Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Pay Grid: $33-$37/hour
Department: Child Care
Hours: 40 hours/week
Our Culture:
YMCA of Southeastern Alberta strives to integrate our commitment to diversity and social
inclusion in all that we do. We believe that strong leadership is created through the sharing
of diverse experiences and perspectives. We actively seek candidates who embody these
principles and who reflect the many dimensions of the communities we serve. We are a
charitable organization that provides health and fitness opportunities, employment services,
licensed childcare, and various community programs in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, and Brooks.
When you work at the YMCA, you’ll play an important part in building strong, thriving
communities while positively impacting people’s lives. Join our team at the Y, a place where
everyone belongs — including you!
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our
cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day,
demonstrating our values in action.
We do the right thing.
We are caring, respectful, honest, and responsible in all that we do.
We put people first.
We believe in each other – honouring our strengths, diversity, perspectives, and passions.
We keep our promises.
We do what we say we will do.
We lead by example.
We are courageous, speaking with conviction and always willing to listen and collaborate.
What qualifications are we looking for?
At the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta, we strive to ensure our employees are a good fit
based on their strengths, interests, and future goals.
The successful candidate will have the following:
Education/Certifications/Credentials/Professional Registration
- Child Development Certificate – Level 3 (or ability to obtain with current credentials)
- Standard First Aid, CPR-Level C & AED
- Evidence of a clear Police Information Check (with Vulnerable Sector Search if
applicable), within the last six months
- Must have a valid driver’s license with a class 07 automobile insurance coverage
business use (or pleasure with occasional business use) and a minimum of
$2,000,000 in liability coverage if required
Experience
- Minimum 7 years progressive leadership experience in licensed Child Care, Early Learning,
Education, or Human Services environments.
- Minimum 3 years experience leading managers and multi-site operations.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, operational plans, and performance outcomes.
- Experience interpreting and applying provincial legislation, licensing requirements, and funding
agreements.
- Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams.
What does this role look like at the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta?
Reporting to the COO, the General Manager, Childcare is responsible for oversight of the YMCA
of Southeastern Alberta’s early years and out-of-school care licensed childcare programs.
The responsibilities and duties of this role will include but are not limited to:
Customer Service
- Proactively build relationships with caregivers, modelling this behaviour for all Educators
- Provide regular communication updates to caregivers, ensuring they have all the
information required. This includes ensuring Educators are effectively using the
Weemarkables app.
- Ensure parent engagement is prioritized and opportunities are available for caregivers to
provide feedback
- Actively seek feedback from caregivers re: concerns or areas for improvement
- Address program complaints and concerns
- Maintain high service standards and satisfaction ratings that are reflected in the
achievement of annual program growth and retention targets Monitor parent satisfaction,
retention, and occupancy trends, implementing strategies to improve outcomes.
- Collaborate with program leaders to identify opportunities to enhance the family experience and
strengthen community engagement.
- Analyze parent feedback and program data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
YMCA Values
- Demonstrate and promote a personal understanding of and appreciation for the mission,
vision, and values of the YMCA and its programs and services
- Demonstrates appropriate behaviors in line with our Mission, Vision and Values as
reflected in our YMCA competencies; takes a member focused approach to increase their
understanding of programs offered across the Association.
Teamwork
- Represent the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta on any applicable local committees or
groups related to childcare
- Provide supervision, training, mentoring, and support to the Before & After School Care
Program leadership team, ensuring a positive workplace culture
- Step into ratio from time-to-time to cover unexpected absences that cannot otherwise be
filled
- Have a visible and engaged presence at all Child Care and Before and After School Care
facilities
- Celebrate successes and foster an atmosphere of success in all Child Care and Before and
After School Care programs
- Effectively lead the childcare team, contributing to its overall success by:
- Promoting the YMCA’s annual Y Connect Campaign
- Promoting and/or attending YMCA events
- Contributing to a positive and healthy workplace culture
- Other duties to assist the team, as assigned
- Lead workforce planning initiatives to ensure programs are appropriately staffed to meet
current and future operational needs.
- Develop and support succession planning for key leadership positions within the
department.
- Foster a culture of accountability, professional growth, innovation, and continuous
improvement.
- Identify and implement opportunities for program growth, expansion, and service
enhancement.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with community partners, school divisions, and
sector stakeholders.
- Represent the YMCA in discussions with licensing authorities, funding agencies, and
community organizations.
- Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout all Child Care programs.
- Lead and support organizational change initiatives as a member of the Senior Leadership
Team.
Standards that Shine
- Achieve all quality standards and targets established under YMCA best practices and the
YMCA’s Standards that Shine
- General cleaning as required around the facility
- Ensuring all staff are aware of Standards that Shine, and work with them to create a
culture of excellence in adherence to guidelines and expectations outlined by the
Standards that Shine
Playing to Learn/Place to Connect
- Achieve all quality standards and targets established under YMCA best practices and the
YMCA’s Playing to Learn/Place to Connect curriculums, ensuring all program pass annual
program audits
- Create an environment where Educators are supported to learn and implement YMCA
childcare curriculum
- Attend all Y Canada meetings and conferences, keeping up to date with new standards
- Mentor staff on Playing to Learn and Place to Connect curriculum, standards, and
practices
Interpersonal/Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, managers, and the senior
leadership team
- Ensure workplace conflicts are resolved quickly, following YMCA policies and procedures
- Build and maintain an effective management team, focused on customer service,
community impact, and team morale
- Lead, coach, and motivate the team to achieve department goals
- Create a safe environment for the discussion and resolution of issues and concerns
among staff and volunteers
- Actively seek feedback from department managers, employees, volunteers, and parents
on areas of concern or areas that could use improvement
- Resolve parent, staff, and volunteer complaints and issues as efficiently and effectively
as possible within 24 business hours.
- Respond to all emails and phone calls within 24 business hours
- Public relations as part of the senior leadership team (i.e., attending internal and
external events, as required)
- Attend and present at Board of Directors meetings and Annual General Meeting, as
required by the COO
Quality of Work
- Submit monthly and annual reports via the COO to the YMCA Board of Directors on areas
of progress related to the current strategic plan, analysis of progress in achieving
objectives, recommendations for modifications, etc.
- Act as Avocado administrator for childcare programs, provided training to direct reports
as necessary
- Assist in the development of the Association’s Strategic and Operational Plans
- Take the lead on the implementation of the Operational Plan for Child Care throughout
the Association
- Work with the Asset Manager to ensure all building maintenance issues are resolved in a
timely manner
- Oversee all HR activity supporting managers with recruitment, orientation/onboarding,
training, communication/information sharing, workplace culture, progressive coaching,
professional development, terminations, scheduling, timecard approval, WCB claims,
pension/benefits etc. Support managers in building their capacity in these areas.
- Recruit, hire, train, coach, supervise, and manage department managers
- Provide managers with support and guidance as they supervise frontline employees,
holding with members, following the principles of The Y Way
- Attend training and/or community events/meetings to represent the YMCA, as required
by the COO
- Translate strategic plan into annual operations plan with measurable metrics and
outcomes
- Assist with the development of the strategic plan with the SLT and Board of Directors
- As part of the SLT, champion organizational initiatives to garner buy-in and engagement
throughout the organization
- Attend SLT meetings and have a visible and engaged presence throughout the
organization
- Attend all internal and external meetings as required
- Assist with projects and special events as needed
- Support managers in communication and marketing plans
- Oversee parent fee billings and payments, including subsidy claims, ensuring they are
accurate and completed on time
- In conjunction with the COO developing annual budgets for all childcare programs with
overall responsibility for staying within budgeted revenue and expenses
- Act as Avocado administrator for childcare programs, provided training to direct reports
as necessary
- Develop, monitor, and manage annual operating and capital budgets for all Child Care
programs.
- Review monthly financial results and address budget variances through appropriate
action plans.
- Identify opportunities to maximize occupancy, improve operational efficiency, and
strengthen financial sustainability.
- Prepare operational, financial, and program performance reports for the COO and Senior
Leadership Team.
- Establish departmental goals, key performance indicators, and measurable outcomes
aligned with the YMCA strategic plan.
- Monitor progress against departmental objectives and implement corrective action where
require
Compliance with Legislation and YMCA Policies and Procedure
- Adherence to the following at all times:
- YMCA Child Safeguarding & Protection Policy and Procedures
- YMCA Operational Policies and Procedures
- Public Health and Safety regulations
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Alberta Employment Standards
- Canadian Human Rights Code and Alberta Human Rights Act
- Ensure each department follows all applicable legislation and regulations
- Ensure all staff have an understanding and knowledge of current Risk
Management principles and practices, Occupational Health and Safety, and
Child Safeguarding & Protection requirements
- Ensure each department adheres to all contract terms and achieves all
required outcomes
- Playing to Learn / Place to Connect curriculum
- Ensure proper YMCA of Southeastern Alberta incident reports are completed as per
policies and procedures and sent to Association Services on a monthly basis for
tracking
- Ensure all childcare programs remain in good standing with Licensing
- Lead risk management activities for the Child Care department and ensure proactive
identification and mitigation of potential risks.
- Oversee investigations related to significant incidents, complaints, licensing concerns,
and safety issues.
- Ensure emergency preparedness, business continuity, and crisis response plans are
maintained and regularly reviewed.
- Monitor legislative, funding, and regulatory changes and ensure departmental
compliance with evolving requirements.
- Ensure compliance with all grant, funding, and contractual obligations associated with
Child Care programs.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
- Program and office space located on the main floor.
- From time to time, interacting with children at their level, requiring the ability to:
- Get up and down from the floor/ground
- Pick smaller children up
- Assist older children to climb the stairs to get onto the change table
- Play with children on outdoor playground equipment
- Participate in games that may include jogging, jumping, dancing, singing,
etc.
- From time to time, may need to lift boxes of files weighing up to 50 lbs
- Exposure to a variety of outside weather, in accordance with Government of Alberta
Childcare Licensing Regulations
- May be exposed to all weather conditions when walking outside to/from vehicle.
- May be exposed to all weather conditions when using a vehicle for occasional
business purposes (e.g., driving between programs).
The Benefits to Joining our Team:
- Paid wellness days and benefits package after 3-month probationary period
- Paid Birthday and Employment Anniversary Date
- Employee Assistance Program
- Free Health Plus Membership with 15% discount for family members
- 2 weeks paid vacation after 3 months prorated based on start date
- 1 week of PTO after 3 months prorated based on start date
Please Apply:
With a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references (email addresses and phone
numbers) who can attest to your character and previous work and/or volunteer performance.
Please send application packages to:
Betty Duhaime, Chief Operating Officer
YMCA of Southeastern Alberta
221 4th Ave SE
[email protected]
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