What Do Early Childhood Directors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for early childhood directors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what early childhood directors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Early Childhood Directors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about early childhood directors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Early Childhood Directors plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Popular Job Titles For Early Childhood Directors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Childcare Directors
- Preschool Directors
- Assistant Directors
- Daycare Directors
- Before and After School Site Directors
- Early Childhood Directors
- Childcare Center Directors
- Center Directors
- Early Childhood Specialists
- After School Site Directors
- Site Directors
- Directors of Early Childhood Education
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for early childhood directors can be found.
Best Industries for Early Childhood Directors
Early Childhood Directors Jobs By Industry
- Child Day Care Services: 76.8%
- Religious Organizations: 9.2%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 3.5%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 2.8%
- Individual and Family Services: 2.2%
- Civic and Social Organizations: 1.1%
- Other: 4.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of early childhood directors can be found working in the Child Day Care Services sector. In 2023, about 76.8% of all jobs for early childhood directors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Religious Organizations (9.2%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (3.5%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (2.8%), Individual and Family Services (2.2%) and Civic and Social Organizations (1.1%).
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What Do Early Childhood Directors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what early childhood directors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work early childhood directors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that early childhood directors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for early childhood directors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Early Childhood Directors
Based on 18,693 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Early Childhood Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 5,087 | 27% |
| Child Development | 4,930 | 26% |
| Marketing | 1,823 | 10% |
| Working With Children | 1,560 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,386 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Early Childhood Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,558 | 40% |
| Leadership | 6,113 | 33% |
| Management | 5,721 | 31% |
| Teaching | 5,009 | 27% |
| Operations | 4,615 | 25% |
Based on 18,693 job postings related to early childhood directors, preschool education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for child development, marketing, working with children, lesson planning and head start (education program) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for early childhood directors, followed by leadership, management, teaching, operations and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 5,087 | 27% |
| Child Development | 4,930 | 26% |
| Marketing | 1,823 | 10% |
| Working With Children | 1,560 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,386 | 7% |
| Head Start (Education Program) | 1,382 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,308 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,221 | 7% |
| Early Head Start (Education Program) | 1,186 | 6% |
| Social Work | 1,108 | 6% |
| Developmental Psychology | 1,039 | 6% |
| Primary Education | 980 | 5% |
| Human Services | 900 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 857 | 5% |
| Special Education | 773 | 4% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 750 | 4% |
| Billing | 676 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 657 | 4% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 631 | 3% |
| Mental Health | 624 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,558 | 40% |
| Leadership | 6,113 | 33% |
| Management | 5,721 | 31% |
| Teaching | 5,009 | 27% |
| Operations | 4,615 | 25% |
| Planning | 3,805 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 2,465 | 13% |
| Writing | 2,213 | 12% |
| English Language | 1,904 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,759 | 9% |
| Coaching | 1,694 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,673 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 1,663 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 1,587 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 1,551 | 8% |
| Budgeting | 1,490 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 1,372 | 7% |
| Lifting Ability | 1,358 | 7% |
| Supervision | 1,327 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 1,157 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Early Childhood Directors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Directors | 5,499 | 16.4% |
| Preschool Directors | 8,122 | 24.2% |
| Assistant Directors | 2,597 | 7.7% |
| Daycare Directors | 2,862 | 8.5% |
| Before and After School Site Directors | 1,612 | 4.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was childcare directors, with 1,920 unique job postings. Preschool directors were second, with 909 postings, followed by assistant directors, daycare directors and before and after school site directors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to early childhood directors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Directors | 5,499 | 16.4% |
| Preschool Directors | 8,122 | 24.2% |
| Assistant Directors | 2,597 | 7.7% |
| Daycare Directors | 2,862 | 8.5% |
| Before and After School Site Directors | 1,612 | 4.8% |
| Early Childhood Directors | 1,473 | 4.4% |
| Childcare Center Directors | 956 | 2.9% |
| Center Directors | 1,305 | 3.9% |
| Early Childhood Specialists | 1,361 | 4.1% |
| After School Site Directors | 894 | 2.7% |
| Site Directors | 1,174 | 3.5% |
| Directors of Early Childhood Education | 873 | 2.6% |
| Early Head Start Directors | 675 | 2% |
| Directors | 832 | 2.5% |
| Extended Care Directors | 607 | 1.8% |
| Before and After School Program Directors | 591 | 1.8% |
| Daycare Managers | 590 | 1.8% |
| Head Start Teachers | 602 | 1.8% |
| Directors of Early Childhood Center | 485 | 1.4% |
| Child Care Professionals | 406 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for early childhood directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for early childhood directors.
How much do early childhood directors make?
Early Childhood Directors: How do you become one?
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