Regional Director of Operations
Early Childhood Education | Multi-Site Leadership | Full-Time | Long Island, NY
Build What's Next. Lead Where It Matters.
Magical Beginnings is hiring a Regional Director of Operations to lead our expansion into the Long Island market. This is a builder's role — for a leader who's energized by change and ambiguity, equally comfortable standing up new operations as leading established ones.
The Regional Director of Operations ensures that every child, family, and teacher across the region experiences the full quality of the Magical Beginnings program, delivered consistently as we grow. It's a role built on relationships and community: showing up for the neighborhoods each school serves, and building a culture where children, families, and teachers all feel like they belong.
Beyond the region itself, you'll also participate in cross-company projects and help harmonize policies and procedures across the organization as Magical Beginnings continues to grow.
Responsibilities
- Oversee all operational functions across the territory, including direct supervision of School Directors and the Facilities Manager
- Hire, train, and conduct performance reviews for School Directors, and build an internal leadership pipeline through mentorship and succession planning
- Support the professional development of every staff member, and serve as Interim Director when a leadership vacancy arises
- Communicate company goals clearly, and model Magical Beginnings' mission, values, and culture in every interaction
- Ensure full compliance with state licensing requirements, child-to-teacher ratios, safety regulations, and voucher program guidelines
- Prepare schools for licensing inspections and maintain strong relationships with regulators
- Uphold company policies and standards outlined in employee and family handbooks
- Champion an anti-bias, anti-racism culture across all schools in the region
- Lead the operational integration of newly acquired and newly opened schools, including onboarding, systems conversion, and policy alignment
- Partner with the Executive Leadership Team on acquisition due diligence, transition planning, and building operational playbooks
- Oversee school and regional budgets, KPIs, and financial performance, holding Directors accountable for meeting goals
- Support enrollment and staffing efforts at the school level to meet regional targets
- Administer school audits, maintain a regular visitation schedule, and drive continuous quality improvement across the region
- Ensure schools are safe, well-maintained, and welcoming, in partnership with the Facilities Manager
- Serve as an escalation point for issues Directors can't resolve independently, and ensure Directors have consistent access to leadership
- Conduct outreach to ensure staff and families have a positive experience at Magical Beginnings
People & Talent Leadership
Compliance & Quality
Growth & Acquisitions
Business & Financial Management
Operations & Community
What You Will Need to Succeed:
- Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in early education organizations
- Proven experience managing multi-unit operations
- Exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills, especially in building and managing relationships
- Strong business acumen, with solid management, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Flexibility, collaboration, and advocacy as both an individual contributor and team leader
- Willingness to work a full-time schedule that may include evenings and weekends as needed
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand and move for approximately 60% of the workday without discomfort
- Ability to sit and perform computer work for extended periods as needed
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
- Ability to travel between schools on a weekly basis
What We Can Offer:
- Competitive pay based on education and experience
- Paid time off, 13 paid holidays, and a paid week-long winter break
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
- Additional ancillary benefits, such as critical illness and accident coverage
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Free counseling, fitness, and self-care programs through employer-paid EAP
- Significant childcare discounts and parental leave
- Paid certification courses through Penn Foster, paid professional deveopment days, and career advancement opportunities
We believe in work-life balance, and we have fun together too. We offer competitive wages based on education and experience, full-time benefits, and flexible schedules.
We live by our motto: With Care, We Care. We value our staff and provide:
If you're an experienced leader ready to build something meaningful and help shape Magical Beginnings' expansion into Long Island, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to join our team as Regional Director of Operations.
Magical Beginnings is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to be a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. All employment is based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Magical Beginnings does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, nationality, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Skills Required
- Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience in early education organizations
- Experience managing multi-unit operations
- Exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong business acumen, management, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Flexibility, collaboration, and advocacy as an individual contributor and team leader
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed
- Ability to travel between schools weekly
- Ability to stand and move for approximately 60% of the workday
- Ability to sit and perform computer work for extended periods
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
What We Do
Magical Beginnings is an award-winning network of early childhood education centers serving families in New England. They provide high-quality, play-based care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. Their mission focuses on building self-confidence through curiosity and community, offering a nurturing environment that prepares children for future academic success while providing peace of mind for parents through a blend of family-like care and professional center-based standards.
