Position Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing daily preschool operations, staff leadership and development, fiscal management, enrollment, and compliance with state licensing requirements, while upholding a nurturing, community?based cooperative environment for children, families, and staff.

Key Responsibilities 

Staff Supervision & Development

• Hire, onboard, supervise, mentor, evaluate, and when necessary, transition teaching staff.
• Lead staff meetings and foster a culture of collaboration, trust, transparency, and professional growth.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and maintain a visible, supportive presence in all learning environments.
• Oversee staff development through coaching, training, and ongoing professional learning opportunities.
• Ensure classroom quality meets school standards, and support teachers in delivering a developmentally appropriate, play?based curriculum. 

Strategic Planning & Governance

• Attend all Board meetings and provide regular updates on operations, staffing, enrollment, and compliance.
• Collaborate with the Board to implement and refine strategic plans.
• Maintain consistent communication with the Board, committees, staff, and families.
• Monitor enrollment trends and support fiscal planning in partnership with the Treasurer and Finance Committee.
• Providing strong nonprofit financial stewardship and guidance for long-term sustainability. 

Leadership & Community Engagement

• Cultivate a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive environment for staff and families.
• Build positive relationships with teachers, parents, volunteers, and community partners to uphold the school’s philosophy.
• Support onboarding of new families and staff in understanding SDCP's cooperative model, parent participation expectations, and community values.
• Ensure organizational policies, procedures, and expectations are implemented consistently and equitably.

Operations & Compliance

• Oversee daily operations, safety protocols, teacher-child ratios, staff schedules, and substitute coordination as needed. 
• Serve as the licensed Director of Record under California Community Care Licensing (Title 22), ensuring full compliance with all requirements and leading renewal and recertification processes.
• Act as the primary contact for DSS/CCL inspections and licensing communications.
• Coordinate with facilities partners and external vendors to support smooth operations.

Qualifications

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. If you are enthusiastic about this role but do not meet every criterion, we still encourage you to apply.

Required

• Current Site Supervisor or Program Director Permit, or the ability to obtain one.
• Experience working in preschool and/or infant classrooms.
• Leadership or management experience in early childhood education.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and engaging with communities.
• Strong understanding of play-based, child-centered curriculum principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification.
• Ability to pass a background check.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education.
• Experience in nonprofit management and/or board governance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications.

About San Diego Cooperative Preschool

San Diego Cooperative Preschool (SDCP) is a long-standing nonprofit early childhood program that has served San Diego families for more than 60 years. Originally established as part of the First Unitarian Universalist Church, the school now operates independently as a 501(c)(3) organization. Although SDCP continues to share the church campus, it is a separate and unrelated entity. The school serves more than 50 families across four classrooms and an infant room, maintaining low teacher–child ratios and a deeply rooted sense of community. SDCP embraces a child-centered, play-based philosophy that supports the whole child - socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and creatively. Educators design developmentally appropriate experiences informed by careful observation, nurturing each child’s curiosity, independence, and joy in learning. Play is regarded as the central vehicle for growth, and the school emphasizes respect for each child’s individuality and developmental pace. A hallmark of SDCP is its cooperative model, which invites parents to take an active role in classroom support, volunteer activities, and school governance. Families contribute their unique skills and... perspectives, strengthening parent?child relationships and enriching the overall school community. This shared commitment among families, educators, and leadership fosters an inclusive, collaborative environment and keeps the school responsive to the needs of its community.

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Connections working at San Diego Cooperative Preschool