The article examines the development of leadership competence of preschool organization heads in the context of modern educational system reforms. The purpose of the study is to reveal the essence of the "leadership competence" concept and define its substantive characteristics within the field of early childhood education and care. By analyzing the historical evolution of leadership theories, the author substantiates the interconnection between a leader's professional-personal qualities and management skills. As a result of the research, a three-stage hierarchical model of leadership competence is proposed, integrating personal, professional, and organizational levels. The article provides a detailed description of the model's six core components: personal qualities, strategic-cognitive, organizational-managerial, innovative-change, communicative-social, and organizational-psychological components. The findings hold practical significance for establishing an effective management environment in preschool organizations and improving the quality of education.