Early Childhood Business Specialist

HELP GIVE HOUSTON’S YOUNGEST CHILDREN A BETTER CHANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.

WORK AT COLLABORATIVE.

Early Childhood Business Specialist 

LOCATION: HOUSTON, TEXAS

Hybrid position

Are you a seasoned child care center owner or director ready to make a broader impact? Do you have a passion for helping other providers thrive while shaping the future of early childhood education? If yes, please apply to be considered for this position on our team!

At Collaborative for Children, we are on a mission to elevate the quality and sustainability of early childhood programs across our region. As an Early Childhood Business Specialist, you’ll use your real-world experience to coach, mentor, and empower child care providers to strengthen their business operations, achieve licensing compliance, and embrace innovation—including AI-driven tools—to improve outcomes for children.

Ready to Empower Others?

• Be part of a bold, innovative team that values excellence, diversity, transparency, and fearless innovation.
• Help shape the future of early childhood education in Texas.
• Enjoy a flexible, hybrid work environment with opportunities for professional growth

Apply today and bring your leadership, experience, and passion to a role where you’ll help child care businesses not just survive—but thrive.

 What You’ll Do:

• Partner with child care owners/directors to develop and implement business improvement and licensing compliance plans.
• Deliver high-impact coaching and training—both virtually and in-person.
• Introduce and support the adoption of AI tools that streamline operations and enhance decision-making.
• Facilitate engaging presentations and workshops for providers and community stakeholders.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with providers and partners.
• Collect and analyze data to drive continuous improvement and measurable results.

 Who You Are:

• A former or current child care center owner or director with deep knowledge of early childhood operations.
• A strategic thinker with a heart for service and a knack for solving problems creatively.
• Comfortable using or learning AI tools and digital platforms to support business growth.
• A natural coach and communicator who thrives in collaborative environments.
• Organized, self-motivated, and passionate about making a difference.

THE MUST-HAVES:

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred - in ECE, elementary education, interdisciplinary studies, or psychology, with a minimum of 5 years child care experience required in an ECE or program administration setting
  OR
• Associate’s degree with 7+ years of ECE business experience
  OR
• CDA with 10+ years of ECE program administration experience
• Strong knowledge of child care licensing standards
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus
• TECPDS trainer approval in business/professional development a plus
• Intermediate proficiency with MicroSoft Office software (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Familiarity with AI-based productivity tools preferred ( e.g., CoPilot, Chat GPT, Jasper, predictive analytics dashboards)
• Must be able to work a 40 hour, Saturday – Friday schedule
• Flexibility to work occasional nights and/or weekends as program or organization events necessitate
• Flexibility to travel around the greater Houston area in order to work with an assigned caseload of early learning centers
• Must have reliable, personal transportation because position will require driving to different locations
• Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License and have current vehicle insurance coverage
• Must adhere to agency core values

NICE TO HAVES:

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is a definite asset! 

THE PERKS

• Compensation: This is a Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full-Time position. This is a grant-funded position. As such, the pay rate is $26.45/hour ($55,016 annualized), depending on experience. Not negotiable. Paid bi-weekly.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Health and Supplemental Insurance: HDHP medical option that includes a $1400/year employer-paid contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA), prorated based on hire date. Other voluntary insurance options: Dental, Vision, Voluntary Life/AD&D, Accident, and Critical Illness. Employer-paid STD, LTD, Basic Life/AD&D insurance. First of month after hire eligibility.
• Retirement Plan: 1:1 company matching contribution up to 6%
• Generous paid leave time (Personal Time, Vacation and holidays)
• Section 125 Child Care: Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Professional Development: Collaborative values high levels of performance and service over time. We invest in developing our people and nurturing their career trajectory success through coaching and ongoing skills and leadership development.
• Our Culture: mission-driven, family-friendly, inclusive, collaborative, fun

When you work at Collaborative you can make a difference every day. All of our staff play critical roles in executing our mission.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONGER

Collaborative for Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we support a drug-free/smoke-free work environment. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, or any other protected class as set forth under applicable state, local and federal civil rights laws.