Director, Child Care Services

Mandate/Core Purpose Of The Role

The Director, Child Care Services is accountable for the overall leadership, vision, and management of the unit’s programs and contributes to the long‑term planning required to achieve institutional, divisional, and departmental objectives. The Director uses contemporary research, knowledge of the field and pan-institutional benchmarking, to position UVic Child Care as a leader in the field, leading the Child Care team in developing and implementing pedagogy and research that is situated and innovative, nationally recognized and working in support of UVic’s Plans, including the Strategic Plan, Indigenous Plan, Equity Action Plan, and the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan.

The Director’s role is to ensure long‑term sustainability of Child Care at UVic by providing overall strategic direction. Responsibilities include developing policies and procedures, overseeing the management of staff teams and centre facilities, managing the financial stability, and fostering relations between Child Care and the larger UVic community. This role will serve as a key advisor to the Senior Director, Campus Engagement acting as their representative when required and acting as Senior Director in the incumbent’s absence. The Director is a key participant in the overall development and management of the Campus Engagement portfolio and is expected to proactively engage with other leaders and the Senior Director of Campus Engagement to achieve annual and multi‑year goals and objectives.

Objectives

• Responsible for the overall strategic direction, development, and delivery of on‑campus child care ensuring compliance with university, municipal, provincial, and federal policies and regulations and alignment with UVic’s and Student Affairs’ values and objectives.
• Actively lead the assessment of current facilities; develop and implement long‑term planning for renewal and strategic expansion plans for Child Care.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive labour management strategy that is fiscally responsible while maintaining appropriate staffing levels.
• Human Resources planning and management - Oversee all training, professional development, performance management, and goal development activities in Child Care in alignment with the values and goals of Campus Engagement, Student Affairs, and the University.
• Liaise extensively with numerous community groups, government agencies, school boards, and other affiliated groups to ensure and encourage continued support and development in the child care field and specifically at UVic.
• Oversee the investigation of grant funding proposals from federal, provincial, and municipal governments and other agencies. Oversee the administration of such grants and ensure complete and accurate reporting on expenditures and progress to the funding agencies.
• Oversee the delivery of a complex business plan as required by government funding agencies (e.g., BC Government’s $10 a Day Child Care, ChildCareBC New Spaces Funding, Child Care Operating Funding, Early Childhood Educators’ Wage Enhancement Program, etc.).

Unusual Work Conditions

Requires flexibility to respond to occasional urgent matters outside of regular work hours. On a rotating basis this position requires availability to respond in the early morning or evenings to emerging and urgent staffing coverage issues.

This Position Requires

• BC certification as Early Childhood Educator.
• Graduate (master’s level) degree with credentials in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years progressive leadership experience in the early learning and care field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Include

• Strong early years pedagogical knowledge and experience that includes implementing BC Early Learning Framework (BC Government, 2019) into practice.
• Strong knowledge of child care systems in BC, including regulatory requirements and funding streams.
• Demonstrated child care administration skills that include enrollment management, staff scheduling, policy development, financial management and budget development.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills to manage diverse priorities, emergent situations, emergencies, and daily operations; and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team, creating a collaborative work environment, performance management, and supporting employees through change.
• Commitment to valuing diversity and belonging, and leading with principles of inclusion, equity, and respect.
• Ability to prioritize objectives, align the unit’s mission with institutional and departmental priorities.
• A highly skilled communicator (written and verbal) with ability to adapt based on situation, purpose, medium, and audience.
• Ability to identify and analyze issues using sound judgement, develop solutions, and implement effective strategies to achieve desired outcomes.
• In accordance with the BC Criminal Records Review Act, must have ability to provide a clear criminal record check.
• Documentation of compliance in the immunization program per Ministry of Health guidelines (childhood immunizations).