General Manager, Pre-Kindergarten

The YMCA has been part of life in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1854. Our charity’s core programs of Health, Fitness, and Aquatics; Child Care and Day Camp; and Employment, Enterprise, and Newcomer Services are offered at more than 200 locations and points of delivery in our communities throughout the province. Our focus on inclusiveness and accessibility means we serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through all stages of life.

We are seeking a General Manager, Pre-Kindergarten to oversee and lead the day-to-day operations of the Pre-Kindergarten Child Care program. The General Manager is responsible for enforcing Association policies and procedures while also enforcing Child Care Regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment for all.

We are looking for a strong leader who can set transparent expectations, keeps the team goals aligned with the strategic plan, values the opinion of team members, stays calm in moments of pressure, handles feedback or conflict constructively, and shows confidence in handling family complaints in a respectful manner. The successful candidate will directly manage Regional Managers and the Child Care Coordinator.

The position is located at our Child Care Office in St. John's. Travel to and from sites may be required at times.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive program quality through continuous monitoring, evaluation, and improvement.
• Manage daily operations of all Pre-Kindergarten programs and services according to the provincial Child Care Regulations standards and YMCA policies and procedures.
• Support and mentor Regional Managers and Child Care Staff.
• Respond to and resolve family and staff concerns with professionalism and sound judgement.
• Attend and lead meetings with Pre-Kindergarten operational and development teams to ensure a smooth operation and goals are being met to compliment the strategic plan.
• Lead and support direct and indirect reports (Child Care Staff and Registrars) to problem solve and resolve conflict related to participant concerns and behaviours.
• Exercise good operational judgement (i.e., hours of operations, equipment purchases, etc.)
• Responsible for administrative duties such as reporting and statistics.
• Collaborate with the project development team to open and license new Pre-Kindergarten sites across the province.
• Assist in the hiring decision making process for all Pre-Kindergarten work-force needs.
• Lead serious incident investigations in alignment with internal YMCA procedures and the Department of Education.

• Post-secondary education (Diploma or Degree); Post-secondary education in Early Learning Child Care is considered an asset.
• 4-5 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong communication and customer service experience.
• Computer knowledge in Microsoft Office applications.
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills with high attention to detail.
• Knowledge in Child Care Regulations is considered an asset.
• Criminal Record Checks and Vulnerable Sector Checks are reviewed on an individual basis.

• Competitive compensation; paid general and annual leave for full time employees, medical and dental insurance, matched pension contributions.
• Maintain a work-life balance with our 35-hour work week.
• Enhance your health with a free health, fitness and aquatics membership.
• Keep your career dynamic through our professional development programs.
• Work in an inclusive environment where caring, honesty, diversity, respect and responsibility are lived values.
• Employee Referral Program - Receive monetary incentives for contributing to our hiring practices.
• Employee Recognition Programs.

• Demonstrate accountability and follow through on commitments.
• Collaborate effectively across teams and service areas.
• Adapt effectively to changing priorities and organizational needs.
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback.
• Contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.

The YMCA of Newfoundland and Labrador is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We are committed to an environment that is barrier-free. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.