Director, Childcare, Early Years & Recreation

Are you a visionary leader who is driven to create empowering and enriching children’s and recreation services? If so, you are invited to join us at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent where we are seeking a permanent full-time Director in the Child Care, Early Years & Recreation division.

The position

This position plays a pivotal role in shaping innovative programs that foster the physical and mental health of individuals of all ages and abilities in Chatham-Kent.

As the Children’s Services System Manager for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the Director, Child Care, Early Years & Recreation provides strategic leadership and implements supports for the early years community while overseeing Chatham-Kent licensed child care funding and wage subsidy, special needs resourcing, as well as EarlyON Child and Family Centres. In addition, this position implements, maintains, and promotes plans, programs, and budgets for a variety of community recreation programs and services. The Director is a visible partner in the community and workplace, and a champion of community engagement, development and sustainability. The Director works to create a seamless system that supports families and children and provides advice and recommendations to Municipal Council on meeting the needs of the community.

Overall responsibilities

1. Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies.
2. Provide transformational leadership while managing and inspiring a dynamic team of professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional services for children and their families.
3. Promote and foster teamwork to establish an environment of excellence through innovative, results-oriented leadership.
4. Create an environment that supports staff with the design and implementation of creative programming that meets the diverse needs of our community.
5. Provide leadership to the community through the review of service delivery/gaps and the development and implementation of tools that improve efficiency and effectiveness of services.
6. Cultivate strong partnerships, internally and externally, to maximize resources that meet communities’ need with measurable outcomes.
7. Evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making.
8. Champion innovative initiatives that enhance service delivery and engage families.
9. Oversee a multi-million dollar annual operating budget.
10. Develop and oversee programming for children that facilitates their physical, social, emotional and cognitive wellbeing and development.
11. Responsible for managing fee subsidy, wage subsidy, special needs resourcing, pay equity, and health & safety for the child care community in Chatham-Kent; providing income assessments for families seeking assistance for childcare costs and recreation fees; managing and maintaining fee subsidies for Purchase of Service licensed child care operators in Chatham-Kent.
12. Develop and sustain a good working relationship with provincial and municipal authorities using highly developed human relation skills with the ability to effectively communicate (verbally and in writing) at all organizational and political levels.

Education & training

University degree in a related program, preferably in child studies, early childhood, recreation and leisure studies, social sciences or public administration, with six (6) to ten (10) years of related experience, or a combination of related education and experience.

Required knowledge, abilities and skills

1. Proven leadership experience in children’s services, recreation, human services or a related field.
2. Experience with successfully managing a multi-million dollar operating budget and overseeing capital budgets.
3. Proven track record of success in program development and evaluation.
4. Demonstrates sensitivity in dealing with members of different cultural and racial backgrounds, including visible and invisible dimensions of diversity.
5. Experience with writing successful government proposals and creating effective marketing strategies and competency in mass communication.
6. A creative mindset with a willingness to think outside the box.
7. Strong collaboration skills with a track record of building successful partnerships.
8. Exceptional communication abilities and a passion for advocacy on behalf of children and families.
9. A high level of political acuity and experience working in a publicly funded setting (municipal experience is an asset).

Other qualifications

Master's Degree in a related discipline would be an asset.

Work environment/hours of work

This position works mostly indoors. This position works weekdays with occasional evenings, weekends and on call after hours and weekends. This position has been approved for remote working, at the discretion of the supervisor based on the Working Remotely Policy.

This position may be required to attend on-site meetings in order to complete essential responsibilities of the role. As per the Working Remotely Policy, employees scheduled to work remotely on a certain day may occasionally be called to a municipal onsite work location on short notice. Employees must remain flexible to accommodate municipal requirements and be prepared to be called in on short notice.

COVID-19 Vaccination

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent no longer requires a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. Although it is not mandatory to be vaccinated, it is highly encouraged.

Driver’s licence requirements

Because this position would be required to travel, a valid Province of Ontario driver's license with a reliable motor vehicle is necessary.

Background check requirements

Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check prior to commencement of employment. A background check may include the following: education/certification verification and employment reference check. Because of the environment this position will be working in, the successful candidate will be required to furnish an original Police Information Search (Criminal Record Check) prior to commencement of employment.

Essential physical and/or safety requirements

1. Sitting: frequent sitting in chair.
2. Reaching: infrequent reaching above shoulder, below shoulder, forward, backward, handling.
3. Hands: frequent fine finger dexterity (movement), gripping, pinching, mousing.

Benefits

This permanent full-time position has an annual salary of $151,456 to $178,372 and will receive benefits including: participation in the OMERS pension plan (mandatory) as well as sick and vacation entitlements. Following successful completion of a 3-month waiting period, candidates will also be entitled to a comprehensive group benefits package.

Applying for this opportunity

Please submit a resume and cover letter by 11:59PM (EST) on November 28, 2024.

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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.