Department: Social Services
Division: Children's Early Years
Position Type: Full Time Regular
Work Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week: regular schedule is 8:30 am - 4:00 pm onsite/in-person; flexibility of hours may be required.
Work Location: 129 Wyndham Street, Guelph; the County of Wellington is an employer that believes in providing service onsite.
Vacancies: 1
Application Deadline: 04/04/2025
BASIC FUNCTION
Reporting to the Social Services Administrator (Children’s Early Years, Housing, Ontario Works), the Director of Children’s Early Years is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the County’s role as the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager for Child Care and Early Years for the Wellington service delivery area (County of Wellington and City of Guelph). Duties include but are not limited to responsibility for leading the strategic service system planning, allocation of public funds, the development, implementation, administration, delivery, and effective management of Children’s Early Years, ensuring all requirements of the agreement with the Ministry of Education are met at all times. Responsible for providing leadership to the Early Years Managers, ensuring appropriate funding, policies and procedures are in place for effective service delivery, lead service system and community planning, authorizing purchase of service and funding agreements, ensuring that programme integrity and outcome requirements are met, and represent Children’s Early Years Division on provincial and community planning tables. This position directly supervises a non-union and unionized environment and participates on the senior management team for the Social Services Department.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide strategic advice to the Administrator as well as to managers concerning direct delivery of services provided by the division.
- Maintain ongoing proficiency of all and any legislation and service programmes, key performance indicators, targets, budgets, and reports submissions.
- Provide leadership and supervision to staff in a manner that develops, motivates, guides, and directs them to be responsible and accountable.
- Monitor the work of all direct reports to ensure compliance with all policies, procedures, and relevant legislation, as well as to ensure effective, efficient, and high-quality customer service.
- Ensure that appropriate procedures and actions are taken in relation to health and safety, staff and building security and general facility management.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners and agencies including participation on appropriate community committees and initiatives that support the service delivery objectives of the position.
- Effectively implement new federal, provincial, and municipal initiatives and funding allocations in a timely manner.
- Attend, submit reports and make presentations at the Social Services Committee meetings, County Council.
- Collaborate with community agencies to provide services in an effective and efficient manner while avoiding duplication of service.
The County of Wellington is committed to providing inclusive access and accommodations for disabilities throughout the application and selection process. We are continuously working to improve our systems, policies, and practices to ensure our employees, in all their diversity, can succeed. Should you require accommodation for a disability through the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Personal information is collected pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only to evaluate the suitability of applicants for employment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Four-year university degree in Childhood Studies, Early Childhood Education, Human Resources/Business or Public Administration or other related field.
- Minimum seven years of experience or equivalent and competence in progressively responsible and diverse management positions leading the delivery of services in a Child Care environment.
- Excellent management and leadership abilities including the ability to manage and direct in a unionized environment, solid communication skills, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively with others.
- Detailed knowledge of federal and provincial legislation governing all areas of Children’s Early Years and related directives, guidelines, policies, and procedures.
- Familiarity with and knowledge of the relevant Acts and Legislation governing the programmes delivered by the Social Services Department would be an asset.
- Experience working in a team-based environment with a visionary approach to quality outcomes and efficient delivery of a broad range of social programmes.
- Experience in leading collaborative, community level, human service planning.
- Knowledge of programme evaluation tools and outcomes management approaches.
- Ability to lead and manage change.
- Ability to complete reports and documents and maintain accurate records.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to build and sustain positive professional working relationships.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Excellent knowledge of computers, software, programme, and data bases.
- Knowledge and understanding of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- A valid driver’s licence (minimum G2 Class) and access to a reliable vehicle; flexibility of location is required.
Pay Range: $142,069.20 - $166,184.20 (2025 Non-Union Compensation Grid)
Benefits: Long Term Disability, Life Coverage, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Critical Illness, Extended Health Care, Emergency Travel Assistance, Dental Care; mandatory enrolment, premiums 100% covered.
Pension: Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS); enrolment mandatory.
Medical Responsibility Time: Prorated and accrues at 0.5 days/month. Short Term Disability: 17 weeks coverage at 75% or 100% of pay, based on length of service.
Vacation: Accrues to start at three weeks/annum; increases based on length of service.
Parking: Provided; taxable benefit provisions apply.
Mileage: If applicable, as per CRA allowances.
