Senior Program Manager

Join a team of passionate educators and leaders who are pioneers in their field, contributing to our 35‑year reputation as leaders of high‑quality early learning and child care. At Umbrella Family, you’re not just supported — you’re empowered. You’ll join a collaborative, reflective, and values‑driven organization where your leadership shapes programs, people, and the future of child care across Hamilton.

Stepping into this Senior Program Manager role means making a meaningful impact during children’s formative years while influencing the growth, quality, and strategic direction of a dynamic multi‑site organization.

Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton operates full‑day early learning and child care centres for infant, toddler, and preschool children, as well as extended day programs before and after school for kindergarten and school‑age children throughout the Greater Hamilton Area.

We are currently recruiting for an experienced, strategic, and pedagogically grounded Senior Program Manager (RECE) to join our Leadership Team.

As a large multi‑site licensed childcare organization operating within HWDSB schools, Umbrella Family is committed to delivering high‑quality early learning programs grounded in How Does Learning Happen?, relationship‑based practice, and Reggio Emilia‑inspired pedagogy.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Childcare Programs, the Senior Program Manager provides elevated operational, pedagogical, and people leadership across multiple child care locations. This role requires a seasoned leader with strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead organizational initiatives, mentor leaders, and ensure excellence in program quality and service delivery.

• Serve as the primary operational backup to the Senior Director of Childcare Programs, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision‑making.
• Lead organization‑wide initiatives, pilot projects, and strategic change efforts that strengthen program quality, operational efficiency, and organizational readiness.
• Support multi‑year operational planning, sector strategies, and organizational priorities.
• Represent Umbrella Family with HWDSB, the Ministry of Education, the College of Early Childhood Educators, and sector committees.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, coaching, and performance management to Supervisors and program teams across multiple sites.
• Oversee complex operational matters including licensing, compliance, serious occurrences, investigations, and high‑risk situations.
• Lead the planning, development, and opening of new child care centres and program expansions.
• Analyze operational needs and implement strategies that support organizational effectiveness, service quality, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure program quality and pedagogical alignment with How Does Learning Happen?, relationship‑based practice, and Reggio‑inspired approaches.
• Provide advanced pedagogical guidance to Supervisors and educators, strengthening reflective practice and documentation.

• Support financial accountability through budgeting, forecasting, enrollment management, occupancy planning, and resource allocation.
• Monitor performance outcomes and indicators of success across programs, identifying variances and implementing corrective actions.

• Build leadership capacity across the Programs Department through strategic coaching, knowledge sharing, and implementation of best practices.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and learning‑focused workplace culture.
• Lead teams through organizational change, growth, and evolving sector expectations.

• Build strong relationships with families, school partners, community stakeholders, and internal leadership teams.
• Lead resolution of escalated partnership issues and ensure compliance with sector expectations.

• Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators.
• Twelve (12) years of progressive experience in licensed child care, including…