Executive Director

Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charitable organization in Edmonton is looking for an Executive Director to lead their mission of providing quality childcare and support. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Early Childhood Education, 3–5 years of leadership experience, and a strong commitment to inclusion. This position offers a chance to shape future inclusive education initiatives and empower families across the community. The role involves strategic oversight, team leadership, and fostering partnerships for sustainable impact.

Benefits

Impact on community

Supportive work culture

Opportunity for personal growth

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of leadership experience in a non-profit, educational, or community organization.
• Familiarity with occupational health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations, ensuring alignment with strategic plans.
• Champion a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
• Translate big-picture strategy into operational results.

Skills

Leadership in non-profit settings

Childcare licensing knowledge

Inclusive early childhood practices

Budgeting and financial management

HR skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Job description

Executive Director – Job Posting

Every child deserves a great start. At Community Options, we provide that great start through quality childcare and inclusive support for children and their families. For over 44 years, Community Options has provided services that positively impact the future of children and their families by offering an inclusive experience where children can develop toward their full potential, regardless of their abilities.

Community Options carries out charitable activities and programs that offer children an enriching experience, positively impacting lifelong learning, behaviour, health and quality of life and empower families through family and community support. Inclusive early childhood education for children with diagnosed disabilities is provided throughout the Edmonton region in numerous preschools and childcare centres. This program is designed to offer family-oriented programming to enable parents to better support their child with specific needs.

Community Options has been a PUF provider of inclusive education solutions focusing on early intervention therapy services in Edmonton. We are seeking a dynamic, visionary, and values-driven Executive Director to lead our organization into its next chapter of growth, impact, and sustainability.

About the Role

This is more than a leadership position; it’s a chance to shape the future of inclusive education and family support in Edmonton. As Executive Director, you’ll carry forward a 44-year legacy of compassion, innovation, and advocacy, while building a stronger, more inclusive future for the next generation. If you believe in the power of early intervention, the strength of community, and the ability of every child to thrive with the right support, we want to hear from you.

The Executive Director (ED) is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Options and is accountable for the overall operational, financial, and strategic success of the organization. The ED provides leadership to staff and the broader community, ensures alignment with the mission and strategic plan, and fosters a culture of inclusion, excellence, innovation, and care.

Key Responsibilities

This is where strategy meets heart. As Executive Director, you’ll be called on to make high-stakes decisions, navigate complex community dynamics, and hold a deep sense of responsibility for both the people we serve and the teams who serve them. This role is about stepping into uncertainty with clarity, leading through complexity with compassion, and holding space for both visionary thinking and practical execution.

As Executive Director, you will:

• Translate big-picture strategy into operational results across complex programs that support inclusive childhood development and family well-being.
• Provide strategic insight and trusted guidance to a committed Board, enabling transparent and future-focused governance.
• Champion a high-performing, inclusive team culture grounded in psychological safety, growth, and accountability.
• Ensure long-term financial sustainability through rigorous budgeting, proactive risk management, and purpose-driven fund development.
• Lead health, safety, and emergency readiness efforts, safeguarding the welfare of children, families, and staff.
• Represent Community Options with integrity, building trust-based partnerships and advocating for inclusive policies that serve our mission.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for more than a resume. We’re looking for someone with heart, grit, and the ability to lead with both empathy and expertise. You are the kind of leader who sees challenges as opportunities, and who inspires others through clarity, connection, and courage. If you can navigate policy one moment and sit on the floor with a preschooler the next, you’ll feel right at home here.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Social Sciences, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience in a non-profit, educational, or community organization.
• Knowledge of childcare licensing, inclusive early childhood practices, and community-based service delivery.
• Strong skills in HR, budgeting, fundraising, policy writing, and risk management.
• Familiarity with occupational health and safety standards and emergency preparedness.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement and navigating multi-stakeholder environments (e.g., funders, families, staff, government).

Attributes

• Courageous and compassionate leader who can make tough decisions while centering people and purpose.
• Visionary thinker with a track record of translating complexity into clarity and strategy into action.
• Deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation, with the emotional intelligence to navigate sensitive dynamics with care.
• Collaborative and empowering leadership style that builds trust and cultivates growth across teams.
• Excellent communicator who can connect authentically with everyone from preschoolers to policymakers.
• Calm under pressure, resourceful in uncertainty, and relentless in pursuit of what’s best for children, families, and community.

Why Join Us?

At Community Options, you’ll lead with purpose, work alongside people who care deeply, and see your impact every day in the lives of children and families. If you believe inclusive communities are built from the ground up, this is your chance to lead that change.

• Lead a mission-driven organization where your leadership will directly impact the lives of children and the strength of families across Edmonton.
• Be part of a team that leads with heart, one that values trust, compassion, humour, and the belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive.
• Step into a role that allows you to align your personal values with your professional life, and find purpose in your day-to-day work.
• Influence real systems change in early childhood education and inclusive community development.
• Join a culture where your ideas, lived experience, and leadership are not only respected but celebrated.
• Experience the fulfillment of knowing that your work will leave a legacy, one of equity, care, and opportunity for all families.

Our team is committed to maintaining a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive space. As an inclusive and equitable employer, we encourage and welcome all qualified individuals, particularly from racialized, BIPOC, and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

This is your opportunity to lead with heart, leave a legacy, and help shape a future where every child belongs and every family is supported. If this speaks to you, we invite you to apply.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the Executive Director role at Community Options. Please also include in your cover letter, the Community Options’ vision slogan that can be found at the top of the homepage on the website. We are grateful to all who apply and will be in touch with the best-matched candidates for an interview.

Tagged as: Non-Profit Management and Support