About Active Start Childcare:
Active Start Childcare is a leading early learning organization dedicated to nurturing and educating children from 12-months of age through kindergarten. Our state-of-the-art facilities support over 500 children and is built on the belief that every child deserves an active, inclusive, and engaging environment. Through inquiry-based learning, physical literacy, and strong partnerships with families, we promote whole-child development and prepare children for lifelong success.
As Active Start continues to grow throughout Alberta, we are seeking an experienced, visionary leader to join our leadership team as Director for our team in Edmonton, AB.
Position Summary
This is more than a traditional Centre Director role. We are looking for a dynamic leader who is passionate about operational excellence, team development, and delivering exceptional experiences for children and families.
The Director will provide strategic and operational leadership while working closely with senior leadership to support organizational initiatives, continuous improvement, and future growth. The successful candidate will foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, inclusiveness, and accountability; creating an environment where every child thrives, every family feels valued, and every employee feels supported, respected, and inspired to do their best work. This leader will cultivate a workplace where people are proud to belong, enjoy coming to work each day, and are empowered to grow both personally and professionally.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Operations
- Provide leadership for the daily operations.
- Ensure exceptional standards of care, safety, customer service, and operational excellence.
- Develop systems and processes that promote efficiency and consistency.
- Lead planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support projects and growth initiatives as assigned.
Team Leadership & Development
- Recruit, hire, mentor, and retain exceptional educators and leadership staff.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable workplace culture.
- Coach and develop Assistant Directors, Team Leads, and educators while identifying future leaders.
- Conduct performance evaluations, professional development planning, and ongoing coaching.
- Promote employee engagement and recognition initiatives.
Educational Excellence
- Ensure implementation of Active Start's inquiry-based curriculum and educational philosophy.
- Support educators through classroom observations, mentoring, and curriculum planning.
- Promote inclusive, developmentally appropriate programming across all classrooms.
- Monitor program quality and implement continuous improvements.
Family & Community Engagement
- Build meaningful relationships with families through open communication and exceptional customer service.
- Conduct tours and support enrolment growth.
- Resolve parent concerns professionally and proactively.
- Represent Active Start within the community and develop positive community partnerships.
Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Ensure compliance with Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Licensing Regulations, Alberta Health, Occupational Health & Safety, Fire Regulations, and all company policies.
- Maintain accurate child records, staff documentation, and licensing requirements.
- Lead licensing inspections and implement corrective actions when required.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and engaging learning environment throughout the facility.
Financial & Administrative Leadership
- Monitor enrolment, staffing levels, payroll hours, and budgets.
- Analyze key performance indicators and implement strategies for continuous improvement.
- Support financial performance through effective resource management.
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with senior leadership on organizational planning and operational initiatives.
- Contribute to policy development, quality assurance, and best practices.
- Lead change initiatives and champion innovation throughout the organization.
- Support the launch of new initiatives.
Qualifications
- Alberta Child Care Level 3 Certification (required).
- Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience within licensed childcare or early learning.
- Experience leading large childcare centres and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong knowledge of Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Licensing Regulations.
- Proven ability to lead organizational change, improve operations, and build positive workplace cultures.
- Excellent leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
- Financial acumen, including budgeting, staffing, and operational planning.
- Current First Aid Certification and Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search (or willingness to obtain prior to employment).
What We're Looking For
The ideal candidate is:
- A confident and inspiring leader.
- Passionate about building exceptional teams.
- Highly organized and operationally focused.
- Solutions-oriented and adaptable.
- Committed to providing an outstanding experience for children, families, and employees.
- Excited to help shape the future growth of Active Start Childcare.
Why Join Active Start?
- Exciting Growth Opportunity – Play a key role in launching and expanding childcare centres in Edmonton.
- Supportive Leadership – Work with a passionate and dedicated team focused on excellence in early learning.
- Career Development – Gain experience in multi-site management with opportunities for advancement.
- Industry Leading Salary & Benefits – Enjoy a rewarding compensation package with benefits, including Health benefits package, Paid time off, Employee childcare discount, and Opportunities for professional development
If you meet the qualifications and are interested in this position, please submit your resume for consideration. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls, please.
Benefits:
- Dental care
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
