Executive Director

Hilltop Children’s Center and Outreach Institute 

Executive Director

 

Who We Are

Hilltop is a nationally recognized early learning program and educator institute known for its progressive pedagogical approach, commitment to anti-bias education, and deep investment in professional development. Since 1971, Hilltop has been a thought leader in the field, offering innovative programming for children and high-quality training for educators locally and globally. Hilltop’s faculty engages daily in rigorous reflective practice, emergent curriculum, and documenting learning in new and innovative ways. Collaboratively, they design an environment and curriculum around the emerging interests, curiosities, and needs of children. Through the Outreach Institute, we strengthen our teaching practice alongside our colleagues and professional partners in the field. With the capacity to serve over 170 children in the Fremont and Queen Anne area, Hilltop serves as a champion for the early learning community. 

 

Studies have shown that people from underrepresented identity groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Hilltop is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We celebrate diversity and hire based on qualifications, merit, and business need, regardless of race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class. We encourage applicants from underrepresented groups in early learning (including people of color, male identifying, and LGBTQIA+ individuals) to apply. We welcome your application even if you don't meet every single requirement.
 

Our Values

Learning in Relationship: We seek and cultivate a wide breadth of thought and ideas as the foundation for meaningful connections with intentional commitments to each other, which promotes social responsibility, interest in the unfamiliar, and respect for nature. We believe in reciprocal influence.

 

Emergent Curriculum: We evoke new perspectives by noticing, inquiring about, and reflecting on moments of curiosity or passion and make that discovery visible through documentation and expressive media. We believe learning is constructed through experiences, inquiry, and reflection.

 

Leadership in Community: We foster courageous leadership and serve as a model of innovative, reflective early childhood education practices. We believe that collective contributions lead to bold action.

 

Organizational Integrity: We commit to transparent and responsible organizational practices that uphold our mission, sustain Hilltop, and bring playful joy to our work. We believe that root tending creates stability and intentional growth.

 

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) is the lead executive of Hilltop, responsible for organizational leadership, strategy, financial sustainability, and development of our early learning program and Outreach Institute. 

The ED ensures that Hilltop's mission—rooted in anti-bias education, diversity, equity, and high-quality learning—is upheld across programs, partnerships, and community relationships. This role requires a visionary leader who can steward a financially complex organization, expand enrollment, inspire staff, deepen community trust, and continue to elevate Hilltop’s global presence.

The ideal candidate is committed to honoring Hilltop’s decades-long history of excellence, building proactively on current strengths, and bringing consistency to our foundation; who champions policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across faculty, children, and our community. 

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Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Vision

Champion Hilltop’s mission, values, and culture, both internally and through engagement with the broader early learning community.Foster strong, trusting relationships with faculty, families, children and the Board through transparency, accessibility, and proactive collaboration.Advance Hilltop’s deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-bias social justice practices, modeling leadership that uplifts all voices.Proactively cultivate community trust and elevate Hilltop’s reputation as a leader in ECE. 

2. Program & Community

Support and inspire Hilltop’s faculty in delivering exceptional, inquiry-based early childhood education, using Emergent Curriculum and an anti-bias pedagogical approach.Ensure licensing, safety, and high-quality standards are met and maintained.Strengthen family engagement across the Hilltop community through clear, succinct, and transparent communication.Promote a sense of belonging and shared purpose among staff, families, and children. 

3. Operations & Finance

Partner as a fiduciary with the board to manage the institution's budget, financial health, and long-term stability while developing complementary enrollment growth strategies and diversification of revenue streams.Provide strategic and value-based leadership that balances accessibility for families with leading compensation and strong professional growth opportunities for educators that helps maintain the institution's relevance as a leader in the early childhood field.Oversee operations, human resources, pedagogy, administrative systems, and stakeholder relationships to ensure an efficient, effective, and high-quality organization.Oversee compliance with state and local regulations, licensing, contractual, and insurance requirements.Oversee the Outreach Institute and its programmatic and financial health. 

4. Staff Leadership & Development

Cultivate strong relationships with families, staff, the broader community, stakeholders, and early childhood education partners.Lead with emotional intelligence and empathy, serving as an active advocate for staff wellness, job satisfaction, and professional excellence.Oversee HR policies and practices that ensure fairness, transparency, and legal compliance.Uphold and advance Hilltop’s educational philosophy, including anti-bias education, reflective practice, and emergent curriculum.Nurture a dynamic culture of reflection, shared leadership, and collaboration that empowers educators and uplifts the field.Oversee the recruitment, employment, and termination of all personnel and manage a staffing plan that aligns with the organization’s values; maintain a climate that attracts, motivates, and retains a roster of highly-qualified, diverse faculty and volunteers.Establish systems that ensure psychological safety, invite constructive feedback, and celebrate continuous learning. 

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5. Communication & Representation

Serve as a visible, approachable and responsive leader for Hilltop families and staff.Ensure organizational updates and decisions are communicated clearly, proactively, and with consistency and effectiveness.Represent Hilltop in the early learning community and with partner organizations. 

Qualifications

Hilltop seeks a leader who embodies warmth, humility, and collaboration: someone who leads through relationships, values listening and transparency, and respects the voices of children, educators, and families alike. The ideal candidate will bring strong organizational and operational skills paired with a deep belief in reflective, community-centered leadership.

Demonstrated ability to lead with empathy, integrity, and reflection, fostering a culture of trust and inclusion.Deep respect for children as capable, curious learners, and a belief in play-based, emergent, and anti-bias education.Reflective thinker and steady problem-solver who models curiosity and accountability.Proven ability to lead with an equity and anti-bias lens. Experience directing or overseeing a childcare program.Experience supervising diverse teams and fostering collaborative work environments.Strong communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with staff, families, Board members, and community partners.Background in pedagogical coaching, adult learning, reflective practice, or teacher development.Experience in nonprofit strategy, board relations, or multi-program leadership, in particular: governance, business development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work.Experience in fundraising, fund development, partnership-building, nonprofit fiscal management, and budget preparation for an organizational budget of $1M+.Experience managing complex budgets and leading organizations through financial challenges.Knowledge of Washington State licensing, Early Achievers, SPP, Emergent Curriculum, Washington State Standards and other early childhood systems.Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education Leadership, Nonprofit Management, or related field strongly preferred.Minimum 5–7 years of senior leadership experience, ideally in early childhood education, nonprofit management, or a related field.Minimum of five years of non-profit or early childhood education executive leadership experience with evidence of increasing responsibility and success.Licensing Requirements - WAC 110-147-1445:Hiring Requirements - Child Care Providers | Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families
 Compensation & Structure

Hilltop is prepared to shape the scope of this position—Executive Director—around the strengths and experiences of the selected candidate. Salary range: $120,000 – 145,000. Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and role definition. The compensation package includes the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, paid time off, tuition discount, employee assistance program, life insurance, disability insurance, paid holidays, and retirement savings (Simple IRA).

$120000.0 - $145000.0 Annual Salary