Early Childcare Education Manager

Job Description

Job Purpose

New Dawn Enterprises is building a new Early Childcare Centre in Glace Bay, and we’re seeking an Early Childcare Education Manager to bring this project to life. The new space will be open in 2026.

You will be responsible for informing the design and construction phases of the new childcare centre, including helping guide through the licensing process. You will also create enriching programming for children aged 0-5 for when the centre becomes operational.

You have a deep passion for early childhood education and want to make an impact on your community. You lead from a place of humility, making spaces for a diversity of (often excluded) voices around the table, while maintaining overall responsibility for successful project completion.

You have experience managing strict timelines and strict budget, ensuring that the project intent is delivered on time and on budget.

You are able to work independently and collaboratively towards a bold, shared goal and are always attuned to ways to improve upon proposed designs and approaches.

You can handle pressure, a steady and sometimes significant workload, but also plan your months/years well so that you take all of your available time-off to rest, recharge, and maintain your energy and spirit for work that is both rewarding and challenging.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Design:

• Inform the program design and delivery of the New Dawn Early Childcare Centre in advance of its opening
• Work with provincial contacts to ensure adherence to regulations and best practices
• Connect with Glace Bay families to ensure the program design accommodates their unique needs
• Inform set up of physical space, both indoor and outdoor
• Recommend furniture, fixtures, and equipment needed for a successful childcare program
• Anticipate staff needs and ensure childcare centre is set up for their success

Contractor Liaison:

• Work with Director of Properties & Development through the design and construction phases of the new childcare centre
• The go-to person for everything involving a project’s organization and timeline
• Attend all construction/design team meetings
• Complete tasks assigned or assumed between meetings to ensure project flow
• Bring in other New Dawn staff as needed to ensure questions/topics addressed
• When asked, serve as site point of contact for project (answering questions/needs of site supervisor and/or trades as questions/needs arise throughout the day)
• Proactively anticipate and identify risk (to construction, budget, timeline), raise anticipated risks with manager, and work collectively to resolve in advance
• Continuously evaluate success and identify areas of improvement for future projects
• Report and escalate issues to management as needed

Project Partner Liaison:

• Maintain close, open, ongoing relationship with all project partners and stakeholders
• Help to collaboratively develop, articulate, and then abide by project goals and vision
• Engage stakeholders in the space design and renovation, as needed
• Ensure final space is reflective of the needs of families of Glace Bay
• Provide stakeholders with regular updates on project progress and timeline
• Work with partners on community engagement/education efforts around project

Project Budget and Timeline:

• Work with Director of Properties & Development on project timeline and budget
• As challenges/changes arise with timeline, work closely with the contractor to resolve favourably
• Engage others from ND and the coalition partners when trade-offs are needed to meet budget
• Maintain excellent records of project – records will inform operations/warranty in future
• Seek out external advisors as needed if/as project budget and timeline challenges arise

Community Engagement:

• Tell the story of the project as it unfolds
• Understand who the project stakeholders are, and engage as appropriate
• Keep the CBRM community abreast of progress
• Respond to community inquiries in a respectful and informative manner
• Work with provincial funders and partners to create and maintain social media momentum/presence for the project
• Represent project in the media as media inquiries are received

Project Planning:

• Develop a detailed project plan to track progress
• Identify and track needs, timelines, milestones for contractors, project partner, and community

Core Competencies

• Commitment
• Accountability
• Ethics and Integrity
• Servant Leadership
• Excellence Orientation
• Work Well Under Pressure
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Independence
• Teamwork
• Multitasking
• Flexibility

Qualifications

• Early Childhood Educator designation (diploma or degree) with working experience
• Well-versed in the provincial standards for early childcare in Nova Scotia
• Working knowledge of Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Regulations, or willingness to learn
• Experience hiring and managing staff
• Good interpersonal skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Highly organized and works well under pressure
• Able to work independently, as well as with a team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Maintains positive working relationships to achieve goals of the organization
• Willing to accept responsibility, show good judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness
• Adheres to principles of confidentiality, complies with training and ethical guidelines
• Demonstrated project management experience and/or construction experience

Work Conditions

• Position requires 32 hours per week of work, hours TBD in consultation with manager
• Interacts with employees, management, and the public at large in an office setting
• Overtime may be required; working evenings/weekends as needed
• Long periods of timing sitting at a desk
• Often working alone