Executive Director

The Goddard School of Oklahoma City – Gaillardia opened in January 2026 and has quickly built a strong reputation among families in one of the city's most sought-after communities. Enrollment is growing, the leadership team is capable and engaged, and ownership is committed to building a school that sets the standard for early childhood education in Oklahoma City.

We are seeking an Executive Director to serve as the school's senior operating leader. Reporting directly to ownership, the Executive Director will lead through the school's Director and administrative team to establish operational discipline, strengthen accountability and culture, drive enrollment and community presence, and provide ownership with a clear, data-informed view of school performance. This is a distinct level of leadership from a Center Director role, carrying both the authority to shape how the school operates and the accountability for its results.

The ideal candidate brings substantial experience leading early childhood or school-based operations, understands the day-to-day realities of licensed childcare, and has moved beyond managing those realities to building organizations that run on systems, strong leaders, and consistent execution. We are looking for a leader whose instinct is to ask how the school can be made better, not simply how today can be managed.

Scope of Leadership

People & Culture Direct recruiting, retention, and engagement strategy for faculty and staff. Coach and develop the Director and administrative team into confident, accountable leaders. Establish clear performance expectations, recognize excellence, and address underperformance early and constructively. Build a culture in which strong educators choose to stay and grow.

Operations Lead staffing strategy, scheduling, and labor management. Ensure continuous compliance with Oklahoma Human Services licensing standards, Goddard Systems quality assurance standards, and all health and safety requirements. Identify recurring operational problems and replace them with durable processes.

Enrollment & Growth Own the enrollment strategy, including inquiry and lead management, tour experience and conversion, waitlist management, classroom utilization, and family retention. Understand why families choose the school, and why prospective families do not.

Marketing & Community Development In partnership with ownership, lead local marketing and community engagement: employer partnerships, pediatric and medical referral relationships, realtor and neighborhood outreach, community events, online reputation, and grassroots visibility across northwest Oklahoma City.

Family Experience Serve as a visible, trusted presence for families. Set the standard for communication, responsiveness, and issue resolution, and safeguard the premium experience associated with The Goddard School brand.

Financial & Business Performance Manage to the key drivers of the business: enrollment, tuition revenue, labor cost relative to enrollment, classroom utilization, and operating expenses. Contribute to budgeting and forecasting and act on variances.

Leadership & Strategy Define and maintain the school's key performance indicators. Deliver concise, regular business reviews to ownership with recommendations rather than open questions. Identify improvement opportunities and new initiatives, and enable ownership to focus on strategic growth rather than daily operations.

Measures of Success (First 6–12 Months)

Qualifications

Education (Required)

Experience (Required)

Candidates should come from one of two backgrounds:

In either path, candidates must demonstrate:

Licensing & Certifications (Required)

Preferred

*Candidates whose backgrounds are strong but do not align with every criterion above are encouraged to apply.

Leadership Profile

Why This Role

Compensation & Benefits

Physical Requirements

Consistent with Goddard Systems standards and Oklahoma licensing, the Executive Director must be able to hear a conversational voice, see and read standard print, speak and be understood under normal circumstances, and move freely throughout the building, including the ability to assist with evacuation during an emergency, with or without reasonable accommodation.

To Apply

If you have led a childcare organization, a region, or a school with distinction and are ready to operate at a higher level of responsibility, we welcome your application. Please submit a résumé and a brief statement describing how you have developed leaders, improved operations, and grown enrollment, and what you would prioritize in your first year here. 

In The Goddard School®'s unique and flexible learning environment, child development is about more than just reaching milestones. It’s about turning everyday encounters into teachable moments, allowing children’s interests to influence their learning experiences through a balance of academic, mental, physical, and social-emotional growth.