Child Care Leadership Program RECE

St. Thomas, ON
On-site
Posted Oct 15, 2026
1 position

$51,700 / year

Opens an external site

Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Mid-level · 2+ years
Minimum education: Professional degree
Apply by: Oct 24, 2026
Posting language: English
Working hours: 38 hours per week

Job summary

Plan and deliver child-centered programs based on the YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum while providing mentorship to program educators. Ensure the safety and supervision of children at all times while maintaining a clean and professional classroom environment.

Job details

Join the Y Child Care Team in St. Thomas, Ontario! Be the Spark! Join our professional and passionate team of early childhood educators and be the spark that ignites the potential in others. Our culture is of paramount importance to us. We formally measure employee engagement annually to ensure our employees are having an excellent employment experience. Our current level of engagement is 80%, compared to some Canadian employer statistics of 69%. YMCA of Southwestern Ontario was founded in 1856 and has over 200 locations from Goderich to Point Pelee, and Windsor to Woodstock. We are one of the largest not-for-profit providers of licensed child care in Canada and have over 100 school age programs across our regions. We also offer settlement services to newcomers, employment programs, and youth programs. YMCA of Southwestern Ontario operates one overnight camp on Beausoleil Island in Muskoka, YMCA Camp Queen Elizabeth. We also have 13 Health & Fitness branches across Southwestern Ontario. Why The Y? At the Y, our people are central to delivering our mission. We are committed to the development of healthy communities and welcome people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. We provide valuable training and development opportunities to help our team members grow professionally and personally. We look for the following qualities in all of our employees and volunteers: Demonstrates our Core Values; Caring, Honesty, Respect & Responsibility and Inclusivity Fun, Enthusiastic & Friendly Individuals Hardworking and Dependable Positive Role Model Team Player Professionalism Enjoy working in a Social Environment Ability to effectively communicate with Employees & Members Employees and volunteers of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario are ambassadors for the Y both on and off the job. We rely on them to help share our mission and increase awareness of the positive impact the Y can have on the lives of people in their communities. Particularly how we are helping to create healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities. All employees and volunteers are required to provide a current satisfactory Criminal Record and may require a Vulnerable Sector Search as a condition of their employment. Police Record checks are reviewed on an individual basis, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirements of the position, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered gainful employment. Position: Child Care Leadership - RECE Licensed Childcare Location: Cornerview YMCA Start Date: November 23, 2026 Compensation: starting at $51,700 annually (includes all wage enhancement grants for Registered Early Childhood Educators) As part of your total compensation: Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities, and discounts on YMCA childcare and camp programs Access vacation entitlement, and up to 12 paid personal days annually Benefits package and Pension applicable with position/contract length Be part of a caring and supportive network of people to help each other succeed Complimentary access to wellness and counselling services Contribute to real, meaningful impact in the lives of children and youth Schedule: Monday through Friday (no weekends) 7.5-hour workday 37.5-hour work week Required to rotate shifts that cover the full hours of operation of the centre In this role, you will: Plan and deliver a consistent child-centered program in accordance with our YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum (0–6-year-olds) YMCA curriculum mentorship of program educators, including supply staff daily Demonstrate consistent practice of clean culture, ensuring centre and classrooms are clean, organized, and professional-looking at all times. All areas of the classroom must always be child-ready – all centers are available to children throughout the day. Provide quality compassionate care and support to children and their families Ensure supervision and safety of children at all times; Understand and comply with provincial (CCEYA), municipal and YMCA policies and procedures Be committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging Embrace and exemplify the Y’s core values Educators will be required to lift to 60 lbs. (children and/or activity equipment or room set up) at various times within a day Education and Skills Qualifications: Required to be a registered member, in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario (CECE) Demonstrated leadership skills and experience working fulltime as a RECE in licensed childcare setting is required Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification or include the date of training scheduled within the next three months. Current Vulnerable Criminal Reference Check (less than 6 months old) Up-to-date immunizations required by Public Health Applicants are required to be a minimum of 18 years of age or older as per Ministry of Education guidelines Legally entitled to work in Canada We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. NOTE: The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our members/participants, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations. Candidates, please be advised that our recruitment process incorporates AI technology for initial application screening. This assists us in efficiently assessing qualifications. Rest assured, our recruiters will additionally review resumes to ensure a fair and accurate assessment is completed.

What you’ll do

Requirements

Must be a registered member in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Requires demonstrated leadership experience in a licensed childcare setting, valid First Aid/CPR certification, and a satisfactory criminal record check.