Early Childhood Educator (Infant Toddler)

The University of British Columbia; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an enthusiastic Early Childhood Educator to join their dynamic Child Care team. This role involves creating a nurturing and safe environment for children, adapting to diverse pedagogies, and building strong relationships with families. The organization prides itself on a supportive workplace culture, offering competitive pay, benefits, and opportunities for professional development. If you are passionate about early childhood education and eager to make a positive impact, this position is perfect for you!

Benefits

Employer paid extended health and dental benefits

Generous paid vacation

UBC pension

UBC tuition waiver

Professional Development funds

Community corporate discounts

50% discount on monthly bus/transit pass

Qualifications

• Valid ECE-IT Certificate and Emergency Child Care First Aid required.
• Ability to build relationships with children and families.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement a safe early care and learning environment.
• Engage with the British Columbia Early Learning Framework.
• Build meaningful relationships with children and families.

Skills

Early Childhood Education

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Creative Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Education

Infant Toddler Early Childhood Educator Certificate

Job description

Staff - Union

Job Category

BCGEU Okanagan Childcare

Job Profile

BCGEU OK Salaried - Early Childhood Educator (Infant Toddler)

Job Title

Early Childhood Educator (Infant Toddler)

Department

UBCO | Administration | Child Care

Compensation Range

$4,587.36 - $4,772.69 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

May 19, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

$4 Wage Enhancement is additional to the posted salary.

Working for UBC

Are you looking for a career with a great work-life balance? We are currently recruiting energetic and passionate people for our UBC Okanagan Child Care Centre. We pride ourselves in having a dynamic workplace culture, great pay & benefits, and opportunities for career development. Here are some of the reasons why UBC is one of BC’s Top Employers:

Top Employer: UBC / University of British Columbia (canadastop100.com)

• Employer paid extended health and dental benefits
• Generous paid vacation + additional Christmas time off
• UBC pension
• UBC tuition waiver (for you or a dependent)
• Professional Development funds
• Community corporate discounts
• 50% discount of monthly bus/transit pass
  
  

We are currently recruiting an ECE-IT to join our Child Care team at our Okanagan Campus. This position requires planning and implementing a safe and rich early care and learning environment for the children within a licensed group childcare setting in culturally diverse communities. Educators must be able to adapt to diverse approaches and early childhood pedagogies as led by the individual childcare programs.

Who are you?

• You are energetic, friendly, and deeply passionate about building meaningful relationships with all children and maintain an environment respectful of child's strengths and needs
• You are excited about working in a fun university setting and building relationships with students, faculty, and staff
• You can work effectively both independently and as part of a team with an aptitude for working in a collegial and collaborative environment
• You have excellent organizational skills, sound judgment, and demonstrate patience
• You demonstrate the ability to be creative, imaginative, and problem solve while staying positive
• You have a valid ECE-IT Certificate, Emergency Child Care First Aid
• You show evidence of ongoing professional commitment and development to remain current in the ECE field
  
  

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position requires planning and implementing a safe and rich early care and learning environment for the children within a licensed group child care setting in culturally diverse communities. Educators must be able to adapt to diverse approaches and early childhood pedagogies as led by the individual child care programs.

Organizational Status

Educators work closely with a team of other Early Childhood Educators and receive daily direction from the Senior Early Childhood Educator. Reports directly to Program Manager. This position works within the policies of UBC Okanagan CCS and in partnership with the Educators and the parents and guardians of the children enrolled in the program.

Work Performed

Engages with the British Columbia Early Learning Framework and collaborates together with the other Educators in constructing a creative and inclusive early care and learning environment, thus supporting each child’s emerging abilities.

• Builds a meaningful relationship with all children and maintains an environment respectful of children’s strengths and needs
• Participates in all aspects of the program including routines and transitions
• Models curiosity and celebration of diversity among the children and families and the cultural groups they represent
• Directly supervises children using multiple strategies including observation and positive guidance techniques
• Protects and respects the rights of children and the determination of appropriate interventions to ensure the protection of those rights
• Recognizes, documents and takes appropriate action in the case of suspected abuse, illness or accident, ensuring serious incidences are reported to the appropriate authorities and all required documentation is completed
• Promotes the health and safety of all children including ensuring safe food practices and routine infectious control practices are followed
• Engages in reflective practice that includes observation and interpretation of individual children’s activities
  
  

Creates and maintains respectful, meaningful and professional relationships with families that reflect the role of the Educator and honour parents and guardians as the primary caregivers.

• Accommodates where possible parents'/guardians’ requests for daily care routines within the context of a licensed group care facility
• Shares information about children's progress and the program with parents/guardians
• Attends parent meetings
• Attends family functions organized by the Program Manager with the goal of sharing information and supporting community
  
  

Advocates for quality child care for individual children and families:

• Supports families in their attempts to access specialized services that may be required for their children
• Keeps informed of current events in the child care sector
• Ensures that information on child care initiatives at UBC Okanagan and in the broader community are available to Educators and parents/guardians
  
  

Assists the Senior Early Childhood Educator with compliance requirements:

• Maintaining and safely storing of records
• Ensuring the program is well maintained in a neat, organized, and safe manner indoors and outdoors
• Following all UBC Okanagan CCS Program Policies and Procedures and Health and Safety protocols
  
  

Creates caring professional relationships with their colleagues that support the success of all team members and the program:

• Actively taking part in discussions related to program vision, pedagogy, goals and evaluation
• Contributes to staff meeting agendas and attending and participating in staff meetings
• Uses effective communication and collaboration methods to achieve harmonious relationships with all colleagues
• Works with all team members to provide guidance to students
  
  

Other duties:

• Engages in reflective practice that includes an evaluation of personal success in achieving UBC Okanagan CCS’ goals of pedagogical direction of the program
• Takes part in professional development opportunities and setting personal professional goals that support the on-going successes and growth of the team and Program
• Provides guidance to volunteers and students

• Maintains a professional demeanor at all times, addressing any breaches in professional conduct by their team of Educators including but not limited to;
• Appropriate dress and hygiene
• Language, voice tone and style of communication
• Relationships with UBC colleagues, children and parents/guardians
• Appropriate division of personal life and professional life
• Maintains and promotes confidentiality and protection of privacy within Child Care Services
• Completes any other tasks or requests from the Program Manager, Senior Early Childhood Educator or Associate Director of Child Care Services
  

Consequence of Error and Impact of Decisions

Lack of attention to safety and emergency procedures and poor communication amongst Educators could result in significant injury to children and/or colleagues.

Poor communication with colleagues could lead to dissatisfaction within the child care team that may affect quality of care and successful retention of Educators.

Lack of participation in ongoing professional development including the examination of contemporary early childhood practices could impact the quality of the programs and lead to client dissatisfaction. Client dissatisfaction could result in lower enrolment.

Poor, inappropriate or negative communications with parents could lead to client dissatisfaction which could result in withdrawal from our services, lower enrolment and subsequently cause damage to University reputation.

Supervision Received

Daily direction is provided by the Senior Early Childhood Educator. Reports to the Program Manager. Educators participate in yearly evaluation/goal setting with Program Manager and input from the Senior Early Childhood Educator in addition to receiving on-going feedback and coaching.

Supervision Given

May support, coach and mentor Educators which may include casual Educators, students and/or volunteers as directed by Senior Early Childhood Educator or Program Manager.

Minimum Qualifications

A valid Infant Toddler Early Childhood Educator certificate to practice in BC

Educators must;

• Have the ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with children, parents and program Educators
• Have a high level of spoken and written English skills sufficient to ensure successful communication with program Educators, children and parents/guardians
• Demonstrate excellent listening and communication skills
• Demonstrate appropriate language, tone of voice and style of communication
• Demonstrate the ability to use sound judgement, demonstrate patience and be well organized
• Demonstrate the ability to be creative and imaginative and problem solve while staying positive
• Able to adapt to high level of noise and distractions from children.
• Engage in moderate physical activity involving walking, standing, bending, lifting children, carrying children, room arrangement (moving shelves, tables etc.).
• Have the ability to function independently, under pressure, while managing emergency situations
• Recognize they may be exposed to illness while working with children as well as to challenging behaviours in the center.
• Have the ability to develop relationships with UBC Okanagan colleagues, children and parents and guardians and be flexible when needed
• Show evidence of ongoing professional commitment and development to remain current in the ECE field
• Hold a valid ECE-IT Certificate, Emergency Child Care First Aid
• Have a valid criminal record check
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion