Location

Location: Thorold, ON

Division

Children's Services

Important Notices & Amendments

This position currently falls within our hybrid model, allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home. As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having versatile work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays.

These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

Job Summary Reporting to the Manager Children’s Operations, the Program Manager Licensed Home Child Care is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and providing operational and strategic leadership for the licensed home child care program including making recommendations for action to the Manager within legislative/regulatory requirements and in accordance with the approved Regional Council Business Plan.

Education

- Completion of a 2-year community college program, with diploma in Early Childhood Education or recognition of equivalency through the College of Early Childhood Educators registration.
- Post-secondary degree in Child Development, Human Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or equivalent is preferred.
- Member of the College of Early Childhood Educators, Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in good standing.

Knowledge/ Skills

- Minimum of 5 years’ related experience in Early Childhood Education, or licensed home child care position.
- Minimum of 5 years supervisory experience in a leadership role.
- Proficient knowledge of licensed home child care, child care centres, and the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Ministry of Education licensing requirements, regulations, and operational expectations related to licensed home child care agencies and approved home child care providers.
- Demonstrated knowledge of current Provincial trends or directives, including but not limited to How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years and provincial early years and child care priorities.
- Understanding of the developmental and educational needs of children, including children with special needs, and up-to-date knowledge of the Inclusion Resource Service Model , and best practices related to high-quality standards for early learning and child care. Experience in leading through others with ability to empower and guide team members to achieve goals
- Strong ability to leverage data and evidence to provide strategic recommendations, make informed decisions and enhance program performance.
- Proficient knowledge of the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice July 2017, Employment Standards Act, CUPE 1287 Collective Agreement, Public Health guidelines and recommendations as outlined in the Public Health Child Care Manual.
- Demonstrated experience effectively working with diverse groups of individuals.
- Demonstrated knowledge of quality assurance, compliance monitoring, risk management, documentation standards, and continuous improvement practices within licensed child care or home child care environments.
- Advanced proficiency in all Microsoft applications ( Office 365, Word,, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneHSN Child Care Registry, Ontario Child Care Management System, Child Care Licensing System, OMS, and other program-specific databases.
- Current Intermediate First Aid and Infant Child CPR-C certification.
- Must possess thorough knowledge of relevant legislation, departmental policies, Regional policies, and community resources.

Responsibilities Oversees the Niagara Region Licensed Home Child Care Program (35% of time)

- Provides system management support, operational and strategic leadership, and guidance.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive team culture, providing regular feedback and professional development opportunities.
- Oversees the delivery of licensed home child care services to ensure compliance, risk management and financial management .
- Provides leadership to support a culture of community practice, quality improvement, innovation, accountability, and excellence in licensed home child care.
- Supports the Licensed Home Child Care Program Supervisor in monitoring provider compliance, advisor caseloads, home visits, documentation, serious occurrence reporting, and program quality standards.
- Actively participates as a member of the Children’s Services leadership team, including responsibility for planning and evaluating overarching services, programs, quality improvement processes, special projects, and business planning.
- Oversee the operations and policies of the licensed home child care program, provides leadership, and assess the feasibility of new programs,



or expansion of current services in response to emerging needs in the community
- Works with the Manager Children’s Operations and the Licensed Home Child Care Program Supervisor to develop new opportunities for expansion, modernization, and improved service delivery.
- Maintains and strengthens collaborative relationships with home child care providers, families, community partners, and provincial partners.
- Organizes, assigns, monitors, and evaluates staff and program to ensure operational effectiveness, service quality, and compliance.

Supervises staff, coordinating and planning work, providing work direction, assigning tasks and projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, monitoring quality of work, resolving problems and ensuring assigned results are achieved. (35% of time)

- Provides leadership and oversight for the licensed home child care team, including the Home Child Care Advisors and Program Assistant reporting through the Licensed Home Child Care Program Supervisor.
- Enables results with the organization’s human capital strategy to foster employee engagement, accountability, inclusion, and service excellence.
- In conjunction with the Manager Children’s Operations, manages recruitment, supports training and development opportunities, and oversees performance.
- Ensures the program’s focus is service excellence, communication, transparency, innovation, data integrity, consistent documentation, and workflow integration.
- Ensures staff have the appropriate equipment, materials, technology, personal protective equipment, documentation resources, and other supports required to effectively fulfill their responsibilities.
- Ensures personnel-related issues, including recruitment, performance, grievances, attendance, accommodation, and labour relations matters, are addressed in alignment with Human Resources and Corporate standards and practices.
- Works within a team setting to support employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within the division and department.
- Ensures Occupational Health and Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented, and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of the Occupational Health and Safety processes and concerns are responded to promptly. Ensures all individuals under supervision are informed to the Occupational Health and Safety policies, programs and practices.
- Promotes a respectful, safe, inclusive, and healthy work environment for staff, providers, families, and community partners.

*Builds strategic networks and partnerships with the Ministry of Education, Public Health, community partners, educational institutions, the College of Early Childhood Educators, and public and community agencies to ensure delivery of quality licensed home child care (*10% of time)
- Maintains current and up-to-date knowledge of community resources, provincial directives, local child care system needs, and licensed home child care trends.
- Maintains relationships with community agencies, special needs resourcing partners, child care service providers, cross jurisdictional agencies and other organizations that support children and families.
- Serves on various committees within and outside the Department as assigned.
- Provides education and information to the public, families, home child care providers, and community agencies about licensed home child care services and available supports.
- Participates in community engagement in support of program objectives and serves as a community liaison with interested parties.
- Seeks project funding and contributes to proposals to support new licensed home child care program initiatives where applicable.

*Ensures and adheres to effective processes, policies, and practices that support legislative and regulatory standards, program operational requirements, service delivery compliance, client and program issue resolution, and continuous improvement (*5% of time)
- Participates in the development, implementation, review, and revision of Children’s Services policies and procedures related to licensed home child care.
- Assists with the development and revision of policy and procedure manuals for the licensed home child care program.
- Ensures staff awareness of and adherence to corporate, departmental, program policies and agency and /or makes recommendations on modifications and alternative service delivery models/procedures.
- Liaise with community partners who provide coordinated onsite service delivery
- Monitors service and makes recommendations on modifications and alternative service delivery models/procedures
- Contributes to the development of plans for new initiatives in consultation with program staff, monitoring implementation and establishing strategies towards continuous quality improvement




- Assists in the implementation of evidence-based strategies, programs and activities related to mental health services
- Participates in research studies and projects when required
- Analyze, interpret and prepare reports.
- Report on findings and recommend improvements where required and development of services.

Manages and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for which they are the delegated authority, ensuring support of Council’s objectives, financial transparency and accountability, budget adherence, variance identification and explanation, and financial reporting in compliance with corporate financial policies (10% of time)

- Ensures financial transactions, approvals, and reporting are completed in accordance with corporate financial policies and delegated authority.
- Supports the administration of provider-related payments, fee-related processes, and applicable funding requirements in collaboration with the Manager Children’s Operations and other appropriate staff.
- Provides oversight, financial management, and ensure provider payments are accurate, completed on time, and troubleshoots any related concerns.
- Accountable for the management and process oversight for service provider payment and ensure accuracy in payments
- Provides budget oversight and management of the program budget, including expenditure and revenue forecasts
- Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required

Special Requirements
- In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Record Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check where applicable, and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
- Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of Council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating corporate values.
- Must meet and maintain requirements in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014; health assessment and proof of current records of immunizations as directed by the Medical Officer of Health.

About Us

Build your career at Niagara Region At Niagara Region, you can build a meaningful career while helping shape a strong, prosperous and inclusive community. Serving a diverse urban and rural population across 12 local municipalities, we deliver high-quality programs and services that make a difference in people’s lives every day.

As an employer of choice, we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, wellness supports, learning and development opportunities, and flexible work arrangements where operationally feasible. If you are looking for rewarding work, a collaborative team environment and the opportunity to contribute to one of Ontario’s most unique and vibrant regions, we invite you to join us at Niagara Region.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

At Niagara Region, we believe in a culture that recognizes and rewards employees who consistently demonstrate character, competence, and high-performing characteristics.

Work/life balance is important to us at the Niagara Region, all employees are assigned to one primary long-term care location but with the opportunity to work in any of our other long-term care facilities which include locations in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the Lake, Grimsby, and Niagara Falls.

If you are passionate about making a difference through providing exceptional health and personal care and believe, as we do at the Niagara Region, that our long-term care homes should feel like any home should – warm, welcoming, safe, comfortable and affording our residents the ability to uphold their dignity, enjoyment of life, and quality of life, this position is for you.

To recognize, reward, and support our employees, we offer:

- Competitive wages and salaries
- Competitive benefits packages – including benefits for part-time employees!
- Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), a Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Access to group home and auto insurance
- Flexible work arrangements
- Corporate Wellness Centre
- Wellness funds
- Discounted fitness memberships
- Employee and Family Assistance Program services
- Educational funding and subsidies to support current and/or future career opportunities
- A robust mentorship program with longer-term and shorter-term experiences
- Employee Recognition Program and peer-to-peer recognition programs

Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY! Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

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

We confirm that we do not use AI in screening of applicants, and this position is an existing vacancy.

If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (phone hidden) or 1-(phone hidden)
- Bell Relay: 1-(phone hidden)
- In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department

📌 Program Manager Licensed Home Child Care (Thorold)
🏢 Niagara Region
📍 Thorold