Job Description
Job DescriptionAbout Tierra Encantada
Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. Our award-winning concept has received numerous accolades, including Top 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity by Entrepreneur Magazine, 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America by Inc Magazine, and The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies. Each Tierra Encantada location is privately owned and operated by either Tierra Encantada Franchising LLC franchisees or by the corporate office (Tierra Encantada LLC). Franchise owners set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.
Director of Field Operations
Position Summary:Reporting to the COO, the Director of Field Operations is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day performance, operational excellence, and strategic initiatives of field locations (corporate-owned sites). This leader will ensure that all locations operate efficiently, deliver high-quality customer service, meet financial goals, and comply with company standards and regulatory requirements. The Director of Field Operations will provide leadership, guidance, and support to District Manager, Center Directors and local teams, driving performance, consistency, and growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead, coach, and develop District Managers and Center Directors to deliver exceptional center performance and uphold the highest operational standards.
- Partake in joint business planning meetings and actively monitor KPIs related to enrollment, budget adherence, staff retention, and quality benchmarks to ensure sustainable growth and success.
- Financial & Budget Oversight
- Oversee center-level budgets, driving fiscal discipline and accountability across all locations.
- Partner with finance to analyze center P&Ls, forecast trends, and implement initiatives that optimize revenue and control expenses.
- Ensure financial goals align with company growth objectives and operational realities.
- Safety, Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Champion a culture of safety, ensuring all centers meet or exceed state licensing, regulatory, and internal compliance standards.
- Oversee safety audits, incident reviews, and proactive risk management strategies to maintain a secure environment for children and staff.
- Partner with quality and training teams to standardize best practices and elevate center experiences.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Growth
- Collaborate with HR, Marketing, Finance, and Facilities to align field operations with company initiatives and long-term goals.
- Support new site openings, relocations, and large-scale capital improvements with operational readiness plans.
- Provide field insights to senior leadership, contributing to strategic planning and growth initiatives.
- Leadership Development
- Mentor and grow high-potential leaders within the field organization to build a strong bench of future operational leaders.
- Foster a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Management, Business, Marketing, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education. (Master's preferred).
- 7+ years of multi-site operational leadership experience, ideally in childcare industry
- Proven ability to lead through layers of management (e.g., District Managers, Center Directors) and scale leadership capacity in a growing organization.
- Strong track record of managing large, distributed teams and driving operational excellence.
- Strong customer service orientation, capable of collaborating effectively across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
- Financial acumen, including experience managing P&L, budgets, and cost controls.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to travel regularly (up to 40% depending on region and company needs).
- Experience with change management, scaling operations, and process improvement.
- Being bilingual is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range is $120,000 - $140,000 and depends on qualifications, education, and experience. This position is eligible for an annual performance bonus. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid parental leave, 12 paid holidays, PTO accrual of 120 hours, 401(k) with 3% employer match, discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment, company paid professional development, WFH one day a week, corporate office amenities (gym, wellness/nursing room, onsite company cafe with coffee, espresso bar, beverages, and snacks available to employees at no cost, onsite free parking), casual work environment, and employee-focused events.
Tierra Encantada is an equal opportunity employer. Agency applications will not be considered. No immigration sponsorship is available for this position. E-Verify is used to verify employment eligibility. Any job offer will be contingent on successful completion of a background and credit check.