Associate Director of Child Care

Associate Director of Child Care

Location: Please note that this position will be in office until the completion of the ELCC Centre.

Office: #200 12308 111 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
Mêtawêtan Early Learning and Child Care Centre:
6440 Laubman Street NW, Edmonton, AB

Closing Date: Until Suitable Candidate Found           

Position Status: Full-time (40 hours/work) Permanent  

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is recruiting for an Associate Director of Child Care. Reporting directly to the Director of Children and Family Services and working closely with the Associate Director of Children and Family Services, this dynamic leadership position will lead the development of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s Mêtawêtan Early Learning and Child Care Centre programs and services in alignment with Otipemisiwak Métis Government mandates, principles, and values. The Associate Director of Child Care will be responsible for the development and oversight of service delivery, administration, financial management, and overall operations of the Mêtawêtan team and Child Care Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Additionally, the Associate Director of Child Care will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with government, funders, external agencies, internal and external partners, and the larger Métis community. The successful candidate will be a Level 3 Early Childhood Educator who is passionate about supporting Métis children and deepening their connection to community and culture. The Associate Director of Child Care will possess strong interpersonal and leadership skills with experience in community-based program development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Metawetan team and Child Care Centre in alignment with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s Early Learning and Child Care vision and guiding principles.
• Oversee and make decisions on daily operations including framework and program development and implementation, marketing, and people management.
• Develop and implement budgets, policies, and procedures to support the functional infrastructure of the Child Care Centre.
• Maintain licensing and compliance requirements of staff and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Child Care Centre facility.
• Coordinate the maintenance, cleanliness, and organization of the Child Care Centre facility.
• Set and monitor the strategic direction for the Child Care Centre and negotiate contracts and agreements for the provision of programming and services, in collaboration with the Children and Family Services (CFS) leadership team.
• Secure grant funding where applicable in collaboration with CFS leadership.
• Maintain financial integrity of the Child Care Centre by providing Otipemisiwak Métis Government leadership and funders with required financial statements and narrative reports.
• Provide recommendations for CFS leadership to address concerns or opportunities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including service providers, internal departments, affiliates, and community partners.
• Plan, implement, and oversee age-appropriate cultural activities and educational programs.
• Foster a safe and nurturing environment for children within the Child Care Centre and provide care and supervision to children throughout the day.
• Maintain and coordinate communication with children’s families to strengthen relationships.
• Collaborate in staffing responsibilities and perform supervisory duties including hiring and training qualified childcare workers, assigning job duties, and developing and overseeing staff work plans.
• Develop the staffing schedule and confirm required staffing ratios are met.
• Mentor team members through feedback, coaching, and formal evaluations, and provide effective leadership to the team.
• Maintain a high level of political awareness, cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and confidentiality in interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Other duties as required or assigned.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong caregiving skills and a genuine love for working with children.
• Culturally sensitive and compassionate.
• Experience with community-based program development and implementation.
• Proven track record of building collaborative partnerships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including government, social service providers, and community.
• Exceptional strategic planning skills, including an ability to establish short- and long-term plans to meet key objectives of projects/initiatives.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to deal with a wide range of individuals tactfully and diplomatically and produce professional documents and presentations that target and convey messages to different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict confidentiality of sensitive information. High level of integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify issues and implement creative and strategic solutions to overcome problems.
• Strong organizational, time management, planning and execution skills with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and changing environment, including a demonstrated ability of being adaptable and flexible to potentially changing needs.
• Recognized strength in leading and engaging teams and creating a culture that promotes development of individual and organizational capacity.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle tense and stressful situations.
• Experience using MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Sheets).
• Knowledge of licensing and accreditation regulations and requirements.
• Knowledge of Métis history, culture, and issues affecting Métis people. An in-depth understanding of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and Métis culture is an asset.

Qualifications

• Master’s or post-secondary degree in Early Learning and Child Care, Education, or related field is required.
• Level 3 Early Childhood Educator Certification with knowledge of early childhood education principles and practices is a requirement.
• Minimum of three to five (3-5) years’ experience in a similar role is a requirement.
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in a leadership role, leading a team of direct reports.
• Experience with developing frameworks and programs, work plans, budgets, financial and activity reporting, and drafting processes, policies, and procedures.
• CPR and First Aid certifications are an asset.
• Food Handling Training is an asset.

Other Requirements

• Position is based in Edmonton; in-office presence is required.
• Ability to work a regular schedule of Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, as well as occasional evenings and weekends to meet departmental needs.
• Must be willing to travel within Alberta and work irregular hours as required.
• Reliable transportation and a valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Acceptable attainment and annual maintenance of a Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check is required.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work for the newly ratified Otipemisiwak Métis Government and be part of the largest Indigenous Government in Canada.
• An opportunity to learn about Métis culture, languages, and art.
• Meaningful work in a fun and supportive work environment.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• A comprehensive benefit package and employer contributions to Pension Plan.
• Generous time off policies.

Métis applicants are encouraged to apply. Apply online today at http://albertametis.com/careers/

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government thanks all applicants for their interest. We are committed to a fully human-led recruitment process and do not use artificial intelligence to review candidate applications. We take a deliberate and thoughtful approach to selecting candidates, ensuring integrity and equity at every stage.

As a Métis government, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government is committed to the recruitment, retention, mentorship, and advancement of Métis Citizens and other Indigenous Peoples while maintaining a fair and equitable hiring practices to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and we value the lived experiences and cultural knowledge of all candidates.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that candidates who have been selected to move forward to the next stage of the recruitment process will receive an email to complete a short online video submission. Our team receives a large volume of applications and will reach out only as applicable.

If you experience barriers to applying or require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact employment@metis.org. We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience.