EarlyON Educator - Full Time

Location: EarlyON, Waterloo Region

Work Hours: 37.5 hours/ week
Occasional evening and weekend availability required

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: August 2025

Deadline to Apply: August 21, 2025

Starting Rate or Range:

EarlyON Educator (Non-RECE): $21.49/hour
EarlyON RECE: $24.86/hour
(Final pay may vary based on years of experience in the field)

We believe that everyone has the potential to shine! Our culture is built around connection, celebration, appreciation, and recognition, and it starts with a total rewards package focused on Well-Being.

At the YMCA of Three Rivers, we value work-life harmony. Full-time team members start with:

Full-time employees can join our group pension plan after two consecutive years of employment. Employees contribute 5% of their gross earnings per pay, which is matched by the Y. After three consecutive years of full-time service, participation in the YMCA pension plan becomes mandatory.

The YMCA of Three Rivers offers a comprehensive group benefits package to full-time employees (starting 3 months after the start date), including:

The YMCA of Three Rivers is a charitable organization proudly serving the communities of Guelph-Wellington, Stratford-Perth, and Waterloo Region. We aspire to build connected and resilient communities. Our mission is to make our diverse communities healthier and more vibrant. With dignity and respect, our programs and services inspire individuals to reach their full potential. Learn more about our history, mission, vision, and values here.

To assist in ensuring the centre is offering quality, age and developmentally appropriate care, programs, and services that meet and/or exceed the regulations outlined by the Child Care and Early Years Act (2014); the Municipality; the Public Health Unit; and the policies, procedures and protocols outlined by the YMCA of Three Rivers, Ministry of Education, EarlyON leadership and/or the Region of Waterloo as CMSM.

You will provide welcoming and inclusive environments where all children and families have access to high-quality programs and services, influencing positive child, family, and community experiences and outcomes.

You will engage parents and caregivers in conversations and experiences, sharing information about child development, parenting, nutrition, play, and inquiry-based learning, and other topics that support them in their role as their children’s first teacher.

You will support Early Learning and Development by providing experiences that build responsive adult-child relationships and encourage children’s exploration, play, and inquiry, supported by How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years.

You will respond to parents' and caregivers’ questions or concerns about child development through conversations and observations, using validated tools and resources, and linking to specialized services, making connections for families during and beyond the early years.

Maintains effective and positive communication within the YMCA of Three Rivers as an organization, and with children, parents, and community contacts.

What you will bring…

You are a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) or are actively enrolled in either the Bachelor of Early Learning Program or an Early Childhood Education program. We also welcome candidates with relevant education and experience in Social Work, Social Service Work, Education, or a degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences. You have knowledge and expertise in child development and play and inquiry-based learning. You have experience creating environments that nurture relationships for children, parents, and caregivers based on the latest evidence and research. You have demonstrated knowledge How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years and experience delivering high-quality early years programs. Relationship building, communication, adaptability, creativity and innovation, and teamwork are key competencies you rely on in your day-to-day work.

Preference will be given to candidates who are Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE). However, individuals with relevant education or experience in fields such as Social Work, Social Service Work, Education, or a Bachelor's degree in Humanities or Social Sciences, along with experience working with children and families, are also welcome to apply.

This role requires occasional travel across the region, which may not always be easily accessible through public transit. The employee must be able to arrange their own transportation to these sites.

In keeping with our commitment to child and youth safeguarding, job offers are contingent on completing a current Vulnerable Sector Check and employment reference checks. Vulnerable Sector Checks are reviewed individually, and the offense(s) - if any - is considered in the decision-making process in relation to the requirement of working with children, therefore not eliminating all candidates with a record from being offered a position. Vulnerable Sector Checks must be renewed every three years.

We embrace the values of Justice, Access, Inclusion Diversity and Equity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace, welcoming applications from all qualified persons. We encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected group. We are committed to creating an environment where we eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups.

The YMCA of Three Rivers complies with the Employment Standards Act, Pay Equity Legislation, and privacy laws. We are committed to protecting personal information by following responsible information-handling practices that are in keeping with privacy laws. Please visit our website for more information on the YMCA of Three Rivers’ commitment to privacy.

Please note that due to the large volume of applications received, only candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.