Early Childhood Educator

YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth; Fall River; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

YMCA membership

Access to Y at Home

3 weeks vacation & wellness days

Comprehensive benefits & pension

Wellbeing & counselling services

Job summary

The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth is hiring a caring Early Childhood Educator (ECE) for a Fall River location. You will create warm, safe spaces and support children’s development through play-based activities, in alignment with Nova Scotia guidelines and the YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum.

Reporting to the Centre Director, you will maintain strong family relationships, work collaboratively with a team, and participate in ongoing professional learning.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent.
• Current ECE classification from Nova Scotia ECD.
• Valid First Aid and CPR-C certification.
• Clear Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Abuse Registry Check.
• Experience as an ECE is an asset; strong child development knowledge.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create a warm, inclusive, safe learning environment for children and families.
• Support children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
• Plan developmentally appropriate, play-based programming aligned with NS framework.
• Be responsible for a small group of children and assist with classroom tasks.
• Maintain open communication with families and colleagues.
• Collaborate with team and contribute to centre goals and objectives.
• Ensure health, safety, and licensing requirements are met.
• Participate in ongoing professional learning and quality improvements.
• Support operations by assisting in other classrooms or centres as needed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Independent work

Inclusive environment

Education

Diploma in Early Childhood Education

NS ECE classification Level 1/2/3

First Aid & CPR-C

Vulnerable Sector & Child Abuse Registry Checks

Job description

Location

Fall River YMCA Early Learning Child Care Centre

Program

Licensed Child Care

Position Status

Full-Time

Compensation

$25.61-$32.19 per hour (Based on NS ECE Wage Scale)

There is potential inside all of us – we all have it in us to shine.

Every charity exists to help solve a problem – our charity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, social isolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more. Today, our network is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports, accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safe spaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labour market, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community for isolated older adults.

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space to discover their inner strength. When they know someone’s in their corner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than they thought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps people ignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant and healthy communities.

With us at their side, they can Shine On.

As part of your total compensation

• Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
• Access to Y at Home, where you can participate in fitness programs from your own home
• 3 weeks vacation entitlement and paid wellness days
• Comprehensive benefits package and pension
• Complimentary wellbeing and counselling services

About the Role

Reporting to the Centre Director, the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) plays a vital role in creating safe, stimulating, and nurturing environments where children and families feel a strong sense of belonging. The ECE supports children’s learning and development through responsive, play-based experiences while building meaningful and respectful relationships with families and colleagues.

In This Role, You Will

• Create and maintain a warm, welcoming, inclusive, and safe learning environment for children and families, tailoring interactions to support individual needs
• Foster children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through intentional interactions, observations, and thoughtful program planning
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate, play-based programming aligned with Nova Scotia’s Early Learning Curriculum Framework and the YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum
• Be primarily responsible for a small group of children, while also contributing to shared classroom and centre responsibilities (included but not limited to cleaning tasks, classroom paperwork, and organization)
• Build positive and respectful relationships with children and families through open, consistent communication, both verbal and written
• Support a collaborative and respectful team environment by working positively with colleagues and contributing to centre-wide goals, as well as broader association objectives
• Ensure all health, safety, and licensing requirements are met at all times, and communicate closely with the centre’s leadership team to support compliance
• Participate in ongoing professional learning, reflection, and quality improvement practices, including team meetings, training opportunities, and one-on-one support meetings with leadership
• Support operations by working in classrooms or with age groups other than those primarily assigned, and by travelling between YMCA Childcare Centres as requested by the Centre Director to support ratio coverage
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Education and Skills Qualifications

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education or an equivalent qualification
• Current ECE classification with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (ECE Level 1, 2, or 3)
• Valid First Aid and CPR-C certification
• Clear Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Abuse Registry Check
• Previous experience as an Early Childhood Educator or in a related field is considered an asset, especially in Nova Scotia
• Strong understanding of child development and play-based learning approaches
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Demonstrates commitment to creating inclusive, supportive, and respectful environments for children, families, and colleagues

All successful candidates are required to provide

• Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, and Child Abuse Register Check (less than 6 months old), if 18 years of age or older
• Attend Child Safeguarding Training upon hire
• Valid First Aid and CPR Training

Background checks are reviewed on an individual basis – offenses, if any, are based on role and Child Safeguarding requirements, and may not eliminate candidates from employment at our YMCA.

At the YMCA, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We believe that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our organization, enabling us to better serve our community and achieve our mission. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.