Manager, Direct Child Care Services (Region of Halton)

Department: Social and Community Services
Division: Children’s Services
Position: Manager, Direct Child Care Services

NOTE:
At the Region of Halton, we treat everyone with respect, honesty, fairness and trust. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to establishing a qualified workforce that is reflective of the diverse population we serve. The Region of Halton is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals; however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

This is a permanent full-time position working 35 hours per week.


Halton Region serves more than 595,000 residents throughout Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville. We are committed to delivering high quality programs and services that make Halton a great place to live and work.

Joining Halton Region opens the door to a fulfilling career. Our comprehensive compensation, great benefits, and employee recognition program are a few reasons why we are one of the GTA’s Top Employers.

We are proud to operate three quality child care centers where our employees provide a meaningful contribution to the lives of children and families. The Regional Child Care Centers provide an enriched child care environment that nurtures and foster’s each child’s development by providing the highest quality programs in an inclusive setting.

As an employee, you will be part of a progressive, service-focused and award winning employer with a diverse and inclusive work environment. You will make a meaningful contribution to the lives of children by providing quality care in a family-like atmosphere.

Purpose: Reporting to the Director, Children’s Services, the Manager, Direct Child Care Services will provide strategic advice in the development and implementation of supports for the early years child care sector across Halton, including quality assurance, initiatives to support a strong early childhood educator workforce, professional learning supports and other emerging priorities.

The Manager, Direct Child Care Services is also responsible for planning and managing day-to-day operations of child care programs and services delivered to the community through three Regional Child Care Centres.

Preferred Leadership Qualities:

Consistent with the Social and Community Services’ talent attraction and management approach, the successful candidate must possess strong leadership qualities. Core leadership competencies are as follows:

Lead Transformation:  The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to strategically lead program, sector and workplace transformation by acting on opportunities to meet the changing needs of diverse clients, internal/external stakeholders and the public. They provide demonstrated knowledge of change management practices and are able to develop realistic change strategies considering current and future business needs. The successful candidate is a demonstrated leader who promotes innovation and creativity, establishes a supportive environment where varying ideas and perspectives are valued and considered. The successful candidate demonstrates an ability to cultivate learning and growth through annual performance planning with regular and meaningful performance feedback to members of their team.

Deliver on Key Priorities and Emerging Opportunities: The successful candidate has a demonstrated history of delivering highly complex and important programs, projects and initiatives on time and on budget. They are an established leader who takes accountability and delivers excellent results for Halton Region by recognizing and leveraging the diverse capabilities and talents of employees. They skillfully manage programs/projects to achieve targets, proactively identify and manage risks by planning ahead for possibilities and contingencies.

Develop and Cultivate Strategic Partnerships and Connections: The successful candidate has demonstrated experience building and maintaining respectful, ethical and trusting relationships with internal and external teams, partners, customers and other community stakeholders. They build positive and inclusive work environments by empowering staff, being sensitive to varying viewpoints and always treating employees equitably and respectfully. The successful candidate cultivates and manages strategic partnerships and fosters collaboration by negotiating respectfully, tactfully, ethically and with fairness at all times. They resolve conflict in a professional and respectful manner.

Inspire Others: The successful candidate effectively communicates and demonstrates Halton Region’s vision and values, leading by example, gaining consensus and motivating people to action. They are able to clearly articulate a vision and effectively mobilize support. They model leadership excellence and diversity by actively embracing different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds. They skillfully communicate information and vision with clarity and passion to achieve shared understanding and commitment.

Preferred Background: The successful incumbent will possess a Bachelors Degree in Human or Social Services such as Child Development, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Leadership with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in a supervisory or manager’s role managing operational program delivery. Master’s degree and registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario is preferred. Education and extensive experience pertaining to the early learning and child care field is required with an understanding and working knowledge of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. The successful candidate will have demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to set strategic goals and priorities for change, considering current and future business needs. The incumbent will have a good understanding of the political climate and culture locally, regionally and provincially for child care and early years. Excellent communication and problem solving skills are required to effectively build support and collaboration with internal divisions/departments and external partners/agencies. The successful candidate will also have excellent organizational skills to implement, adapt and resource multiple initiatives, along with project management skills to facilitate change management adhering to relevant legislation. Demonstrated experience with capital planning and capital improvements related to the maintenance and upkeep of the Regional child care centers and supporting new community and school based child care capital projects is required. Working knowledge and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) will be required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Working Conditions: The successful candidate will be made an offer of employment on condition that the Regional Municipality of Halton receives a current (obtained in the past six (6) months), original and acceptable Criminal Record Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screen by the first day of employment. The incumbent will be required to work outside normal office hours to attend evening meetings or be available for after hour emergencies. Travel will be required between locations within Halton Region. Incumbent must supply own transportation. The successful candidate will be made an offer of employment on condition that the Regional Municipality of Halton receives a valid Ontario driver’s license.

Duties:
  • Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of supports for the early learning and child care sector (licensed child care and EarlyON Child and Family Centres) to align with the provincial expectations of quality and support continuous quality improvement efforts to better serve children and families.
  • Oversight of three directly-operated child care centres, modelling provincial pedagogy and high quality care for 120 children, exceeding licensing requirements.
  • Lead change by identifying/acting on opportunities for program, sector and workplace transformation to meet the changing needs of diverse clients, internal/external stakeholders.
  • Take accountability and deliver on key priorities and emerging opportunities for early years and child care programs in Halton, by recognizing and using the diverse capabilities and talents of employees to meet the needs and achieve excellent results for children and their families.
  • Build and maintain respectful, ethical and trusting working relationships with internal and external teams, partners, clients and other community stakeholders. 
  • Manage program budget responsibly, provide effective oversight of Regional, Provincial and Federal funds, demonstrating an understanding of Federal and Provincial funding relationships and requirements.
  • Support staff learning and growth through annual performance planning process with regular and meaningful performance feedback.
  • Lead and/or contribute to Departmental, Divisional and/or Regional initiatives in support of broader corporate priorities.

Posted: April 8, 2021
Posting Expiry: April 22, 2021
Posting #: SS-175-21
Apply Online at: Halton Job Postings

If selected for an interview, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. Please ensure the contact information provided on your resume is up to date and that you check your email and voicemail regularly.

NOTE: Personal information collected through the job application process will only be used for the purpose of determining qualifications for employment