Apply By: Friday, February 6, 2026 11:59 pm EST
Competition Status: Application Screening

Approximately 234 individuals applied for this opportunity.

We are screening ALL applications received on or before the closing date and rating them against the qualifications outlined in the job ad. Applicants whose resume and cover letter best demonstrate how they meet the qualifications to do the job will be invited to continue in the hiring process.

To learn about our recruitment process, visit our Hiring Process.

Program Advisor

Job ID:
239917
Organization:
Ministry of Education
Division:
Early Years and Child Care Division
City:
London
Position(s) language:
English
Job term:
1 Temporary (up to 12 months with possible extension)
Job code:
05516 - Program Adv, Early Childhood Ed
Salary:
$1,444.55 - $1,771.45 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Consider a rewarding career with the Ministry of Education and join us in making a difference in early years child care in Ontario!

Are you interested in making a difference in providing regulatory oversight to Ontario's expanding licensed child care sector? Do you have experience interpreting and applying various legislation, standards and/or policies? Do you have ideas in helping us achieve our modern regulator principles? The Child Care Branch is seeking motivated and experienced individuals to provide guidance, ensure licensees comply with regulatory requirements, and build relationships with licensed child care providers across Ontario.

About the job

• Conduct site visits to inspect and assess compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and ministry policies
• Identify and address immediate health and safety concerns
• Analyze licensing issues, including the use of data analytics, make recommendations for corrective action and best practices to enhance the quality of care where appropriate
• Build relationships by providing information, guidance, and advice related to licensing requirements and program resources
• Liaise with various community agencies and stakeholders
• Follow-up on complaints and serious occurrences and facilitate issues resolution
• Participate in compliance and enforcement action, where applicable
• Participate on projects and project committees
• Other duties, as assigned, in helping us meet our modern regulator objectives

What you bring to the team


Mandatory requirements

• A valid Class G Ontario's Driver's Licence to travel throughout the service area on a regular basis and within the province, as required

Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• You have demonstrated experience interpreting and applying legislation, regulations, standards, and/or policies in order to provide advice on and ensure compliance with the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) and other relevant authorities (fire and health regulations, Ministry policies, etc.) within a modern regulator context
• Understanding of child development theories/practices and early years education/programming including special needs in order to inspect and provide advisory services to licensed child care providers

Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• You are able to take risk-based approaches to assess and evaluate services/programs provided by child care operations against legislative requirements
• You can conduct inspections and investigate complaints from the public
• You are able to make recommendations on licensing, renewals, approval of new programs, compliance/enforcement action, and licensing revocation of operations
• You can effectively manage caseloads by taking risk-based approaches and using data analytics

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• You are able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various stakeholders (i.e. child care providers, community agencies, fire departments, public health, building inspectors, ministry staff, the general public, etc.)
• You have demonstrated competencies in connecting and building rapport with diverse clients/stakeholders with varied backgrounds and needs
• You can explain and provide advice on licensing requirements and legislation/regulations
• You are able to influence and encourage compliance by applying progressive compliance tools and activities, including education and awareness
• You have presentation skills to conduct community information sessions
• You have written communication skills to prepare clear and concise reports on licensing recommendation and inspection findings and proposed compliance actions
• You can prepare accurate licensing documents, draft communications to agencies, licensees, and the public

Computer Skills

• You are able to use portable technology while conducting on-site inspections
• You can use a variety of software (i.e. email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, etc.) and access databases and use analytics in guiding compliance activities

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer  accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please  contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for 29 ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• comprehensive benefits that look after your holistic wellness needs
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance-based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

Additional information:

Apply by:
Friday, February 6, 2026 11:59 pm EST
Position details:
  • 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 217 York St, London, West Region, Criminal Record Check
Compensation group:
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Work hours:
Category:
Inspections and Investigations
Posted on:
Friday, January 23, 2026

Note:

  • About security checks:
    A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
    If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
    Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
  • T-EU-239917/26


Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.


Strengthening Ontario, together