District Manager In Training
Preparation Role for Future District Manager
Location : Overland Park, KS
Reports to : District Manager
About Tierra Encantada
Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education® and provides education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. Our award-winning concept has received numerous accolades, including Top 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity by Entrepreneur Magazine, 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America by Inc Magazine, and The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies. Each Tierra Encantada location is privately owned and operated by either Tierra Encantada Franchising LLC franchisees or by the corporate office (Tierra Encantada LLC). Franchise owners set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.
Position Overview
The District Manager in Training is a developmental leadership role designed for exceptional Center Directors who are ready to broaden their impact and prepare for district-level responsibility. In this dual-role position, the DMT will continue to serve as Center Director of their primary center while also overseeing up to 3 other nearby centers to support its operational and educational success.
This role provides hands-on experience in multi-site leadership, coaching other center leaders, and supporting strategic initiatives - all under the mentorship of a District Manager. The DMT is a critical part of ensuring consistency, accountability, and excellence across multiple centers.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as Center Director at your primary location, maintaining full responsibilities as outlined in the Center Director job description.
- Provide hands-on coaching and strategic oversight to the Assistant Director or Center Director at designated locations, ensuring alignment in culture, operations, and expectations.
- Act as a connector between locations and the District Manager-escalating issues, identifying trends, and proactively driving resolution.
- Ensure leadership continuity and stability across locations, stepping in as needed to maintain operational quality.
Family Engagement & Enrollment Growth
Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with families through timely, respectful, and inclusive communication.Drive enrollment growth by improving the tour experience, increasing lead conversion, and building strong community relationships.Actively support and lead family engagement initiatives and community-facing events to elevate center visibility.Leverage parent feedback and center data to take decisive action that enhances the overall family experience across locations.Develop district-level leadership capabilities through targeted experience in enrollment strategy, brand positioning, and customer service leadership.Staff Development & Retention
Model and reinforce a strong, mission-aligned culture that prioritizes accountability, collaboration, and recognition.Coach and mentor center leadership at designated locations with a focus on developing high-performing, engaged teams.Share and implement best practices related to hiring, onboarding, staff retention, compliance, and communication.Proactively address performance issues and lead tough conversations when needed to maintain team standards.Partner with center leadership to build strong team morale and reduce staff turnover through meaningful recognition and growth opportunities.Operational Excellence & Safety
Hold locations to the highest standards of health, safety, and licensing compliance-taking swift action to address risks or violations.Conduct regular walkthroughs and audits to ensure environments are safe, clean, and aligned with Tierra standards.Collaborate with the District Manager to roll out new initiatives, support licensing visits, and drive operational consistency.Monitor and improve key performance indicators including financial performance, staff engagement, enrollment, and parent satisfaction.Maintain a visible leadership presence across locations to reinforce expectations, respond to emergent issues, and support team success.Requirements
Current Center Director in good standing at Tierra Encantada with at least 12 months of proven leadership success.Bachelor's degree in Management, Business, Marketing, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.Demonstrated excellence in team development, operations, family engagement, and financial performance.Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities across sites.High emotional intelligence, collaborative mindset, and ability to influence without direct authority.Commitment to Tierra Encantada's values and mission, with a desire to grow into a District Manager role.Willingness to travel between assigned centers.CPR, First Aid, and Food Protection Manager certification required (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire).Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) and G-Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar); ability to learn new technologies as needed.Excellent hearing and eyesight; capable of bending, crouching, reaching, and lifting up to 50 lbs in scenarios involving child handling, safety, and emergencies.Ability to travel frequently within the district to visit centers and attend meetings.Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.Compensation : $67-75k
Career Development
This is a stepping-stone role to prepare leaders for full District Manager responsibilities. The District Manager in Training will receive mentoring, structured feedback, and leadership development experiences to accelerate their readiness for promotion. They will remain in this role up until they reach 4+ centers.
