Area Director

About the Role

Leading Edge Extended Learning LLC is searching for an exceptional Area Director to lead our established programs throughout Sayreville and South Amboy, New Jersey. This is an opportunity to step into a well-established leadership role and continue building upon a strong foundation. The individual selected for this position will oversee 10 school-based programs serving nearly 400 students and their families while providing leadership and support to multiple Site Directors and program teams.

This isn't a role for someone who prefers to lead from behind a desk. You'll spend your time where it matters most: in our partners' schools. You'll coach and develop leaders, partner with school administrators, support families, collaborate with district stakeholders, celebrate successes, solve challenges, and help ensure every program continues to deliver the high-quality experiences our communities have come to expect from Leading Edge.

About Leading Edge

Leading Edge Extended Learning LLC has spent the past decade partnering with schools and communities to create safe, engaging, and enriching learning environments for children beyond the traditional school day. Today, our programs serve students and families across Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. We continue to expand because we believe every child deserves access to high-quality before and after-school programming that supports academic success, social development, creativity, physical activity, and meaningful connections.

At Leading Edge, we believe our greatest investment is our people. Many of our leaders began their careers in our programs and advanced into larger leadership roles because we're committed to developing talent from within, supporting professional growth, and providing our teams with the tools they need to succeed. We're proud of the relationships we've built with our school districts, the trust families place in our programs, and the incredible teams that make our mission possible every single day.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational oversight across 10 school-based programs in Sayreville and South Amboy.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Site Directors and program staff.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with school administrators, district partners, families, and community stakeholders.
• Support recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and employee development.
• Ensure all programs operate in compliance with company policies and New Jersey licensing requirements.
• Monitor program quality through regular school visits, coaching, and operational reviews.
• Review and approve semi-monthly payroll to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Oversee staffing, enrollment, licensing, compliance, and day-to-day operations.
• Support family engagement initiatives while ensuring exceptional communication and service for students and families.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three to five years of leadership experience in education, childcare, youth development, recreation, or a related field.
• Multi-site management experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising managers, Site Directors, or other leadership-level employees preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to travel regularly between school locations.
• Flexibility to support before-school programs, after-school programs, meetings, trainings, and occasional special events.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong educational leadership experience.
• Experience coaching and developing teams.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities across multiple school locations.
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership style.

Benefits

Our full-time leadership team enjoys a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick Time
• Employee Childcare Discounts
• Free Calm Premium Membership
• Perks at Work Employee Discount Program
• Aflac Supplemental Benefits

Pay

$75,000–$85,000 Annually