About the Role The YMCA of Saskatoon is seeking a strategic and operational childcare leader to provide direction and oversight for our five licensed childcare centres in Saskatoon and Martensville.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a key member of the YMCA Leadership Team, the Childcare Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality, inclusive, safe, and developmentally appropriate childcare experiences across all locations.

This role provides leadership to Centre Managers and works closely with childcare leadership teams as well as Human Resources, Finance, and other YMCA departments to support strong operations, engaged employees, regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and exceptional experiences for children and families.

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership skills, sound operational judgment, and a genuine commitment to quality early learning and childcare.

What You’ll Do

Leadership & Childcare Operations

- Provide leadership and direction for five YMCA licensed childcare centres.
- Lead, coach, and support Centre Managers to achieve excellence in program quality, staffing, family experience, and day-to-day operations.
- Conduct regular visits to all childcare locations to maintain strong relationships with teams and ensure consistency across centres.
- Support the implementation of the YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum and child-centred, inclusive programming.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in program quality, operational effectiveness, and the experiences of children and families.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and supportive culture across the childcare team.

Licensing, Compliance & Safety

- Ensure all childcare centres operate in accordance with Saskatchewan childcare legislation and licensing requirements, public health requirements, YMCA policies, and established quality standards.
- Maintain strong working relationships with Ministry Licensing Consultants and coordinate licensing inspections, renewals, and required follow-up.
- Ensure appropriate staffing ratios, qualifications, certifications, and documentation are maintained across all locations.
- Oversee health and safety practices, emergency preparedness, and compliance-related processes.
- Ensure childcare records and documentation are accurate, current, and ready for licensing reviews or audits.

People Leadership & Development

- Support Centre Managers in recruiting, onboarding, developing, and retaining qualified childcare employees.
- Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, performance management, employee development, job descriptions, and succession planning.
- Encourage professional development, mentorship,



and leadership growth within the childcare team.
- Build strong leadership capacity and accountability across all childcare locations.
- Promote employee engagement, communication, inclusion, and teamwork.

Financial & Operational Management

- Develop and manage childcare operating budgets in partnership with the Finance Director and CEO.
- Monitor revenues, expenses, staffing costs, enrolment, and other key operational indicators.
- Support financially responsible decision-making while maintaining program quality.
- Oversee enrolment, occupancy, waitlists, and capacity planning across childcare locations.
- Review operational purchasing and resource needs to support effective and cost-conscious operations.
- Provide timely and accurate operational and financial reporting.

Family & Community Relationships

- Promote strong, respectful relationships with children and families.
- Support Centre Managers in responding to parent questions, concerns, and feedback in a timely and professional manner.
- Represent the YMCA in community and sector partnerships related to early learning and childcare.
- Build relationships with government, community organizations, and other partners where appropriate.
- Help strengthen the YMCA’s reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality childcare.

Organizational & Strategic Leadership

- Participate as an active member of the YMCA Leadership Team.
- Contribute to organizational strategy, policy development, annual planning, and Association-wide initiatives.
- Provide childcare-related data, analysis, recommendations, and updates to the CEO.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen accessibility, quality, sustainability, and innovation within YMCA childcare.
- Ensure childcare operations remain aligned with the YMCA’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.

What You Bring We are looking for a leader who combines strong knowledge of early learning and childcare with the ability to lead people and manage complex multi-site operations.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

- Post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education, Education, Human Services, Business Administration, Leadership, or a related field.
- Early Childhood Educator Level III certification in Saskatchewan, or eligibility to obtain certification, considered a strong asset.




- Progressive leadership experience within licensed childcare, early learning, education, or a related human-services environment.
- Experience leading managers or supervisors and supporting multiple teams or locations.
- Strong knowledge of childcare licensing requirements, health and safety practices, and quality programming.
- Experience with budgeting, staffing, enrolment planning, and operational management.
- Strong coaching, communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a rapid-paced environment.
- A collaborative leadership style with a commitment to accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

YMCA Core Competencies Leadership & Influence

Inspires, coaches, and supports others in achieving strong results.

Operational Excellence

Maintains consistent, efficient, high-quality operations across multiple locations.

Strategic Thinking

Anticipates organizational needs and develops practical strategies to support long-term success.

Communication & Collaboration

Builds trusted relationships with employees, families, community partners, and colleagues.

Decision-Making & Accountability

Uses sound judgment, takes ownership, and addresses challenges constructively.

Continuous Improvement

Looks for opportunities to strengthen quality, processes, employee performance, and family experience.

Commitment to YMCA Mission & Values

Demonstrates and promotes the YMCA values of honesty, respect, caring, acceptance, responsibility, and fairness.

Work Environment

- Full-time, permanent leadership position.
- Regular travel is required between the YMCA’s five licensed childcare centre locations in Saskatoon and Martensville.
- Work is primarily Monday to Friday, with flexibility required based on operational needs.
- Occasional evening or weekend participation may be required for meetings, events, emergencies, or Association-wide activities.
- Active participation in YMCA leadership meetings, organizational initiatives, and community events is expected.

Why Work With the YMCA? At the YMCA of Saskatoon, our work is about strengthening the foundations of community. Our childcare programs provide children with safe, inclusive, engaging environments where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

As Childcare Director, you will have the opportunity to influence the quality and direction of childcare across five YMCA locations while developing leaders, supporting families, and helping shape the future of early learning and childcare within our Association.

📌 Childcare Director (Saskatoon)
🏢 YMCA
📍 Saskatoon