Early Learning & Development Lead

Bulldog Kids | Barrie, Ontario

Full-Time, Permanent The Opportunity

Bulldog Kids is looking for an experienced and highly capable Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) to join our team as an Early Learning & Development Lead.

This is not a traditional RECE position.

The Early Learning & Development Lead is a classroom-based leadership role designed for an exceptional educator who is ready to take on greater responsibility while remaining actively engaged with children and their classroom team.

Our Early Learning & Development Leads serve as a key connection between their classroom, families and the Centre Leadership Team. They help guide classroom practice, mentor educators, advocate for the needs of their classroom and ensure that high standards of programming, communication and professional practice are consistently maintained.

This position is ideal for an experienced RECE who naturally takes initiative, sees the bigger picture, enjoys mentoring others and wants an opportunity to grow as a leader without leaving the classroom.

What You'll Do

Lead Your Classroom

- Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to your classroom team.
- Set the tone for a positive, organized and professional classroom environment.
- Model exceptional interactions, responsive caregiving and early learning practices.
- Help establish consistent classroom routines, expectations and approaches.
- Mentor and support RECEs, ECE assistants and new team members.
- Promote accountability, teamwork and open communication within the classroom.
- Identify challenges early and work collaboratively with the Program Supervisor to develop solutions.
- Be an advocate and a strong voice for your classroom.

Elevate Programming & Practice
- Support the development and implementation of meaningful, engaging and developmentally appropriate programming.
- Ensure programming reflects children's interests, developmental needs and individual strengths.
- Encourage intentional teaching, inquiry and meaningful learning experiences.
- Support educators in adapting programming and classroom approaches to meet the needs of their group.
- Help ensure observations, documentation and programming expectations are completed consistently and to a high standard.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen classroom practice and bring forward ideas for continuous improvement.

Support Individualized Success
- Work collaboratively with our Director of Inclusion to support children who benefit from additional strategies or individualized approaches.
- Help ensure recommendations and strategies developed with the Director of Inclusion,



Resource Consultants and other professionals are understood and consistently implemented within the classroom.
- Help classroom educators incorporate recommended strategies naturally into daily routines and programming.
- Observe how strategies are working in practice and provide meaningful feedback to the Director of Inclusion.
- Help identify barriers to successful implementation and work collaboratively to find practical solutions.
- Promote consistency among educators to help achieve the best possible outcomes for each child.

Build Strong Family Relationships
- Act as the primary day-to-day classroom contact for families.
- Build positive, trusting and professional relationships with parents and caregivers.
- Communicate children's successes, classroom experiences, developmental observations and concerns professionally and thoughtfully.
- Help facilitate productive communication between families and classroom educators.
- Know when a situation requires additional support and involve the Program Supervisor or appropriate member of the Leadership Team.

Be Part of the Leadership Team Early Learning & Development Leads have a voice beyond their individual classroom.

You will

- Attend designated administrative and leadership meetings.
- Represent the needs, successes and challenges of your classroom.
- Bring forward ideas and recommendations to improve programming and centre operations.
- Participate in centre-wide initiatives and quality improvement.
- Help Centre Leadership maintain consistent expectations and standards across classrooms.
- Support onboarding, classroom transitions and the professional development of team members.
- Help build a strong, collaborative and accountable workplace culture.

Who We're Looking For We're looking for someone who is more than simply a great RECE.

You are someone other educators naturally turn to for guidance. You take initiative, communicate confidently and professionally, follow through on commitments and remain calm when a classroom gets busy.

You care deeply about the quality of the program you provide and aren't afraid to advocate for your classroom, your team or the children in your care.

You are able to lead while still being collaborative,



approachable and willing to learn.

Qualifications

- Registered Early Childhood Educator in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators.
- Diploma in Early Childhood Education required.
- Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Studies, Child Studies, Education or a related field is considered a strong asset.
- Completion of an Early Childhood Resource Consultant Program is considered a strong asset.
- Previous experience working as an RECE in a licensed childcare setting.
- Demonstrated leadership, mentorship and communication abilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience collaborating with families and multidisciplinary support professionals is an asset.
- Experience with documentation, programming and/or administrative responsibilities is an asset.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to follow through on multiple priorities.

Compensation & Benefits As a full-time member of the Bulldog Kids team, you will have access to our employee compensation and benefits package, including:
- Group health and dental benefits
- Paid sick days
- Paid Recharge Days, after 3 years of employment, because we believe the well-being of our educators matters
- Paid Birthday Off, after 3 years of employment.
- Yearly Wellness Allowance
- Yearly Work Clothing Allocation
- Ongoing professional training and development
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
- The opportunity to participate in leadership and administrative initiatives
- A permanent, long-term position within a growing organization
- A supportive, collaborative environment where strong educators are given opportunities to lead

Why This Role Is Different We believe career growth in early childhood education shouldn't require exceptional educators to leave the classroom.

The Early Learning & Development Lead position recognizes experienced RECEs who bring an additional level of leadership, education, judgment and qualified expertise to their work.

You'll still spend your days doing what matters most — working directly with children — while having greater influence over classroom practice, mentoring your colleagues, collaborating with centre leadership and helping shape the quality of the program we provide.

If you're an experienced RECE who is ready for the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: $30.00-$31.00 per hour

Expected hours: 42.2 per week

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site childcare
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Early Learning & Development Lead RECE (Barrie)
🏢 Bulldog KIDS / Little Village Academy
📍 Barrie