Job Details

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with theGallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether its KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crme de la Crme, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping itin neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, youll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, were all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.

As Vice President, Center Operations you'll lead the teams that are responsible for ensuring that KinderCares centers operate with excellence every day. Driving operational excellence, labor optimization, and organizational readiness by leading three critical functions: Seasonality & Standards, Labor Operations, and Adoption. You'll build the shared-services infrastructure that allows the business to deliver against critical metrics and allows center teams to deliver consistently exceptional experiences for children, families, and staff for all of KinderCare's brands.

You'll be the central connector between corporate strategy and field execution, owning the governance, prioritization, and execution systems that drive growth and mitigate risk to ensure centers receive the right guidance, at the right time, in the right way. You will partner cross-functionally with high-performing teams in Brand Operations, HR, Finance, and Quality to make every initiative and standard clear, coordinated, and measurable.

The ideal candidate is a strategic operator with deep experience in multi-unit field organizations who excel in bringing order to complexity, making data-driven decisions, and helping large organizations adopt change successfully.

This role sits within the Center Operations function under the broader COO Organizationideal for leaders who:

• Build strong relationships to influence successful outcomes
• Shape the future of a growing, mission focused organization
• Apply curiosity and systems thinking to improve how work gets done
• Collaborate across functions to elevate operations and child experience
• Provide strategic guidance to senior leaders
• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact, and collaborative environment

Responsibilities:

Driving Key Company Performance Indicators & Results

• Champion a metrics driven approach to operational excellence, connecting daily practices to enterprise goals in quality, growth, and profitability.
• Use data and insight to identify trends, make timely operational adjustments, and ensure results stay on track.
• Collaborate with Finance, Quality, and Brand Operations to measure and demonstrate the return on investment of strong operational rigor.
• Ensure every function within Center Operations can clearly show how its work contributes to KinderCares mission and long-term success.

Center Operations Strategy & Governance

• Set the multi-year vision and roadmap for Center Operations, encompassing Seasonality & Standards, Labor Operations, and Adoption.
• Design and lead the field governance modelhow work is proposed, approved, sequenced, and measured.
• Partner across corporate teams to translate enterprise priorities into actionable field plans.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational readiness, tradeoffs, and field capacity.
• Align specific operational standards to company objectives, reporting on where the organization is on/off track and creates measures to mitigate risk.

Seasonality & Standards

• Drive the development, maintenance, and adoption of operational standards and SOPs.
• Lead a cross-brand, year-round seasonal planning processensuring teams plan 612 months ahead for seasonal work.
• Maintain a standards library and performance measurement system, ensuring adherence and continuous improvement.

Labor Operations

• Oversee KinderCares labor strategy, staffing models, scheduling processes, and analytics.
• Build labor standards that optimize efficiency, quality, and compliance.
• Partner with Finance and Brand Operations to translate enrollment and growth goals into actionable labor plans.
• Deliver insights and tools to help field leaders manage productivity, overtime, and staffing effectively.

Adoption & Change Management

• Lead a center-wide adoption and change management capability that ensures new initiatives are implemented successfully.
• Develop KinderCares standard change playbook including communications, training, and reinforcement strategies.
• Define adoption metrics and build dashboards that measure progress and sustainment.

Field Prioritization

• Oversee the intake and prioritization process for all corporate-to-field work.
• Manage a single, integrated field calendar that aligns initiatives, standards, and seasonal campaigns.
• Represent the voice of the field in enterprise planning to protect center focus and operational health.

Leadership, Talent & Culture

• Build and lead a high-performing, results driven team across multiple functions.
• Create a collaborative, accountable culture grounded in KinderCares values.
• Invest in leadership development, clear goals, and team connectivity.
• Influencing outcomes through exceptional relationship building and communication, both with corporate and field partners

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Define key performance indicators for Center Operations, such as standards adherence, adoption rates, and labor efficiency.
• Partner with Analytics/Finance teams to create dashboards and insights for executive and field audiences.
• Use data to drive decisions, identify opportunities, and continuously refine processes.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure that standards, SOPs, and processes meet all licensing, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Quality to manage operational risks and learn from field feedback.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience in multi-unit or field operations; 8+ years in senior leadership.
• Expertise in at least two of the following: labor operations, operational standards/SOPs, change management.
• Experience leading centralized/shared-services teams in complex, multi-brand environments.
• Bachelors degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated strength in strategic planning, execution, and governance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to simplify complex ideas.
• Skilled at influencing across functions and levels using data and storytelling.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail; excels in ambiguity.
• Regular travel (approximately 2030%) to centers, field offices, and corporate headquarters required
• We know that experience is gathered in many ways. These guidelines represent some, but not all, of the ways you might have acquired the skills required for this role. If you have demonstrated the ability to fulfill these dutiesno matter your backgroundwe encourage you to apply!

#LI-Remote

Our benefits meet you where you are. Were here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:
- Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.

- Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
- Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
- Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
- and much more.

We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, were matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, youll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if youre anything like us, youll come for the work, and stay for the people.

KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.