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,