Executive Director

Summary

Position Summary 

The Connecticut Children’s Museum in New Haven, CT, is seeking an Executive Director who will provide strategic leadership and ensure the seamless integration of three distinct yet interconnected programs: the Creating Kids Childcare Center, the Connecticut Children’s Museum, and the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC). Each program is inspired by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, articulated by Harvard psychologist, Howard Gardner. 

• The Creating Kids Childcare Center provides a full-time, year-round program dedicated to serving the needs of children and their families in an urban setting. The children spend their day in small groups in a nurturing, inclusive environment designed for learning and loving. Creating Kids supports the development of creative teachers, children, and families through play-based exploratory learning.
• The Connecticut Children’s Museum is inspired by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This rich, resourceful, cutting-edge educational theory recognizes the multiplicity of children's intelligence and honors the different ways children learn.
• The museum's Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) offers free, bilingual professional development workshops and curriculum materials to early childhood educators. This year, the ECRC is supported by a grant through CERCLE in New Haven.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide operational leadership and partner with the Board to champion the organization's vision through high-quality educational programming, operational compliance, financial management, fundraising and donor stewardship, partner relations, and risk management. As the primary liaison between staff and the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will balance day-to-day operational excellence with long-term growth strategies ensuring that the organization remains a sustainable model for early childhood education, play-based learning, high quality professional development for early childhood educators, and community impact.

This role is ideal for a dynamic early education leader who is eager to shape an innovative, joyful, inclusive, and equitable hub for young children, families, educators, and the diverse broader community.

Duties

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Champion and communicate a clear vision grounded in educational inclusion and equity, high quality early childhood development, creativity, family-centered practice, and community engagement
• Lead and manage multi-year strategic planning with the Board, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Provide transparent, consistent communication with the Board; prepare strategic recommendations and ensure the implementation of approved policies.
• Drive mission alignment across museum programming, childcare operations, and professional development efforts.

Program Excellence & Innovation

• Supervise and mentor staff across Creating Kids, the Connecticut Children’s Museum, and the ECRC.
• Ensure all programming meets or exceeds the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the CT Early Learning and Development Standards.
• Oversee curriculum development, program evaluation, NAEYC re-accreditation, classroom configurations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Foster innovative, culturally responsive and inclusive approaches to teaching, learning, and family engagement.
• Oversee ECRC programming, including workshops, resources, curriculum boxes, staffing needs, and translation support.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainability

• Develop, present, and manage the annual organizational budget in collaboration with the accountant and Board.
• Oversee tuition collection, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchasing, organizational spending in collaboration with the accountant and the Board, as needed.
• Lead grant writing and management, public funding efforts, donor relations, and fundraising events.
• Identify new revenue opportunities, partnerships, and philanthropic investments.

Human Resources & Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, hire, retain, and support high-quality staff aligned with the organization’s mission and values.
• Supervise Creating Kids Director, Museum Director, Administrative and Facilities Staff, and Other Staff as needed.
• Conduct annual evaluations for direct reports and support them in evaluating their teams, ensuring consistent performance management across the organization. 
• Oversee HR compliance, employment practices, compensation decisions, and professional development pathways, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth for all staff.
• Maintain a positive, inclusive, and culturally responsive workplace environment that prioritizes staff well-being and supports ongoing professional growth and development.

Facilities & Operations

• Ensure the physical environment remains safe, welcoming, developmentally appropriate, and well-maintained.
• Oversee capital planning, repairs, inspections, and compliance with health and safety standards.
• Collaborate with facilities staff and program directors on building operations and improvements, ensuring that all routine inspections happen in a timely manner.

Community Engagement & Public Relations

• Serve as the chief ambassador for The Children’s Building in the community and across the state.
• Build on existing and create new strong relationships with families, schools, advocacy groups, educational institutions, and city agencies.
• Represent the organization at conferences, media engagements, and community events.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships that strengthen programming and expand community reach.

Board Partnership & Governance

• Work closely with the Board to support governance, fiduciary oversight, and organizational planning.
• Provide timely reports, updates, and data to inform Board decision-making.
• Support Board development, recruitment, and training initiatives.

Work Environment & Schedule 

• Full-time position with flexibility for occasional evening/weekend events and community commitments.
• Local travel required for partnership meetings and professional engagements.
• Must complete fingerprinting, background checks, and required OEC health and safety documentation.
• Equal Opportunity Employer/Sex/Race/Color/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age

Requirements

Qualifications 

Education

● Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Early Childhood Education, Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Public Administration, or other related field.

Experience

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education, nonprofit administration, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in overseeing licensed early learning programs that adhere to state and NAEYC standards, museums, family-serving programs, or community-based education.
• Demonstrated achievement in financial management, strategic planning, risk management, fundraising, and organizational leadership.

Skills & Attributes

• Passion for supporting young children, families, and educators in a nurturing environment through play, inquiry, and equity-driven practice.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills as well as relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving and project management abilities.
• Knowledge of nonprofit best practices, early learning standards, and culturally responsive education.
• Strong financial and administrative acumen with a focus on non-profit organizations.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required.
• Experience with QuickBooks, Google Docs, Digital Banking, Payroll Systems, and Technology desired.

Benefits

Health & Insurance: $500/month employer contribution toward medical, dental, and vision; includes employer-paid life and disability insurance.

Vacation & Holidays: Generous paid time off including ~13–14 holidays, 3 weeks of scheduled center closures (August & December), 5 floating vacation days and 10 paid sick days per year.

Additional Benefits: On-site parking provided.