Business Operations & Innovation Manager Indoor Playground | Drop-In Childcare | Family Entertainment Center

Location: Play Dates Academy, Goldsboro, NC

Position: Full-Time Leadership

Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Help Us Build Something Extraordinary

We’re not your typical indoor playground.

We’re not your typical childcare center.

We’re creating an innovative destination where technology, creativity, education, and play come together to provide unforgettable experiences for children and families.

We’re looking for an experienced leader who can help us grow our business by leading people, improving operations, creating engaging children’s programs, and maximizing the technology that makes our center unique.

If you’re equally excited about developing staff, creating amazing activities, solving operational challenges, and using technology to create incredible guest experiences, we’d love to meet you.

About the Role

The Business Operations & Innovation Manager works directly with the Site Director and serves as one of the primary leaders of our organization.

This person ensures that our center operates with excellence every day by combining leadership, accountability, creativity, organization, and innovation.

This is a hands-on leadership position. You’ll spend time coaching employees, interacting with families, planning activities, troubleshooting technology, improving systems, and making sure every shift delivers the same exceptional experience.

What You’ll Do;

Lead Daily Operations

· Partner with the Site Director to ensure the center operates smoothly each day.

· Monitor daily operations and identify opportunities for improvement.

· Ensure opening, daytime, evening, and closing procedures are completed consistently.

· Keep projects, promotions, and operational initiatives moving forward.

· Help create systems that improve efficiency and consistency.

Coach, Develop & Hold Staff Accountable

We believe great guest experiences begin with great employees.

You’ll:

· Coach and mentor staff throughout every shift.

· Ensure employees actively engage with children and families.

· Reinforce company policies and service standards.

· Conduct performance observations.

· Document coaching conversations and recurring performance concerns.

· Work with the Site Director on employee development and corrective action plans.

· Help create a positive, accountable, and team-oriented culture.

Create Amazing Children’s Programs

Children should leave our center talking about what they experienced—not just where they played.

Responsibilities include:

· Developing engaging daily activity schedules.

· Creating age-appropriate activities for toddlers through school-age children.

· Planning seasonal events, camps, STEM experiences, themed days, family nights, and enrichment programs.

· Introducing new attractions and experiences that encourage repeat visits.

· Helping create new revenue-generating programs.

Technology & Innovation

Technology is one of the things that makes our center different.

We’re looking for someone who is comfortable learning and working with interactive technology.

Responsibilities include:

· Troubleshooting interactive projector systems and motion sensors.

· Supporting VR attractions and interactive gaming experiences.

· Configuring and testing interactive software and applications.

· Researching new games, sensors, and interactive experiences that work with our existing systems.

· Working with technology vendors when advanced support is needed.

· Helping maximize the capabilities of our current technology instead of simply replacing it.

· Recommending new ideas that make our center more exciting and innovative.

Coding experience is not required, but candidates with experience in coding, educational technology, robotics, game development, or interactive systems are strongly encouraged to apply.

Childcare Operations

· Support daily drop-in childcare operations.

· Ensure activities are developmentally appropriate and engaging.

· Coach staff on child supervision, positive behavior guidance, and guest interaction.

· Maintain high standards of safety, cleanliness, and compliance.

· Help create a welcoming environment where every child feels safe, included, and excited to return.

Marketing & Business Growth

· Collaborate on seasonal promotions and special events.

· Assist with marketing campaigns and community engagement.

· Support social media content by identifying engaging moments, activities, and events.

· Help create experiences that increase attendance, memberships, birthday parties, and repeat visits.

Schedule Expectations

This leadership role requires flexibility.

The Business Operations & Innovation Manager must be willing to work a variety of shifts, including:

· Mornings

· Afternoons

· Evenings

· Weekends

· Holidays

· School breaks

· Special events

The purpose of this flexibility is to ensure every shift receives leadership, coaching, operational support, and consistent communication.

This is not a Monday–Friday office position.

Required Qualifications

· Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience in childcare, youth programming, recreation, education, camps, museums, family entertainment, or a similar child-focused environment.

· Experience supervising and coaching employees.

· Experience creating age-appropriate children’s activities or enrichment programs.

· Excellent organizational and project management skills.

· Strong communication and problem-solving abilities.

· Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced environment.

· Flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Highly Preferred Qualifications Childcare

· Experience with Procare childcare management software.

· Childcare Director experience.

· Preschool or early childhood education.

· School-age or after-school programs.

· YMCA, recreation, museum, or camp leadership experience.

Technology

Experience with any of the following is a major plus:

· Interactive projector systems

· Motion sensor technology

· Virtual Reality (VR)

· Interactive gaming systems

· Educational technology

· Audio/visual systems

· Basic networking and Wi-Fi troubleshooting

· POS systems

· Tablets and mobile devices

Bonus Skills

· Coding or scripting (Scratch, Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, C#, etc.)

· Robotics or STEM education

· Game development

· Canva or graphic design

· Social media marketing

· Event planning

· Project management software

What Success Looks Like After 90 Days

You will know you’re succeeding when:

· Staff consistently follow expectations with minimal reminders.

· Daily activities are engaging, organized, and start on time.

· Families notice the professionalism and energy of our team.

· Technology is operating reliably, and new interactive experiences are being explored.

· Employee coaching and accountability are documented and consistent.

· New programs or events are driving repeat visits and increased revenue.

· Every shift operates with the same high standard, regardless of who is working.

Why Join Our Team?

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing business that combines childcare, family entertainment, technology, and education in a way that’s truly unique.

You’ll have the chance to:

· Lead a passionate team.

· Create memorable experiences for children and families.

· Work with innovative technology.

· Develop exciting new programs and attractions.

· Grow professionally as our business expands.

· Make a lasting impact on our community.

If you’re an organized leader who loves children, embraces technology, enjoys solving problems, and wants to help build something exceptional, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us create the place every family wants to visit again and again.

Apply Via Indeed Only!

NO PHONE CALLS. PHONE CALLS WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC REJECTION!

Visit us @ www.playdatesacademy.com

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule

Application Question(s):

• Provide at least one detailed new children's activity or event you'd introduce.
• How would you coach an employee who isn't engaging with children?
• How would you approach troubleshooting an interactive projector or VR issue before calling a vendor?
• Can you describe how you've used your organizational and multitasking skills when performing job duties?
• Do you have a flexible schedule to work around all shifts including; weekdays, weekends and or holidays if needed?
• What city are you located in?
• What is your HOURLY rate request? (Must be answered-Negotiable Not Accepted)
• If hired, how soon could you start?

Experience:

• Leadership Management: 3 years (Required)
• Project Development: 3 years (Required)
• Childcare: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person