
   • Child Care
   • Curriculum Development
   • Acute Care
   • Health Promotion
   • Program Development
   • Transportation Services
   • Community Outreach
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Service Delivery
   • Medicaid

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage delivery of quality early childhood education programs by establishing an environment of learning and maintaining the integrity of the programs.
   • Provide CPR training and administer medication.
   • Manage delivery of quality early childhood education programs by establishing an environment of learning and maintaining the integrity of the programs.
   • Administer student assessments and hold parent teacher conferences to evaluate kindergarten readiness skills.
   • Plane and complete all kindergarten readiness and developmentally appropriate classroom activities and assessments.
   • Establish and facilitate implementation of facility CQI program.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your day care center director job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A day care center director can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, day care center directors' average salary in montana is 50% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level day care center directors 66% less than senior-level day care center directors.
   • Certifications. A day care center director with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a day care center director's salary.

   Average day care center director salary

   $67,570yearly

   $32.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level day care center director salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a day care center director job description

   A good day care center director job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a day care center director job description:

   Day care center director job description example

   This position provides clinical oversight to the patient care team on the assigned area(s). The leadership shall be rendered in an effective manner that is consistent and aligned with the core values, mission, ethics, policies and procedures of Logan Health.
   Qualifications:
   + Current Montana RN License or a multi state compact license with authorization to practice nursing within the state of Montana; required.
   + Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) required. Masters in Nursing, healthcare administration, business or related field preferred.
   + Minimum of three (3) years’ leadership experience required.
   + Current RQI Healthcare Provider required. Additional certification vary by specialty area:
   + Interventional Cardiology - ACLS
   + Relevant specialty certifications preferred.
   + Minimum of two (2) years’ recent experience in a minimum of one (1) of the identified specialty areas required:
   + Ambulatory Care
   + Critical Care
   + Endoscopy
   + Interventional Cardiology
   + PACU
   + Psychiatric and Addiction
   + Skilled Care
   + Surgical Services
   + Wound Ostomy
   + Possess knowledge of the health care environment, health care reform and care delivery systems as they apply to the clinical practices on the assigned unit.
   + Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, a self-starter, possess critical thinking skills and be able to set priorities and function as part of a team as well as independently.
   + Commitment to working in a team environment and maintaining confidentiality as needed.
   + Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively with various audiences.
   + Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy.
   + Possess and maintain computer skills to include working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn other software as needed.
   Management Job Duties:
   Strategic Execution
   Drive organizational objectives by operationalizing changes and initiatives effectively and efficiently. Proactively anticipate both the needs of Logan Health and the impact operations has on the organization’s success. Collect and analyze data, prepare and present recommendations, and explain associated benefits and risks for improving operations.
   Business Acumen
   Demonstrate and further develop competencies in the areas of leadership, financial management, employee engagement, human resources knowledge, organizational dynamics and governance, organizational communication, strategic planning, change management, risk management, compliance, patient safety and quality improvement. Demonstrate professional ownership, self-development and a desire for life-long learning.
   Emotional Intelligence
   Serve as a role model for others by exhibiting the Logan Health core values: integrity, compassion, service, excellence and ownership. Lead and influence the team to provide outstanding customer service. Develop and foster relationships with other Logan Health leaders, departments and members of the team to support open communication, trust, transparency and collaboration.
   Leadership
   Creates a supportive department culture by fostering individual motivation, coaching and training for optimum job performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to develop, implement and support programs and processes that add value to Logan Health, its leadership and employees. Leads to improve culture, employee and physician engagement, empowerment, growth and retention, while remaining committed to Logan Health’s management and prosperity for its customers, employees and community.
   ?Job Specific Duties:
   + Provides day-to-day operational leadership to the assigned specialty program area(s).
   + Maintains a demeanor of innovative and professional leadership, civility, teamwork and customer service while undertaking all tasks and interactions.
   + Provides oversight of the clinical staff and patient care to include, staffing, orientation, education, policy/process compliance and overall quality of patient interaction and care. Performs annual performance evaluations, unit competencies and orientation checklists for assigned employees.
   + Creates an environment of collaboration and mentorship and supports and/or assumes nursing duties operationally required and as applicable to assigned area(s).
   + Encourages and develops risk, quality and safety reporting and analysis to foster problem solving, root case analysis for operational and clinical improvement.
   + Supports customer service guidelines by developing patient and family relations, supporting the care team to provide exemplary customer service, and demonstrating proactive service recovery as applicable to assigned area(s).
   + Maintains adherence of nursing practice on the assigned area(s) according to the Montana State Nurse Practice Act, and the State Board of Nursing regulations, the regulatory standards governing Logan Health, and the application of the standards to the policies and procedures at Logan Health.
   + Exhibits responsibility for ensuring the appropriate policies, procedures and documentation are utilized by the assigned area(s). Participates in the development and concurrent review of policies and procedures. Assures appropriate staff training for new procedures.
   + Monitors assigned area(s) productivity standards. Assists leadership with operational and capital budget development and fiscal oversight. Assists leadership and materials management to assure appropriate equipment and supplies are available. Provides input on supply use and supply/equipment cost analysis.
   + Participates in proactive safety and risk management programs to improve structure, process and outcomes of care. Works with leadership to assess quality, outcomes, metrics, and implements process improvement. Participates in organizational committees/ task forces as assigned.
   + Conducts focused rounds in the assigned area(s) and ensures the safety, comfort and needs of patients and families are sustained in a timely, courteous and professional manner. Maintains a visible and participatory presence on the assigned area(s) and addresses needs or concerns in a timely manner.
   + Proactively partners with Human Resources in the areas of employee relations, corrective action, performance management, recruiting, compensation, benefits and HR policies. Works closely with HR to develop job descriptions and job standards for each position and monitors for accuracy. Conducts annual performance appraisals according to HR guidelines. Provides regular, scheduled feedback to assigned employees regarding performance. Establishes processes to ensure employees are properly trained for positions and develops cross training opportunities as warranted.
   The above essential functions are representative of major duties of positions in this job classification. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned similar to the above consistent with knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job. Not all of the duties may be assigned to a position.
   Maintains regular and consistent attendance as scheduled by department leadership.
   Shift:
   Day Shift - 8 Hours (United States of America)
   Schedule Details:
   Please know schedules and shifts are subject to change based on patient care and department/organizational needs.
   Schedule:
   Logan Health operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Schedules are set to accommodate the requirements of the position and the needs of the organization and may be adjusted as needed.
   Notice of Pre-Employment Screening Requirements
   If you receive a job offer, please note all offers are contingent upon passing a pre-employment screening, which includes:
   + Criminal background check
   + Reference checks
   + Drug Screening
   + Health and Immunizations Screening
   + Physical Demand Review/Screening
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   Logan Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE/AA/M-F/Vet/Disability). We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment. We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on protected veteran status, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable law. If you require accommodation to complete the application, testing or interview process, please notify Human Resources.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find day care center directors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your day care center director job on Zippia to find and recruit day care center director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with day care center director candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new day care center director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the day care center director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a day care center director?