Job Title: Executive Director
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Employment Information: Up to 40 hours per week; Monday through Friday
Reports to: Board of Directors
Be part of a team that inspires curiosity, innovation, and discovery through early childhood education.
Londonderry Child Development Society (LCDS) is a registered non-profit organization operating an exceptional preschool and kindergarten in Edmonton, Alberta. We are a close-knit school featuring a dedicated core team of an Executive Director, a Teacher, and an Educational Assistant. We operate with a strong commitment to learning through play, maintaining exceptional standards, and fostering a collaborative environment for staff, children, and their families.
Please note: LCDS is an independent educational institution focused on early learning and development; we are not a daycare facility.
Position Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and highly organized Executive Director to promote the effective and efficient running of LCDS. This role is member-facing and requires an individual who demonstrates clear, courteous communication especially when working with children. Acting as a positive ambassador for the school community, this role would promote the school and build on relationships with families and the general public. Because our Board of Directors relies heavily on this role for operational continuity, the Executive Director takes on significant business management, strategic planning, and administrative duties. You will act as the central liaison between the staff, the Executive Board, volunteer committees, and the families we serve. The ideal candidate must be adept at prioritizing tasks, working with integrity and exercising sound judgement, communicating effectively, and always keeping parent inquiries and concerns as a top priority.
Responsibilities
1. Leadership & Strategic Board Relations·
- Advise and assist all Board and Committee members as needed.
- Participate with the Board in developing a vision and a long-term strategic plan to guide the organization, such as a 3-year plan.
- Inform the Board of internal and external issues affecting the organization.
- Review organizational policies annually and make recommendations to the Board.
- Prepare draft policies for Board and Membership approval, and establish procedures to implement them.
- Attend all Executive Board Meetings, Staff Meetings, and the three General Meetings
- Share in meeting preparation, including setting up PowerPoint presentations and financial documents, and potentially chairing portions of General and Annual Meetings
2. Business Management & Financial Administration
- Develop the yearly operational business plan for LCDS.
- Solicit operational feedback from staff and communicate budget restrictions based on enrollment figures.
- Present the business plan to the Membership in partnership with the Executive Board President and the Business Manager.
- Receive and process all required cheques and distribute membership and material fees invoices etc.
- Order and purchase all office supplies, as well as classroom supplies requested by the teaching staff. Work closely with the teacher to determine supply order.
3. Operational Continuity & Office Administration
- Create and maintain process documents to ensure operational continuity in the event of a prolonged absence of key roles (Executive Director, Business Manager, Teacher, Board President).
- Manage daily administrative duties including answering phone inquiries, taking messages, filing, checking emails, and distributing mail.
- Maintain "The Book," a comprehensive operational compilation containing phone numbers, budgets, current Policies, and By-Laws.
- Maintain attendance records in strict accordance with Alberta Education and Early Learning and Child Care.
- Register all children into the program and input all files into the computer database.
- Keep historical records by maintaining copies of all General and Executive Meeting minutes, as well as all newsletters.
- Maintain website updates in coordination with the website provider
4. Compliance, Health & Safety
Book the Early Learning and Child Care licensing officer for the yearly inspection.
Ensure all daily requirements comply with Early Learning and Child Care, Alberta Health, and Alberta Education regulations.
Maintain the allergy board and ensure staff and schedulers are aware of all health notices.
Ensure parent helpers accurately record daily snacks in compliance with Early Learning and Child Care regulations.
Ensure all necessary documents, such as birth certificates and immunization records, are accurately completed and securely filed.
Ensure both parents and staff are fully aware of all LCDS policies and safety procedures.
5. Staff & Volunteer Committee Management
- Conduct performance conversations for all teaching and office staff in partnership with the Board and the Teacher.
- Define the oversight of volunteer committees, providing orientation and support resources such as binders and materials.
- Ensure committee responsibilities align with supporting LCDS operations, and address any issues with committee chairs, such as non-attendance at casino events.
- Support the process of organizing parent helper schedules for the school year and manage orientation week duties, including reviewing the Parent Helper Manual. Work closely with individuals who manage the monthly parent scheduling and review the information before being posted.
- Provide leadership in team operations by scheduling and facilitating regular staff meetings – ensure alignment on priorities and goals
- Assign cleaning dates or other sign-up events, make schedule changes as required, and inform appropriate chairpersons.
6. Parent Communications & Community Relations
- Act as a liaison between executive members, committee members, the Teacher/staff, and the facility host (Gateway Alliance Church).
- Communicate proactively with parents, answering questions directly or redirecting them to the appropriate person.
- Make appointments and meet with prospective visitors previewing the classroom.
- Book and manage changes for all field trips, buses, and classroom events (e.g., picture days), and create parent sign-up sheets.
- Review the school newsletter for accuracy, ensuring it is distributed to all parents and staff, and send field trip reports to the newsletter coordinator.
- Secure advertising for Open House and Registration events, revise application forms, and assist the Board during Registration Night.
- Other duties as assigned
Compensation & Benefits
We value the hard work of our leadership team and offer the following compensation package:
- Annual Base Salary: $40,000-$50,000 based on experience
- Vacation Pay: 4% vacation pay included to start
- Paid Time Off: 7 paid sick/personal days per contract year.
- Generous time-off package, including statutory holidays, a December school closure, spring break, and additional scheduled time off from June through August
- Health Spending Account (HSA): $700.00 annually, to be used according to CRA guidelines, with a one-year carry-over option.
- Professional Development & Checks: Upon completion of three years of employment, LCDS will pay for the employee's First Aid Renewal and Criminal Record Check renewal.
- Position is based in Edmonton, in office presence is required
- Meaningful work in a fun, supportive work environment
- Extensive, on-the-job training
Core Principles:
- Innovation – We continuously seek new ways to inspire curiosity and creativity through STEAM-based, play-centered learning.
- Education Excellence – We are committed to maintaining high-quality early childhood education rooted in best practices and strong developmental outcomes.
- Community & Connection – We foster a supportive, inclusive environment where families, staff, and children feel valued and engaged.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Integrity & Confidentiality – Demonstrates sound judgment, discretion, and ethical decision-making when managing sensitive information, and upholds accountability in financial and operational responsibilities.
- Operational Accountability – Maintains strong attention to detail and ensures compliance, organization, and consistency in processes. Proofreads and reviews documents outgoing to the public – reviews for accuracy.
- Empathetic Leadership – Builds trust through thoughtful, respectful, and compassionate interactions with staff, families, and volunteers.
- Strategic Thinking & Planning – Translates vision into actionable plans and aligns day-to-day operations with long-term goals.
- Relationship Building – Effectively collaborates with the Board, staff, families, and community partners.
- Communication Excellence – Navigates both routine and complex conversations with clarity, professionalism, and care.
- Adaptability & Problem Solving – Responds effectively to changing priorities and unexpected challenges.
- Knowledge of Early Childhood Education Principles – including play-based and STEAM learning approaches.
- Understanding of Educational Requirements related to Alberta Education, Early Learning and Child Care, and health and safety standards.
- Strong Financial and Administrative Skills – including budgeting, record-keeping, and operational planning. Experience in Dayforce, payroll systems, and ChildFriendlyPro is an asset.
- Ability to Lead Difficult Conversations with empathy, professionalism, and a focus on outcomes.
- Strong Organizational and Time Management Skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Effective Stakeholder Engagement Skills, including working with boards, committees, and parent communities.
- Curiosity-Driven Approach to Problem Solving, seeking to understand different perspectives before making decisions.
- Proficiency with Digital Tools, including email communication, document management, and basic systems for registration and operations using ChildFriendlyPro, Zeffy, Quickbooks, Dayforce (payroll), Canva, All MY Books Library System, Wordpress/Elementor, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), and Google Suite
Qualifications
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, childcare, or a related education setting
- Minimum 2 years experience overseeing program delivery in an educational setting
- Requires a motivated, confident, and compassionate leader who has strong educational management and interpersonal skills
- Proficient working in a child-focused environment, with a friendly, approachable demeanor and the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, and members
- Able to thrive in a dynamic and changing environment, including demonstrated ability to be adaptable and flexible to changing needs
- Demonstrated experience in a leadership or management role, with the ability to guide volunteer committees, support staff, and collaborate with stakeholders
- Post-secondary education in a human or social services or business-related field (e.g., Human Resources, Education, business administration, management, Child Services); experience with financial management or accounting is considered an asset
- Demonstrates sound judgment and the ability to make thoughtful, balanced decisions in a variety of situations
- Valid Standard First Aid Certificate/Level C First Aid Certificate
- Valid Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check issued within the past 3–6 months
- Valid Driver’s License with access to a reliable vehicle
We’d also love to see:
- Experience working within a non-profit, board-governed, or community-based organization
- Knowledge of licensing, regulatory, and compliance requirements in Alberta’s early learning education sector
- Comfort managing both people and operations, including budgeting, scheduling, and administrative systems
Don’t meet every requirement? We still encourage you to apply. At LCDS, we value passion, potential, and a genuine interest in early childhood education for an independent school. We are always excited to hear from individuals who are eager to learn and contribute to a positive and nurturing environment.
Closing Date: Until successful candidate is found
If you are interested in this position, please submit your cover letter and resume directly through our school email - [email protected] directing the email to Hiring Manager.
Thank you for your interest in LCDS Preschool and Kindergarten!
We truly appreciate the time you’ve taken to apply. While we will only be reaching out to candidates selected for an interview, we wish you all the best in your job search.
Pay: $40,000.00-$50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
