BUILD A STRONGER BUSINESS. MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE.

Can you look at a business, identify what’s holding it back, bring people together and turn a plan into measurable results?

A bilingual private daycare in the Greater Montreal Area is seeking an experienced General Manager to take ownership of its overall performance.

You do not need to be a current daycare director. You do need a proven ability to manage people, operations, finances and business improvement—and the judgment to apply those skills in an environment where children’s safety, quality of care and families’ trust come first.

This is a hands-on leadership role with a clear mandate: strengthen daily operations, grow enrolment, improve financial performance and build reliable systems that allow the daycare to run smoothly and consistently.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting directly to the owners, you will lead the business beyond the scope of a traditional daycare director.

You will work closely with the daycare director, whose responsibilities include educational leadership and childcare requirements, while taking accountability for overall business operations, team performance, systems, financial discipline and growth.

We are looking for someone who can see the big picture, recognize the details that matter and follow through until improvements become everyday practice.

YOUR MANDATE

Take control of operations

- Assess how the daycare currently operates and identify gaps, recurring problems and opportunities for improvement.
- Establish clear responsibilities, priorities and accountability across the team.
- Ensure staffing, scheduling, purchasing, maintenance and administrative processes work together effectively.
- Resolve issues at their source and put systems in place to prevent them from recurring.
- Keep the owners informed through concise reporting, practical recommendations and timely escalation of material issues.

Strengthen financial performance

- Develop and manage budgets, monitor results and explain variances.
- Review staffing costs, purchasing, supplier agreements and other operating expenses.
- Identify savings and improve resource allocation while protecting safety, quality of care and the family experience.
- Strengthen billing, collections and administrative controls.
- Build a practical dashboard covering enrolment, revenue, labour costs,



expenses and other key operating measures.

Grow enrolment and family retention

- Develop and execute a clear plan to increase enrolment and maintain occupancy.
- Improve the journey from initial inquiry to tour, registration and onboarding.
- Track conversion rates, follow-up activity and reasons families enrol, decline or leave.
- Build referral opportunities, community relationships and local partnerships.
- Work with the team to ensure the experience we deliver supports the promises we make.

Build systems that last

- Create, document and implement standard operating procedures.
- Standardize policies, workflows, records and internal communications.
- Establish consistent onboarding, training and performance management practices.
- Ensure procedures are understood, used and reviewed—not simply placed in a binder.
- Reduce dependence on the owners by building clear processes and a capable, accountable team.

Lead people and protect quality

- Set clear expectations and coach employees and managers to meet them.
- Address performance concerns promptly, fairly and professionally.
- Build a respectful workplace with strong communication and follow-through.
- Partner with the daycare director to support applicable childcare requirements, inspection readiness, accurate documentation and safe operations.
- Handle family concerns with sound judgment, empathy and a commitment to resolution.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In your first 90 days, you will be expected to:

- Complete an operational and financial assessment.
- Present a prioritized improvement plan with timelines and measurable objectives.
- Establish baseline performance measures and a regular reporting rhythm.
- Address the most urgent operational gaps.
- Begin implementing the highest-priority procedures and accountability systems.

Over the following year, success will mean stronger enrolment and retention, better expense control, consistent execution of procedures,



clearer team accountability and a daycare that operates effectively with less day-to-day owner involvement.

WHO YOU ARE

- An experienced general manager, operations manager, business manager or multi-site leader with responsibility for people, budgets and results.
- Able to demonstrate improvements you have personally led—not just responsibilities you have held.
- Comfortable reviewing financial reports, working with spreadsheets and making decisions using data.
- Experienced in developing procedures, improving workflows and leading organizational change.
- Commercially minded, with an understanding of customer acquisition, service quality and retention.
- A confident people leader who can build trust, set standards and have difficult conversations when needed.
- Organized, resourceful and willing to work directly with the team to get things done.
- Able to communicate effectively in French and English with families, employees and owners in our bilingual environment.

Experience in childcare, education, healthcare, hospitality or another regulated, service-focused business would be valuable. Previous experience as a daycare director is welcome but is not required.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT

- A meaningful opportunity to improve a business that serves children and families.
- Direct access to the owners and a clear business improvement mandate.
- Broad responsibility across operations, financial performance, growth and team development.
- The opportunity to build systems and see the results of your leadership.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your résumé and a brief response to these three questions:

- What business or operation have you managed, and what were you accountable for?
- Describe one measurable improvement you led in profitability, growth, efficiency or team performance.
- How would you approach your first 90 days managing a daycare?

We are particularly interested in specific examples of what you changed, how you implemented it and the results you achieved.

This is a full-time, on-site position in the Greater Montreal Area, Quebec.

This recruitment process is confidential. The daycare’s identity and exact location will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- In office parking

Work Location: In person

📌 GENERAL MANAGER – DAYCARE OPERATIONS & BUSINESS GROWTH (Montreal)
🏢 Leading
📍 Montreal