Director, Early Learning Center

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Director, Early Learning Center leads a vibrant, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive early learning program. This role combines strategic leadership, operational oversight, and relationship management to ensure the ELC’s financial health, contract compliance, and program excellence. The Director plays a pivotal role in informing ELC strategy, growth, and impact. They will oversee a $1.5 million budget and lead a multidisciplinary team of 15, including four direct reports: a Program Supervisor, two Family Support Specialists, and a Behavioral Health Specialist.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership and Management: Oversee program administration, budget, communication, risk management, and staff supervision. Set service delivery targets and monitor results.
• Staffing: Recruit, mentor, and retain talented staff. Cultivate a culture of teamwork and continuous learning.
• Program Development: Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements. Evaluate program effectiveness, identify improvements, and explore new service areas.
• Contract Management and Compliance: Manage, negotiate, monitor, and report on all ELC contracts to achieve goals and ensure relationships are stewarded. Meet with funder representatives, including ECEAP, Early ECEAP, HCHN, CCAP, Early Achievers Coach, and ELC Licensor to adhere to contract and licensing guidelines.
• Financial, Budget, and Invoicing Management: Manage the annual budget and, with the finance team, ensure timely invoicing and reimbursement processes.
• Community Engagement: Represent the ELC at community meetings and maintain positive stakeholder relationships.
• DEIA: Embed DEIA principles into operations, staffing, and program development. Maintain cultural humility and honor the dignity of all individuals.
• Donor Engagement: Collaborate with the Development team to support fundraising efforts.

This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary, experienced, and hands-on ECE leader with a demonstrated track record of success in nonprofit program management and the strategic insight to balance immediate needs with long-term growth and sustainability.

The ideal candidate has a passion for early learning and trauma-informed care, serving multicultural and economically diverse communities. They are advocates for staff and children, skilled at bridging policy and practice to deliver exceptional education and support. With a proven ability to navigate complex systems, they drive meaningful change while fostering trust and clarity through open, honest communication with stakeholders.

Resilient and adaptable, they maintain positivity in the face of challenges and change. They are also deeply committed to creating an inclusive environment that values respect, collaboration, and growth.

What You Bring

Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience, professional background, volunteer experience, and direct and transferable skills. Wellspring ELC is seeking candidates with a compelling combination of demonstrated experience and skills in some, or all, of the following areas:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with at least 45 credits in Early Childhood Education.
• Demonstrated success managing a licensed early learning center and operating a publicly funded ELC. Including hiring, staff development, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and quality programming.
• Strong communication skills and organizational skills.
• Commitment to DEIA and Trauma-Informed Care practices.
• Highly organized with strong prioritization skills and excellent follow-up and follow-through.
• An outlook centered on valuing differences and embracing opportunities to learn about and respect different generational, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Experience fostering an open, innovative, evolving, committed culture that values honesty, integrity, and reliability.
• High emotional and social intelligence with the ability to build and cultivate internal and external relationships to increase organizational capacity, capabilities, reach, and positive impact.
• Proficiency in staff supervision and financial management.
• Bilingual proficiency preferred.
• Must live in Washington State upon start date.

About Wellspring Family Services

At Wellspring Family Services, we believe every family deserves a stable home, a place to feel safe, and the confidence and sense of security that comes with it. We're leaders in preventing and addressing family homelessness and championing family stability. Through early intervention, we identify families on the brink of housing crisis and connect them with the services they need to avoid or overcome homelessness. We work tirelessly to secure housing and connect families with the skills and resources to rebuild their lives.

Since 1892, we've been a lifeline for individuals and families in crisis, constantly evolving to meet our community's changing needs, and adapting our programs and focus to provide timely, respectful, and effective support. While our name and services have changed, our mission remains constant: to lift people out of crisis and guide them toward lasting stability.

Our Values

• We are in this together.
• We are infinitely curious.
• We relentlessly pursue "better."
• We care for ourselves so we can care for others.
• We never give up.

Commitment to DEI and Trauma-Informed Care

We combine Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access (DEIA) with Trauma-Informed Care to break cycles of trauma, inequity, and poverty – prioritizing healing and hope. By meeting each person where they are, we honor their dignity, respect their unique strengths, and support their resilience.

About the Early Learning Center (ELC)

The ELC is the cornerstone of Wellspring’s mission and the only program in Washington State that specializes in serving children facing housing instability. We provide a nurturing environment for children ages one to five who are housing insecure and/or experiencing homelessness. With small class sizes and a low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:5, our compassionate educators tailor activities to meet each child’s developmental and emotional needs. Serving 45 children annually, we provide specialized care and family support to build a strong foundation for a brighter future.

ELC ensures children receive nutritious meals and onsite health services through a partnership with Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. This holistic approach addresses their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Grounded in transparency, collaboration, and humility, we continuously adapt to meet the complex needs of the families we serve.

Learn more about Wellspring Family Services here.

Learn more about the Early Learning Center here.