Area Director

Area Director — Multi-Unit Operations (7 Centers)

KidStrong Austin & Houston | Austin, TX (regular travel to Houston) | Full-Time

About the Opportunity

We're hiring an Area Director to serve as the senior operating leader for seven KidStrong centers across two of Texas's fastest-growing markets. This is a true "second-in-command" role: you'll own performance across the organization, lead a team of General Managers, and build a business that runs without ownership in the day-to-day.

If you're a multi-unit operator who loves developing leaders as much as hitting numbers, read on.

Reports To

Ownership Team

Direct Reports

7 General Managers + 2 Regional CAT Coaches

Markets

Austin (Pflugerville, North Austin, South Austin, Cedar Park) & Houston (Cypress, Katy, Sugar Land)

Location

Austin-based; regular Houston travel required

Schedule

Mon–Thu, 9:30 AM–6:30 PM + 8 flexible hours Fri–Sun

Type

Full-time, 40+ hours/week

What You'll Own

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and hold accountable seven General Managers and two Regional CAT Coaches
• Set clear expectations and measurable goals for every leader and center
• Run consistent 1:1s, leadership meetings, and performance reviews
• Build a leadership bench through GM/AGM development and succession planning
• Own hiring, performance management, corrective action, and terminations

Business & Financial Performance

• Drive revenue and same-store sales growth across all seven locations
• Monitor center-level KPIs and understand the story behind the numbers — not just report them
• Manage labor responsibly while keeping centers appropriately staffed
• Build and execute turnaround plans for underperforming centers, following through until performance stabilizes
• Optimize class schedules, capacity, and enrollment to capture demand
• Partner with ownership on budgets, forecasts, and growth strategy

Sales & Membership Growth

• Hold center leadership accountable for lead management, trial execution, show rates, close rates, and follow-up
• Ensure consistent sales process execution across all seven centers
• Diagnose funnel breakdowns and coach leaders to measurable improvement

Retention & Member Experience

• Own retention strategy — monitor cancellations, freezes, feedback, and at-risk families
• Ensure center leaders proactively address families considering leaving
• Set standards for communication, issue resolution, cleanliness, and professionalism
• Step into escalated member situations when appropriate

Programming & Coaching Quality

• Ensure KidStrong programming and brand standards are executed consistently across all locations
• Partner with Regional CAT Coaches on coach training, certification, and development
• Protect the quality of the KidStrong product while driving financial performance

Staffing & Culture

• Ensure every center has appropriate staffing and leadership coverage
• Anticipate staffing needs rather than react to shortages
• Monitor turnover, engagement, and culture trends across both markets
• Address performance issues, communication breakdowns, and toxic behavior quickly
• Build a culture where expectations are clear and strong performers are recognized

Operational Excellence

• Ensure consistent execution of policies, safety standards, scheduling, and payroll processes
• Conduct regular center visits and operational assessments
• Ensure direct reports follow through on commitments and deadlines
• Identify recurring problems and build systems that address root causes

KPIs You'll Be Measured On

Total membership & net growth • Revenue & same-store sales • Leads, trials, show rate & close rate • Retention, cancellations & freezes • Class utilization & capacity • Labor percentage & staffing efficiency • Coach certification & training completion • Member experience & escalations • Hiring needs & turnover • Operational standards & brand compliance

The expectation: know why the numbers look the way they do, identify the right response, and ensure action is taken.

Decision-Making Authority

This role is genuinely empowered. Within established budgets, policies, and strategic direction, you'll have authority to:

• Hire, coach, discipline, place on performance plans, and terminate employees — including General Managers
• Approve raises within established compensation ranges
• Make staffing decisions and adjust employee schedules
• Add, remove, consolidate, or modify class schedules based on demand and capacity
• Direct GMs and Regional CAT Coaches and set performance expectations for their teams
• Resolve escalated customer and employee concerns; approve refunds and credits within guidelines
• Approve center-level operating expenses up to $300 without prior approval
• Implement operational processes across centers
• Take immediate action to protect safety, staffing, and continuity of operations

Requires ownership approval: pricing or membership structure changes; unbudgeted expenses over $300; major capital expenditures or contracts; compensation outside approved ranges or new incentive programs; org structure changes at Area Director level or above; new debt, financing, or leases; significant vendor agreements; opening, closing, relocating, or acquiring a center; company-wide policy or benefits changes; legal settlements; major franchise decisions; and any decision with material financial, legal, or reputational impact.

Notify, don't ask: You may hire or terminate a General Manager without approval — inform ownership in advance when reasonably practicable. Escalate significant HR, safety, legal, or reputational matters promptly while taking any immediate protective action necessary.

Schedule & Travel

Core hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:30 AM–6:30 PM (inclusive of lunch), plus 8+ flexible hours Friday–Sunday deployed where they drive the most impact — center visits, leadership support, hiring, staff development, events, or operational needs.

Travel: Austin-based with regular Houston travel as an essential function. This is a fully in-person role across both markets, with travel driven by business needs rather than a rigid rotation. Centers in leadership transition or facing performance challenges may require increased presence.

Because KidStrong operates seven days a week, you should be comfortable with occasional schedule adjustments when significant business, staffing, personnel, or safety situations require senior leadership.

How You'll Work With Ownership

You are the primary day-to-day operating leader. General Managers and direct reports look to you — not individual owners — for routine direction, approvals, coaching, and problem solving.

Ownership sets strategy, financial expectations, major priorities, and guardrails. You execute through the leadership team and keep ownership appropriately informed without pulling them into routine decisions.

What Success Looks Like

Ownership should have full confidence that you:

• Know what's happening across all seven centers
• Spot problems early — before they become major problems
• Hold leaders accountable without ownership stepping in
• Develop strong GMs and Regional CAT Coaches rather than doing their jobs for them
• Use data to drive decisions and follow through on action plans
• Protect the KidStrong experience , brand standards, and culture
• Drive revenue, membership growth, retention, and profitability
• Create consistency and accountability across both markets

Who Thrives in This Role

You operate with an owner's mindset — balancing people, culture, and the KidStrong experience against revenue growth, profitability, and disciplined expense management. You're comfortable making difficult decisions, having direct performance conversations, and taking action when expectations aren't met.

And critically: you're a builder of people . Your goal isn't to personally solve every center-level problem — it's to develop leaders who solve problems, lead their teams, and own their results.

Ready to Apply?

If you've led multi-unit operations, built leadership teams, and driven growth in a people-first business, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply directly through LinkedIn

KidStrong is a child development training program building confident, athletic, and smart kids.