Assistant Executive Director

Assistant Executive Director – State Funded Nonprofit Montessori Preschool

San Mateo County, CA | Full-Time | On-Site

$80K -90K + Full Benefits

About the School

Our nonprofit, state-funded Montessori preschool has proudly served San Mateo County since 1966, providing accessible, high-quality early childhood education to children from predominantly Spanish-speaking, low-income families. As one of the few state-subsidized Montessori programs in the region, we remain a cornerstone of equity, innovation, and community care.

About the Role

Join a mission-driven, equity-focused Montessori preschool serving predominantly Spanish-speaking families in San Mateo County. As the Assistant Executive Director, you will partner closely with the Executive Director to manage enrollment, daily operations, staff support, and program compliance, ensuring children, families, and educators thrive in a nurturing, high-quality early-learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-lead daily site operations; serve as Acting ED when needed.
• Ensure compliance with Title 5, Title 22, CACFP, and licensing requirements.
• Oversee the complete enrollment process (outreach, intake, eligibility, family communication).
• Maintain student records and compliance documentation.
• Support staff scheduling and professional development; secure substitute coverage.
• Assist with budget tracking and purchasing using QuickBooks.
• Manage food orders and create monthly menus aligned with CACFP.
• Partner with the ED on hiring, onboarding, and vendor coordination.

Qualifications

Required

• AA/AS in ECE/Child & Adolescent Development (BA preferred).
• Program Director or Site Supervisor Certificate (required).
• Enrollment Specialist experience (required).
• 3+ years teaching (children ages 2–5) and 1+ year of administrative leadership in ECE.
• Familiarity with DRDP, CLASS, Learning Genie and state-funded preschool operations.
• QuickBooks and data management experience
• Bilingual Spanish/English (strongly preferred).
• Valid CA Driver's License and CPR/First Aid certification (within 3 months of hire).

Why You'll Love This Role

• Competitive salary ($80K–$90K) + full health benefits package
• Work within a collaborative, equity-driven Montessori community.
• Opportunities for professional growth in program quality and nonprofit leadership.quality and nonprofit leadership.

Application Instructions – Assistant Executive Director (San Mateo County, CA)

Thank you for your interest in the Assistant Executive Director position with our state-funded nonprofit Montessori preschool in San Mateo County.

To be considered, please include the following with your application:

• Resume – Highlight your leadership, early education, and administrative experience, especially in state-funded preschool settings.
• Cover Letter – Briefly share your alignment with our mission to provide equitable, high-quality Montessori education to children and families in our community.
• Personal Statement – Tell us why you believe you would be a strong partner and support to the Executive Director in this role.

Focus on your experience leading or managing enrollment, building family relationships, and ensuring smooth school operations.

We'd love to hear how your skills can help strengthen the school's systems and take the program to the next level.

• Three (3) Professional References – Include at least one current or former supervisor familiar with your leadership and organizational skills in early childhood education.

Submit all materials to:

Subject line: Assistant Executive Director – Your Name

Attn: Stacee Brackens, Head of Recruiting – Sparta Business Solutions

We are moving quickly to identify the best candidates, so please take the time to complete all screening questions to ensure full consideration.

Thanks in advance. Much success & I look forward to connecting with you shortly

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment activities and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, based on their actual or perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex and gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity and gender expression, age (40 and over), sexual orientation, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, and any other consideration protected by law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80, $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you currently hold a California Program Director Permit or Site Supervisor Permit? (Yes or No)
• Are you bilingual (Spanish/English)? (Yes/No)
• Are you able to work full-time, onsite in San Mateo County, CA? (Yes/No)
• Experience in State-Funded Preschool Programs  How many years of experience do you have working in a state-funded preschool program (CSPP/CCTR or similar)? 
  ☐ Less than 1 year 
  ☐ 1–3 years 
  ☐ 3–5 years 
  ☐ More than 5 years
• Enrollment Management

Have you directly managed or coordinated enrollment processes (intake, eligibility, attendance tracking, family communication) in a preschool or early learning program? 
☐ Yes 
☐ No

• Software Familiarity

Please select the tools or systems you have experience with: 
☐ QuickBooks 
☐ DRDP 
☐ CLASS 
☐ Learning Genie 
☐ Other ECE data systems

• Availability

If selected, how soon could you begin this position? 
☐ Immediately 
☐ Within 2 weeks 
☐ Within 30 days

• Motivation & Fit

In 2–3 sentences, please describe why you are interested in this role and how your experience aligns with our mission-driven, equity-focused Montessori preschool community.

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• San Mateo County, CA (Required)

Work Location: In person