Strive Community Animator

**Strive Community Animator**

Strive is a collaborative, community driven organization that supports the professional growth and development of early years professionals across London, Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford with a goal to build capacity within the sector and enhance service provision for children and families. Since 2014, Strive has been meeting to discuss and consider how to enhance a collaborative approach to quality child care and professional learning across all early years and child care programs. Our community is interested in a process that supports reflection and sustainable evolution rather than a prescribed method to measure.

Strive leverages administrative support from a backbone organization; Childreach, and takes all organizational initiatives to the membership for endorsement.

**Position Summary**:
Working with the Strive team, this role will demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing a visionary approach to mentoring. You will work closely with City of London & Middlesex County Children Services and build relationships to support early years’ professionals across London and Middlesex. You will research, explore, and interrogate mentoring approaches, as well as advance strategic planning and directions. You will assist with the planning, implementation, and continued development of mentoring approaches that align with the goals of Strive and City of London. You will analyze efficiency and participant outcomes to inform sustainability.

The position will be a full-time; staff position based on 35 hours a week and will be employed by Childreach and managed by the Strive Manager. (As long as funding is available to support the position.)

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Nurture strong working relationships and engagement with professionals in partner organizations across London and Middlesex;
- Engage in London and Middlesex professional networks;
- Initiate and revisit research and analysis of mentoring approaches;
- Oversee implementation of a system-wide approach to support early years’ professionals with mentoring at various levels;
- Conduct ongoing analysis of efficacy and learning outcomes to inform sustainability;
- Facilitate professional learning in multi-modalities (i.e., in-person, online, seminar, workshop, Community of Practice) as necessary;
- Participate in meaningful professional learning opportunities as related to personal and professional goals, growth and organizational direction;
- Work with Strive Team on projects to support London and Middlesex as needed; and
- Administrative duties as required.

**Team Responsibilities**:

- Support Strive’s Strategic Plan approach to build connections and improve coordination between resources in the early childhood education and care sector and governing structures;
- Represent Strive at community and committee meetings and network opportunities;
- Representing Strive as Host at professional learning events as determined by Strive Team;
- Work collaboratively with the Strive Manager on special projects;
- Other duties as assigned to support the work of Strive; and
- Participate in meaningful professional learning opportunities as related to personal professional goals, growth and organizational direction.

**Qualifications**:
**Bilingual French and English an asset**

**Education**
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership preferred; and/or
- Early Childhood Education Diploma

**Licenses and Certificate**
- Registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators and a member in good standing
- Current criminal reference check
- Valid first aid/CPR
- Valid G driver’s license or reliable transportation for traveling

**Skill Requirements**
- Demonstrated understanding of the local child care and early years system, Ministry of Education directives, and Provincial frameworks.
- Understanding of various approaches to support questioning, researching, and reflection;
- Demonstrated organizational, prioritization, analytical, and research skills;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other digital communication strategies; working knowledge of Zoom an asset;
- Excellent facilitation, presentation, and public speaking skills; and
- Exceptional interpersonal, engagement and coordination skills.

**Terms and Conditions**:

- 35 hours/week
- Flexibility isrequired to meet the needs of the scheduling. Work hours will include some weekends and evenings. Some travel to neighbouring municipalities is required.
- This position may be a hybrid between the office at Childreach and Work from Home approach.

**Salary Range**:

- $40,000 to $50,000 annually
- Vacation and benefits as per human resources policy

**Accountability**:
**Impact of the Job**:
The reputation of Strive and Childreach will be greatly enhanced by the personal qualities and high professional standards of the incumbent.

**Confidentiality**:
Strict confidentiality will be observed regarding personnel issues, agen