The YMCA of Lethbridge is a vital community organization, with a rich history dating back to 1910, and has been a cornerstone of community engagement, child and youth development, and social responsibility. Established on values of honesty, inclusiveness, respect, responsibility, and caring, the YMCA of Lethbridge welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and beliefs, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. The Association offers a wide range of programs and services designed to promote holistic well-being, including fitness and recreation facilities, child care services, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives.

At the heart of the YMCA of Lethbridge's mission is a commitment to building a healthier, stronger, and more connected community. Through its various programs and partnerships, the YMCA empowers individuals to reach their full potential, fosters a sense of belonging, and encourages active participation in community life. With dedicated employees, volunteers, and supporters, the YMCA of Lethbridge continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of thousands of individuals and families, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

Job Title: Director, Child Care

Reports to: CEO

Location: Cor Van Raay YMCA at Cavendish Farms Centre

Salary: $70,000 - $75,000 employer paid salary + government childcare top-up of roughly $15,000 annually. Total compensation $85,000 - $90,000 annually.

Job Summary

The Director, Child Care serves the mission of the YMCA of Lethbridge by providing strategic vision, planning, oversight, and continued development of Licensed Child Care Programs which includes out of school care and child care. The main goals of this position are:

1. Provide visionary leadership to the Licensed Child Care department, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability, to meet strategic and operational goals.

2. Ensure the successful development and execution of Licensed Child Care strategies to enhance the Association’s progress towards the strategic plan.

3. Monitor trends and analytics relevant to initiatives and services within the department to determine opportunities for growth in alignment with changing Association and community needs.

Key Relationships

• YMCA of Lethbridge Senior Leadership Team
• Child Care Centre Directors, Centre Supervisors, and Early Childhood Educators
• Alberta Child Care Licensing

Nature & Scope

The Director, Child Care will be responsible for the direction and oversight of the Licensed Child Care department. The major responsibilities of this position are, but not limited to:

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Exemplify the YMCA of Lethbridge’s Core Values of caring, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, and responsibility.
• Collaborate with other departments, ensuring alignment of goals and objectives across the Association, timely communication and process updates, and committee engagement.
• Promote a positive, inclusive work environment, responding to escalated concerns and resolving issues in a timely manner and in accordance with Association policies and guidelines.
• Be a YMCA ambassador and strategic leader by engaging in and promoting practices and frameworks which ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Develop and maintain strategic initiatives and programs for the licensed programs teams within the department.
• Disseminate Department specific and Association wide information through the Association efficiently and accurately.
• Demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, incident management and emergency response.
• Effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, providing considerable explanation, clarification, and tact on sensitive, complex, or controversial issues.

Organizational and Department Management

• Lead and provide oversight and supervision to the Licensed Child Care department, including training and development, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Identify opportunities for new child care program development within the region.
• Contribute to the creation and implementation of Association policies and guidelines.
• Carry out tasks requiring significant concentration and the need to assess options or evaluate past practices using analytical methods and processes regularly.
• Submit program plans, exemptions, and other licensing related documents, ensuring a strong understanding of the program plans across child care leaders and compliance with these plans.
• Mentor and model best practices, setting high standards for excellence in execution.
• Maintain permits and licenses for all Licensed programs including program license and food permit.
• Work on broad problems that require strategic planning and decision-making.
• Manage inclusion supports by recommending and providing FSCD and ICC contracts to the CEO for final review and approval.
• Attend all required YMCA trainings and recertifications.

Financial Management and Philanthropic Involvement

• Champion and exemplify the Association’s dedication to philanthropy.
• Oversee the development of the Department’s annual budget including managing capital budgets, monitoring expenditures, ensuring compliance, accurately forecasting, and investigating significant variances.
• Assess Association’s human, capital, infrastructure, and strategic readiness requirements in the department and make recommendations for investment.

External Relations and Advocacy

• Be a YMCA ambassador and strategic leader in the community by developing partnerships and relationships through community groups, committee work, and outreach opportunities.
• Educate others on Licensed Child Care initiatives and projects.
• Follow policies regarding confidentiality to safeguard data and information and handle sensitive information with a strong sense of ethics and confidentiality, in addition to other Association policies and guidelines.
• Assess current community needs and identify recommendations, in alignment with the Association’s strategic plan, of where to focus growth efforts.

Physical/Special Demands

• There are no physical/special demands for this position

Qualifications and Experience

• Post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education with a Level 3 ECE Certification
• Minimum of 5+ years of practical or lived experience is required
• Supervisory experience is required
• Intermediate to expert knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite programs is required
• Previous non-profit experience is considered an asset
• Evidence of an acceptable Police Information Check and Child Intervention Check
• Three professional references are required

Thank you for your interest in working with the YMCA of Lethbridge. We appreciate the time and effort you put into your application and will carefully consider each submission. Due to the high volume of applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and wish you the best of luck in your job search.

At the YMCA of Lethbridge, we believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. We are committed to creating a workplace that is welcoming and inclusive for all, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic. We strive to provide equal opportunities for employment and advancement, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada and possess the necessary documentation to support their eligibility, such as a valid work permit, permanent residency status, or Canadian citizenship.

Police Records checks are reviewed on an individual basis and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirement of working with children, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered a position

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Life insurance
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person