Job Description

Executive Director of Early Childhood Education

Location: Denver, Colorado

Employment Type: Full-time

Negotiable Salary Range: $80,000 - $125,000

Application Deadline: 9/5/25

About Hope ECE Center, Inc.

HOPE Center, Inc., a nationally recognized, Black-led nonprofit founded in 1962, provides high-quality early childhood education and vocational programs for Denver’s northeast communities. We are currently seeking a visionary and results-driven Executive Director of Early Childhood Education with a proven record of accomplishment in program excellence, strategic innovation, and community engagement to guide our organization into its next era of impact.

Our Mission: Empower children and adults to thrive through inclusive, culturally responsive education and support services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic
• planning, program quality, and fiscal stewardship.
• Oversee
• curriculum development, staff & staff leadership, professional and
• business development.
• Ensure
• compliance with Colorado licensing and quality standards.
• Manage complex
• braided funding streams (CCCAP, UPK, DPP) and budgeting.
• Engage with
• the community, Board of Directors, funders, and business partners to
• advance our mission.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors in
• Early Childhood Education (ECE), Human Development, Child Development, or
• approved related field.
• 10+ years of
• experience in early childhood education.
• 5+ years
• leading a large early education center.
• Director
• Qualified by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
• Expert
• knowledge of the Colorado Shines Quality Rating Improvement System.
• Proficiency
• with the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-3).
• Compliance
• experience with Colorado Child Care Licensing Rules and Regulations.
• 5+ years
• managing braided funding models (CCCAP, UPK, DPP) and ECE budgeting in
• Colorado.
• Knowledge and
• expertise in High Scope, Creative Curriculum, or other evidence-based ECE
• curriculum.
• Experience
• hiring, onboarding, leading and managing ECE teachers and staff, as well
• as licensed contractors.
• Experience
• developing comprehensive enrollment and family engagement strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s in
• ECE, Human Development, Child Development, or approved related field.
• Experience
• reporting to and working with a Board of Directors.

Application Process

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to theboard@hopecenterinc.org For more information, visit .

Job Tags

Full time, For contractors,

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