Assistant Deputy Minister - Child Care

Assistant Deputy Minister
Child Care

Ministry of Children and Family Development

Victoria, BC
 

The Child Care Division is responsible for the development and implementation of a universal child care program. Operational accountabilities include funding child care programs and regulating Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). The Division is comprised of four Branches: Child Care Benefit and Operating Funding, Child Care Policy, Stakeholder Engagement and Divisional Services, and Child Care Capital, Community and ECE Registry. The Division works collaboratively with the Ministry of Health and health authorities, which have responsibility for the licensing of child care facilities, with the Ministry of Education for child care on school grounds, and with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training for the training of ECEs.

The Assistant Deputy Minister provides strategic leadership to the Division and is responsible for delivering programs focused on addressing the affordability of child care in B.C. The key initiatives include the Affordable Child Care Benefit, an income tested benefit that parents apply for, the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative, which child care operators apply for, and 52 Prototype sites that offer $10 per day child care. The New Spaces Fund is the primary program to increase the number of available licensed child care spaces and a number of programs to address recruitment and retention of ECEs are part of the Assistant Deputy Minister’s portfolio.

As Assistant Deputy Minister you provide strategic direction on complex issues. This role requires a creative thinker with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities present in today’s child care system/sector including an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders. The Assistant Deputy Minister leads the development and implementation of a universal early care and learning system for B.C. Ensuring that policies and programs are developed and implemented in a manner consistent with government’s commitments to UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action is an important part of the Assistant Deputy Minister’s responsibilities. This role is also working with the Minister of Education and the Minister of State for Child Care to integrate child care into the broader learning environment by developing a strategy to move delivery of child care into the Ministry of Education by 2023.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive who has the strategic orientation to manage high profile and complex issues and possess the acumen necessary to manage stakeholder relationships and balance interests with exceptional diplomacy and integrity. This dynamic role requires substantive, current experience leading and empowering staff, motivating while under constant pressure and tight deadlines, as well as promoting resilience and commitment to teamwork. Preference will be given to applicants who have proven experience leading a large, complex, performance-focused, service delivery organization that integrates change management.  If you are a highly effective communicator who excels in strategic planning and business transformation and foster a progressive environment, we look forward to your application!

The appointee will be required to consent to a criminal record check.

For more information, please visit www.gov.bc.ca/executiveopportunities. To express your interest in this opportunity, please email your cover letter and resume to Executive.Recruitment@gov.bc.ca by January 18, 2021.  Thank you to all who express interest.