Child Care Leadership Program

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario; St. Thomas; On-site; CAD 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading child care provider in St. Thomas seeks a Child Care Leadership Program - RECE professional to join their YMCA team. This role emphasizes compassionate care, communication, and teamwork in a vibrant environment. Successful candidates will plan engaging child-centered programs and ensure the safety and well-being of children. Applicants must be registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators, hold current First Aid certification, and be committed to diversity and inclusion. Competitive compensation and various benefits are offered.

Benefits

Complimentary YMCA membership

Vacation entitlement

Paid personal days

Benefits package

Access to wellness services

Qualifications

• Must be a minimum of 18 years old as per Ministry of Education guidelines.
• Current Vulnerable Criminal Reference Check required.
• Up-to-date immunizations as mandated by Public Health.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver child-centered programs.
• Ensure supervision and safety of children.
• Maintain clean and organized classrooms.

Skills

Effective communication

Team player

Compassionate care

Professionalism

Safety supervision

Education

Registered member of College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)

Tools

Standard First Aid and CPR Certification

Job description

Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 5:00 AM | Expires Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 4:59 AM

Join the Y Child Care Team at Stationview YMCA!

Be the Spark! Join our professional and passionate team of early childhood educators and be the spark that ignites the potential in others.

Our culture is of paramount importance to us. We formally measure employee engagement annually to ensure our employees are having an excellent employment experience. Our current level of engagement is 80%, compared to some Canadian employer statistics of 69%.

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario was founded in 1856 and has over 200 locations from Goderich to Point Pelee, and Windsor to Woodstock. We are one of the largest not-for-profit providers of licensed child care in Canada and have over 100 school age programs across our regions. We also offer settlement services to newcomers, employment programs, mental health support, and youth programs. YMCA of Southwestern Ontario operates two overnight camps, one in Point Pelee National Park, and one on Beausoleil Island in Muskoka. We also have 15 Health & Fitness branches across Southwestern Ontario.

Why The Y?

At the Y, our people are central to delivering our mission. We are committed to the development of healthy communities and welcome people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities.

We provide valuable training and development opportunities to help our team members grow professionally and personally.

We look for the following qualities in all of our employees and volunteers:

• Demonstrates our Core Values; Caring, Honesty, Respect & Responsibility and Inclusivity
• Fun, Enthusiastic & Friendly Individuals
• Hardworking and Dependable
• Positive Role Model
• Team Player
• Professionalism
• Enjoy working in a Social Environment
• Ability to effectively communicate with Employees & Members

Employees and volunteersof YMCAof Southwestern Ontario are ambassadors for the Y both on and off the job. We rely on them to help share our mission and increase awareness of the positive impact the Y can have on the lives of people in their communities. Particularly how we are helping to create healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.

All employees and volunteers are required to provide a current satisfactory Criminal Record and may require a Vulnerable Sector Search as a condition of their employment. Police Record checks are reviewed on an individual basis, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirements of the position, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered gainful employment.

Position: Child Care Leadership Program - RECE

Licensed Childcare Location: Stationview YMCA, St Thomas, ON

Start Date: AS soon as possible

Compensation: Starting at $51,700.00 annually (includes all government wage enhancement grants for Registered Early Childhood Educators)

As part of your total compensation:

• Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities, and discounts on YMCA child care and camp programs
• Access vacation entitlement, and up to 12 paid personal days annually
• Benefits package and Pension applicable with position/contract length
• Be part of a caring and supportive network of people to help each other succeed
• Complimentary access to wellness and counselling services
• Contribute to real, meaningful impact in the lives of children and youth

Schedule:

• Monday through Friday (no weekends)
• Required to rotate shifts that cover the full hours of operation of the centre

In this role, you will:

• Plan and deliver a consistent child-centered program in accordance with our YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum (0-6 year olds)
• YMCA curriculum mentorship of program educators including supply daily
• Demonstrate consistent practice of clean culture, ensuring centre and classrooms are clean, organized, and professional looking at all times. All areas of the classroom must be always child ready – all centers are available to children throughout the day.
• Provide quality compassionate care and support to children and their families
• Ensure supervision and safety of children at all times; Understand and comply with provincial (CCEYA), municipal and YMCA policies and procedures
• Be committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging
• Embrace and exemplify the Y’s core values
• Educators will be required to lift to 60 lbs. (children and/or activity equipment or room set up) at various times within a day

Education and Skills Qualifications:

• Registered member, in good standing in the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification or include the date of training scheduled within the next three months.
• Current Vulnerable Criminal Reference Check (less than 6 months old)
• Up-to-date immunizations required by Public Health
• Applicants are required to be a minimum of 18 years of age or older as per Ministry of Education guidelines
• Legally entitled to work in Canada

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

NOTE: The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our members/participants, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.

Candidates, please be advised that our recruitment process incorporates AI technology for initial application screening. This assists us in efficiently assessing qualifications. Rest assured, our recruiters will additionally review resumes to ensure a fair and accurate assessment is completed.