Staff openings

Job Title: Executive Director, Nonotuck Community School

Location: Nonotuck Community School, 221 Riverside Drive, Florence MA
Reports to: Board of Directors
Position Type: Full time (40 hours), with occasional nights and weekends required
Start Date: December 1, 2026

Applications received by October 1st will receive priority.

About Nonotuck Community School

Nonotuck Community School is seeking our next Executive Director. 

Nonotuck Community School is more than an early childhood program—it is a vibrant learning community where children, families, and educators grow together. For more than 50 years, we have provided high-quality education and care for children ages 15 months to 6 years in an environment that nurtures self-esteem, creative thinking, and individuality. We believe children learn best through play, exploration, meaningful relationships, and a curriculum that emerges from their curiosity. 

Nonotuck is a unique community made up of a parent cooperative and a teachers union, dedicated to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative environment. We uphold these commitments through equity and social justice practices and respectful partnerships among children, families, and staff. We empower families and teachers to share ownership and leadership of the school, stewarding our organization and facilities through board roles, co-op jobs, and multi-stakeholder committees. 

Position Summary

The next Executive Director will take over from our Interim Executive Director and, together with our Assistant Director, serve as a key leader within the school community. The Executive Director is the educational and organizational leader of Nonotuck Community School. This person is responsible for protecting and advancing the school's mission while fostering a joyful, collaborative community for children, families, and educators. The Executive Director balances visionary leadership with strong operational management, ensuring that our child-centered philosophy remains at the heart of every decision. 

Key Responsibilities:

School Leadership, Compliance, and Communication

• Oversee and maintain high quality early childhood education and programming, building on Nonotuck’s 50-year history of cultivating an environment of child-led emergent curriculum and community-centered care.

• Champion Nonotuck's mission and philosophy of emergent, play-based education.

• Foster a culture where children's social-emotional well-being and relationships are central to all aspects of school life.

• Ensure compliance with all state (EEC) and federal regulations and licensing requirements.

• Establish and maintain regular communications with the full community, including parents/caregivers, teachers, and board of directors, including providing monthly updates on operations (such as staffing and enrollment) and strategic initiatives.

• Oversee recruitment and enrollment for new families and work with caregivers and board members to welcome new families to the school community.

Staff Oversight & Support

• Oversee and supervise Nonotuck’s team of dedicated teachers according to the union’s collective bargaining agreement. Provide ongoing feedback, professional development, and opportunities for growth to a diverse group of teachers at varying stages of their professional careers. 

• Lead hiring process and work with the Assistant Director and board of directors to hire and onboard teachers as needed.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to set staff schedules and ensure smooth daily operations, ensuring daily staffing coverage fits EEC standards. 

• Foster a supportive workplace culture for all staff, including maintaining open lines of communication, implementing regular staff meetings, and providing mentorship for teachers to support professional and personal growth.

• Encourage reflective practice, collaboration, and continuous learning among educators.

• Support teachers in creating responsive, child-centered learning environments that honor children's individuality, creativity, and agency.

Administration & Finance

• Develop and oversee the annual operating budget in partnership with the board of directors.

• Develop systems for oversight of administrative operations, including supervising other administrative staff, monthly financial reports, and reporting to the board.

Compensation: 

• Compensation is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Potential salary range is $75K–$90K annually.

• Potential benefits package available (depending on compensation structure): 

  • Health insurance (85% employer contribution)

  • Dental insurance (50% employer contribution)

  • 2% employer contribution to Simple IRA

  • Generous PTO, including paid sick time, vacation time, and personal time

Key Skills:

• Strong leadership, team-building, mentorship, and conflict resolution skills

• Ability to plan and execute professional development for early childhood educators

• Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure effective, professional, and responsive communication with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the ability to deeply listen and give and receive feedback 

• Strong collaboration, problem solving, and community building skills to engage staff and families in strengthening school culture, programming, and operations

• Proven champion of social justice with the ability to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and belonging across a diversity of stakeholder groups, identities, and social differences

Minimum Qualifications*:

• 5+ years of experience in an early education setting

• Bachelor’s degree (education or a related field strongly preferred)

• EEC Director I or Director II Certification

• Demonstrated organizational leadership ability, including the ability to supervise, coach, evaluate, and support teachers and staff

• In-depth knowledge of EEC licensing regulations and early childhood best practices 

• CPR and First Aid Certification  

• Ability to pass background checks and meet all EEC regulatory requirements

• Operational skills, including budgeting and financial management experience

Preferred Qualifications*:

• 1+ years Director level experience

• Experience working in and/or with a unionized workforce

• Experience working with a board, parent cooperative, or other collaborative governance structures

• Ability to develop operating budgets, perform financial analysis in support of proposed changes, and oversee the work of finance professionals

*If you do not meet all listed qualifications but believe your experience, education, or training provides an equivalent foundation for success in the role, we strongly encourage you to apply and explain why you believe your unique experience qualifies you for the role.

Nonotuck Community School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nation origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

To apply, send your resume and cover letter, including information that supports any alternative qualifications you may have that are relevant to this position, to recruitment@nonotuck.org.