Effective, April 1, 2025, the new salary range for this position will be $90,930 to $132,162 per year in accordance with AMAPCEO collective agreement provisions.
Are you a strategic-minded leader with demonstrated project management experience? Do you want to contribute to meaningful transformation in Ontario's early years and child care sector?
Bring your knowledge and expertise to the Early Years Branch where you will work with a team of professionals to support the implementation of the historic Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program as well as programming and policy related to early education (e.g. Before and After school, EarlyON, etc.).
As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible—where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.
Information Session:We are offering an opportunity for those interested to attend a virtual session to learn more about the division and the positions to be filled.
Date: November 7th, 2025Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM A link to the information session is
here.Remember to add this event to your calendar
* This session is optional and has no impact on hiring decisions
About the job
In this role, you will:
• Develop strategies to operationalize and implement provincial, sector-wide policy/program initiatives
• Lead, coordinate and oversee the development and delivery of complex, politically sensitive correspondence, briefing notes and policy analyses
• Provide expert advice to senior management on program options, implementation strategies, risks, and issues management.
Provide strategic/operational advice to the Minister, Deputy Minister, and senior management
• Lead and support the development and revision of policies and programs, offering evidence-based recommendations.
• Provide centralized team leadership, direction, and guidance
• Identify stakeholder needs and gaps, and develop outreach concepts and strategies
What you bring to the team
Policy and Program Knowledge and Experience
You have:
• extensive experience in policy and program development
• strong knowledge of techniques and practices in research, analysis, program review and reporting to identify and prioritize issues and support the development of action plans
• the ability to plan, lead and coordinate the development and implementation of province-wide program/policy initiatives, digital solutions, training and standards
Leadership and Project Management Skills
You have:
• leadership and project management skills to plan, lead, monitor and deliver on projects within set timelines and budget
• experience providing direction, guidance and mentoring to team members to achieve deliverables
• experience providing strategic planning, conduct risk assessments and create strategic solutions for program planning and implementation
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
You have:
• excellent communication skills to convey information, present policy options, prepare a variety of reports, briefing notes, and correspondence
• expertise in establishing and managing complex stakeholder relationships
• experience working collaboratively to resolve contentious issues, negotiate changes, and influence priority setting across teams
• the ability to facilitate consultations and engagements with internal and external partners and stakeholder groups, including officials at other orders of government
• well-developed oral communication skills to lead briefings on complex issues to senior management
Analytical and Issues Management Skills
You can:
• identify and evaluate a range of issues, and provide options and recommendations for resolution
• interpret and apply data, policy and legislation
• demonstrate sound judgement, tact and a high degree of political acuity
Early Years and Child Care Knowledge
You have:
• knowledge of child care and early years theory and practices, issues, needs and challenges
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: