Specialist, Early Years and Child Care System

**Job Description**:
**_ **Join our diverse team and be part of our vision. Think big. Channel your creativity. Make a difference._**
**_At Peel Region, we can create lasting impact, together.**_**

**Specialist, Early Years and Child Care System**

**Human Services - Early Years and Child Care Services**

**Status: 1 Contract Full Time (12 Months)**

**Salary Range: $92,153 - $115,189**per annum, plus Comprehensive Benefits**

**Work Mode: Hybrid **_see below for more details about this work mode._**

**Location: 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario**

**Hours of Work: 35 hours per week**

**Who we are**:
The Early Years and Child Care Services Division is responsible for the local planning, funding and oversight of licensed child care services and EarlyON programs in Peel. Through collaboration and advocacy efforts with internal and external partners, we work together to achieve our goals.

**What you will do in this role**:
In this role, you will be responsible for operational policy, program development and implementation, to support the Region of Peel’s role as the service system manager for the Early Years and Child Care (EYCC) system.
- Conducts EYCC program research, analysis, and evaluations to inform evidenced based policy development and decision making.
- Develops, implements and evaluates new and existing EYCC program agreements, policies and processes.
- Supports implementation strategies for all funding and program policy initiatives in response to system expansion and transformation. This includes evolving provincial and local direction including legislative and regulatory changes, and increased requirements for broader early years system planning.
- Develops responses to proposed EYCC legislative, regulatory, guidelines, and policy changes as well as recommendations and analysis of local policy development in consultation with internal and external partners.
- Gathers, develops and analyzes program outcomes and associated performance measures and accountability frameworks, as well as information trends, issues, gaps and statistics for planning and reporting purposes.
- Supports the service delivery requirements, adherence to provincial guidelines and compliance with regulatory requirements as identified but not limited to the following acts: the Child Care and Early Years Act, the Early Childhood Educators Act, the Education Act, Child and Family Services Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the Ministry of Community and Social Services Act.
- Develops internal/community partner reports, supports council report process, communications, briefing notes, program guidelines, process maps, implementation guides and service provider resources to support system partners in implementing system transformation and delivering on shared priorities and outcomes.
- Assists in the development of strategic goals for all funding streams under EYCC Funding and supports the ongoing integration of EYCC Funds into technology systems.
- Assists in the preparation of plans, strategies and frameworks that anticipate and respond to evolving provincial and direction and Council, Corporate and community priorities.
- Develops communication materials for project and program implementation as well as regularly measures and monitors status.
- Collaborates with both internal and external partners to support transformation initiatives and projects within the early years and child care system.

**What the role requires**:

- University Degree in human services or related field, such as health or social sciences, business/public administration, and early years and child care, with at least 5 years’ job-related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong foundation in research, analytical, program planning policy development, implementation and strategic and project planning.
- Demonstrated experience working in partnership with community partners.
- Experience with lean process management and improvement.
- Knowledge of Early Years and Child Care funding programs, as well as related provincial legislation and policies would be an asset.
- Knowledge of Project Management principles and practices, in addition to strong short term and long term planning with a demonstrated ability to phase in and execute complex and multi-year policies and plans.
- Knowledge of performance measurement and accountability measures to ensure evaluation, adherence to direction and continuous improvement is built into the implementation of frameworks, strategies and plans.

**Skills/Abilities**:

- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias
- Ability to lead, manage, influence and motivate internal and external stakeholders and teams.
- Highly developed communication skills, both oral and written; proven ability to present to and facilitate discussions with various audiences