Hope Center

Executive Director of Early Childhood Education

Location: Denver, Colorado

Employment Type: Full-time

Negotiable Salary Range: $80,000 - $125,000

Application Deadline: 9/5/25

About Hope ECE Center, Inc.

HOPE Center, Inc., a nationally recognized, Black-led nonprofit founded in 1962, provides high-quality early childhood education and vocational programs for Denver’s northeast communities. We are currently seeking a visionary and results-driven Executive Director of Early Childhood Education with a proven record of accomplishment in program excellence, strategic innovation, and community engagement to guide our organization into its next era of impact.

Our Mission: Empower children and adults to thrive through inclusive, culturally responsive education and support services.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead strategic planning, program quality, and fiscal stewardship.
- Oversee curriculum development, staff & staff leadership, professional and business development.
- Ensure compliance with Colorado licensing and quality standards.
- Manage complex braided funding streams (CCCAP, UPK, DPP) and budgeting.
- Engage with the community, Board of Directors, funders, and business partners to advance our mission.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelors in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Human Development, Child Development, or approved related field.
- 10+ years of experience in early childhood education.
- 5+ years leading a large early education center.
- Director Qualified by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
- Expert knowledge of the Colorado Shines Quality Rating
- Improvement System Proficiency with the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-3).
- Compliance experience with Colorado Child Care Licensing Rules and Regulations.
- 5+ years managing braided funding models (CCCAP, UPK, DPP) and ECE budgeting in Colorado.
- Knowledge and expertise in High Scope, Creative Curriculum, or other evidence-based ECE curriculum.
- Experience hiring, onboarding, leading and managing ECE teachers and staff, as well as licensed contractors.
- Experience developing comprehensive enrollment and family engagement strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

-Master’s in ECE, Human Development, Child Development, or approved related field.
-Experience reporting to and working with a Board of Directors.

Application Process

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] For more information, visit www.hopecenterinc.org.

Send a message to learn more

https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/HOPECenter-co

At Hope Center we love ours teachers!!! 🩷🚌✏️📚

Enrollment time is here! 📚🚌✏️

At Hope Center we are building on hope and delivering educational success!

Learning CPR, the ultimate act of kindness ♥️

Today is admin day! Our staff surprised us and we are feeling loved and eating good 🎉

Hope Center is closed today in Honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. On Friday, our teachers led our students in a marade around our campus in honor of Dr. King. Today would’ve been his 94th birthday.
🖤🖤
How do you celebrate? Let us know in the comments below OR if you’re looking for ideas check out our stories!

Family registration for Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado opens in 7 days! Give your child a strong foundation before they start kindergarten. https://upk.colorado.gov/

We are finishing up our first week back of 2023 and here is a Friday recap:
⭐️ (pictured) we started the week as a team on inservice day. was able to reflect on the year so far, get reacquainted with their classrooms, and participate in a 2 hour team building improv session with our friend, Steve, from Rise Comedy! It’s the for me.
⭐️ Students returned on Wednesday and we were so excited to see our community back together again. Staff also participated in some professional development with .
⭐️ Although today isn’t ✨officially✨ Fun Friday we might have to make it a thing! New art projects went up on the walls, the “Knowledge Builders” classroom did their book reports, and “The Sweet Little Angels” explored photosynthesis with some changes to their pumpkin seeds…to name a few things!
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We hope y’all had a beautiful break and a Happy New Year! Here’s to a 2023 of joy, community, and learning.

Affirmation Monday

It’s Thanksgiving week, and this made us reflect on what it means to be grateful. Gratefulness means different things to different people. There is great power in starting your day with a grateful heart. Let us know how you practice gratitude with your child in the comments below.