Description
Full job description
Childcare Director
Little Owl Learning Centre | Medicine Hat, AB
Full-Time | 19-Month Maternity Leave Contract
Position Timeline: Dec 2026 - July 2028
About Little Owl
Little Owl Learning Centre is a Reggio-inspired early learning and childcare centre committed to providing high-quality, relationship-focused care. We believe children are capable, curious learners and that strong programs are built through meaningful relationships between children, educators and families.
We are seeking an experienced, highly reliable and organized Director to join our leadership team for a 19-month maternity leave contract.
About the Role
The Director is a key onsite leadership position responsible for helping oversee the day-to-day operation of our centre. This is a hands-on role that combines staff leadership, scheduling and ratio management, family communication, licensing compliance, billing, grant processing and administrative responsibilities.
The successful candidate must be able to see the big picture, anticipate needs, solve problems and make confident decisions while remaining mindful of the best interests of our children, staff and families.
This position requires someone who is exceptionally dependable. Our Director is relied upon by the entire centre, making consistent attendance, punctuality, communication and follow-through essential.
Key Responsibilities
Centre Operations & Staffing
- Oversee and support daily centre operations.
- Maintain a strong understanding of Alberta childcare licensing and ratio requirements.
- Develop and maintain staff schedules based on enrolment, attendance and operational needs.
- Actively monitor ratios and staffing throughout the day.
- Manage staff call-ins, breaks, vacation requests and unexpected absences.
- Arrange coverage and make real-time staffing adjustments when necessary.
- Anticipate staffing needs and proactively resolve potential gaps.
- Maintain awareness of employee hours and make responsible staffing decisions.
- Step into classrooms or ratio when needed.
- Ensure policies, procedures and licensing requirements are consistently followed.
Our Director must understand that being technically "in ratio" does not always mean a classroom is appropriately supported. Staffing decisions should consider children's individual needs, classroom dynamics, educator capacity and quality of care alongside operational and financial considerations.
Staff Leadership
- Provide approachable, consistent and professional leadership to our educators.
- Support staff with classroom challenges, child development and behavioural concerns.
- Clearly communicate expectations and maintain appropriate accountability.
- Coach and support educators in their professional growth.
- Assist with onboarding, orientation and staff development.
- Address concerns professionally and communicate significant matters to Ownership.
- Promote a positive, respectful and solution-focused workplace culture.
- Maintain confidentiality and appropriate leadership boundaries.
Children & Families
- Keep children's safety, well-being and best interests at the centre of decision-making.
- Support Little Owl's Reggio-inspired, emergent and play-based philosophy.
- Recognize when children, classrooms or educators require additional support.
- Build positive and professional relationships with families.
- Support family questions, concerns and sensitive conversations.
- Assist with inquiries, tours and enrolment when required.
- Ensure families feel heard, informed and confident in their child's care.
Billing, Grants & Administration
- Complete monthly family billing and maintain accurate family accounts.
- Respond to billing questions and complete account adjustments as required.
- Monitor outstanding accounts and follow up appropriately.
- Process Alberta childcare affordability funding and other applicable government grants.
- Maintain accurate enrolment and attendance information for funding purposes.
- Complete grant submissions accurately and within required deadlines.
- Reconcile funding and follow up on discrepancies.
- Maintain organized and confidential centre, family and financial records.
- Support other administrative responsibilities related to centre operations.
Qualifications
Required:
- Child Care Supervisor certification in Alberta.
- Experience working within a licensed childcare environment.
- Strong knowledge of Alberta childcare licensing and ratio requirements.
- Experience with staff scheduling and ratio management.
- Strong organizational, communication and problem-solving skills.
- High level of reliability, punctuality and follow-through.
- Ability to confidently manage multiple priorities and make decisions.
- Current First Aid certification or ability to obtain required certification.
Strongly Preferred:
- Previous Director, Assistant Director, Supervisor or childcare management experience.
- Experience scheduling and managing a large childcare team.
- Experience with childcare billing and family accounts.
- Experience processing Alberta childcare affordability grants or other government funding.
- Experience supervising, coaching and supporting employees.
- Experience with Kinderlogix and/or Storypark.
- Experience with Reggio-inspired, emergent or play-based programming.
Who We're Looking For
Our ideal Director is:
- Highly reliable, dependable and punctual.
- Proactive and able to anticipate what needs to happen next.
- Organized and detail-oriented.
- Confident and capable of making sound decisions.
- Calm and solution-focused under pressure.
- Approachable, compassionate and supportive.
- Comfortable providing direction and maintaining accountability.
- A strong communicator with excellent follow-through.
- Able to balance the needs of children, staff, families and the organization.
- Comfortable moving between leadership, administration and hands-on classroom support.
This role requires someone who understands that childcare leadership is about more than schedules, ratios and administration. Every operational decision impacts children, educators and families.
We are looking for someone who can confidently keep the many moving pieces of Little Owl working together while ensuring children's best interests remain at the heart of every decision.
Position: Full-Time Director
Contract: 19-month maternity leave coverage (Dec 2026-July 2028)
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta
If you are an experienced childcare leader who is dependable, organized, people-focused and passionate about high-quality early learning, we would love to hear from you.
Pay: $60,000.00-$75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- On-site childcare
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: In person