social services jobs in Toronto, ON

PROGRAM MANAGER, CHILD CARE AND HOME CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

Employment Opportunity

Network Child Care Services (Network) is currently seeking an experienced and visionary Program Manager to strategically lead and strengthen its centre-based Early Years Learning and Child Care Centres and Home Child Care programs. This leadership position offers an opportunity to apply strategic leadership to influence program quality, strategic growth, regulatory excellence, and innovation within one of Toronto's established non-profit child care organizations.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Manager will directly supervise and provide functional leadership to the Home Child Care Supervisor, Home Child Care Quality Assurance Consultants (Home Visitors), and Child Care Centre Supervisors, while collaborating professionally with the Management and Leadership teams. The primary role of the Program Manager is to lead program initiatives and continuous quality improvement, oversee business operations, provide data for informed decision making analysis, identify program development opportunities, training and professional development opportunities, evaluate programs, foster relations with community stakeholders, support innovation, digitization and technical skill development within the departments, and ensure effective collaboration within the program departments. This role focuses on implementation of strategic planning to support program expansion, maintaining licensing and regulatory compliance, quality improvement to ensure program viability, lead funding initiatives, and strengthen community partnerships.

Location: Toronto, ON.

Job Term: Full-Time Permanent Position, 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Masters in Social Services or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in business management, program management, or a similar role, preferably within the non- profit sector.
• Ability to pass a Vulnerable Sector Check.
• Excellent leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and financial management skills.
• Experience with budget management, financial analysis, funding, financial operations, ensuring sustainability and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English, both written and verbal communication.
• A comprehensive understanding of the CWELCC framework and its impact on operations.
• Familiar with the current regulatory directives such as CCEYA and City of Toronto’s Assessment for Quality Improvement.
• Ability to develop electronic reports, forms, and correspondence with proficient English literacy skills.
• Advanced skills in Information Technology, including Excel, Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, and make strategic decisions.
• Ability to engage, collaborate and communicate professionally with management team, Home Child Care and Child Care Centre Supervisor, Quality Assurance Consultants, staff members, affiliated home child care providers, parents/guardians, and stakeholders.
• Supervisory or management experience in the child care sector is preferred.
• Experience working with Home Child Care programs, or family support programs, offering services to childcare providers in a consultative role preferred.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software implementation.
• Knowledge of provincial regulations and community resources preferred.
• Registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators is preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of child development and early learning frameworks.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management

• Implement strategic plans to support the expansion and sustainability of the child care programs.
• Monitor program goals, objectives, and outcomes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and Ministry of Education requirements.
• Establish partnerships with local child care providers and stakeholders to expand the network of home child care services.
• Collaborate with leadership team to develop new initiatives, policies, and procedures to improve service delivery.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures programs comply with Ontario's Ministry of Education, CCEYA regulations and municipal requirements.
• Regularly review changes in regulations and implement required updates in policies, practices, and documentation.
• Conduct audits to ensure quality standards and licensing criteria.

Quality Assurance

• Collaboratively with the Supervisor, implements quality control procedures and oversees ongoing evaluations to maintain high standards in child care.
• Recommends and supports training and development programs for Quality Assurance Consultants, home child care providers, and child care staff, focusing on best practices, legislative requirements, and health and safety.
• Assumes key leadership role in the preparation and ongoing monitoring of program licensing requirements.
• Develops evaluation frameworks and quality assurance processes, reviews approaches, and identifies service gaps.
• Participates in program evaluation to ensure high quality service delivery.
• Provides support and guidance to Child Care Centre Supervisors and Home Child Care Supervisor, to ensure legislation compliances are met.

Financial Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of budget, manage expenses, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Prepare reports on program funding, expenses, and financial forecasting.
• Oversee agreements with affiliated home child care providers.
• Administers program budget, ensures accuracy of financial records and invoicing, monitors budget lines.
• Establishes administrative procedures.

Leadership and Staff Development:

• Coordinate training, support, and resources for child care staff and affiliated home child care providers to enhance service delivery.
• Participates in recruitment and selection process collaboratively with Human Resources.
• Develop and implement recruitment strategies for affiliated home child care providers within communities.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions on health, safety, and educational best practices for home child care providers.
• Ensures child care staff and affiliated Providers remain current and knowledgeable.
• Recommends training to the Executive Director/Director of Child Care and Pedagogy to ensure professional development needs are met.
• Participates in quarterly and annual performance reviews of each department.

Program Planning & Reporting

• Participate in ongoing program planning and strategic planning implementation in partnership with the Executive Director/Director of Child Care and Pedagogy.
• Develop program standards and prepares reports for leadership.
• Ensure procedures are defined and followed for consistency.
• Assumes a key leadership role in the preparation and ongoing monitoring of Providers’ program licensing requirements.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare regular reports for senior management on program performance, growth metrics, and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with marketing and outreach teams to promote child care services and provider and child care staff recruitment efforts.
• Serve as liaison with government agencies, community organizations, and stakeholders.

Community Relations

• Promote Network’s child care programs through community engagement.
• Develop partnerships and collaborate with community stakeholders, committees, agencies, and municipal government.
• Represents the agency in associations and government meetings, responds to community/media inquiries.
• Advocate and collaborate with Ministry of Education, Toronto Children’s Services, and Ontario Home Child Care Association.
• Participate in workshops, conferences, and public presentations.

Documentation, Reporting and Administrative Procedures

• Develop and maintain program documentation, ensures record accuracy, manages filing systems.
• Maintain up-to-date contracts and records for all participating parents and providers (e.g., childcare agreements, individual support plans), ensuring these are current and correctly documented.
• Ensure timely submission of compliance and performance reports.

Health and Safety Leadership

• Champions a safe environment for children and staff by enforcing health and safety protocols.
• Respond to incidents and implement corrective measures promptly.

Working Conditions

Full-time position requiring flexibility beyond standard hours, including evenings and weekends. Occasional travel for onsite visits and other engagements as necessary.

Number of Existing Vacancies: 1

Salary Range: $75,000 to $90,000 per year, plus benefits.

Network Child Care Services is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including Indigenous peoples, Black and other racialized people, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities.

Network Child Care Services makes every effort to accommodate the needs of candidates through the selection process, under Ontario’s Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Candidates who are contacted for an interview are kindly requested to inform us if any accommodation is required by emailing careers@networkchildcare.com.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $75,000.00-$90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision care

Application question(s):

• Do you have a Bachelor’s Degree in the required or related field?

Experience:

• management: 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 2026-08-17