Child Care Now is seeking an Executive Director

Child Care Now, Canada’s national child care advocacy association, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization in its next phase of growth and impact on the development of a publicly funded and managed universal and primarily not-for-profit system of child care in Canada.

Reporting to and working closely with a volunteer Board of Directors elected from across Canada, the ED is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, and management of the organization. The ED serves as the primary spokesperson for Child Care Now and plays a central role in advancing its mission through effective advocacy, fundraising, coalition-building, and active ongoing engagement with the child care sector, policy-makers, and the public.

Terms of Employment

It is preferred that the Executive Director live in or close to Ottawa, Ontario.

The annual salary range is $110,000 - $120,000.

Child Care Now strives to be a family-friendly organization by providing:

• Flexible work schedule (to be determined in consultation with the Board of Directors),
• Telework support,
• An employer-paid single or family extended benefit plan,
• Generous family leave, vacation entitlements, and other time off.

The Hiring Committee welcomes applicants who may wish to assume this role on a term or contract basis for at least two years.

Expected start date by September 30, 2026 (ideally by September 15, 2026)

About Child Care Now

Founded in 1982, Child Care Now is Canada’s non-partisan national child care advocacy association. As a membership-based organization of individuals and organizations across the country, Child Care Now leads and coordinates pan-Canadian advocacy for a publicly funded and publicly managed, high-quality, universally accessible, not-for-profit system of early learning and child care for children from birth to age 12. Working in partnership with the many actors in Canada’s child care sector and with a broad cross-section of allied organizations, Child Care Now advances public

policy solutions that strengthen families, promote gender equity, and build inclusive communities.

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy

• Design and execute national advocacy strategies to advance a universal child care system
• Build and maintain strong relationships with federal, provincial, and territorial governments
• Advance strategic policy proposals and represent the organization in high-level policy discussions

Public Communications & Media

• Serve as the public spokesperson for the organization
• Lead media relations, public communications, and messaging strategies
• Represent Child Care Now at conferences, events, and in national forums

Fundraising & Organizational Sustainability

• Lead fundraising strategies, including grants, partnerships, and donor development
• Ensure financial sustainability and responsible resource management

Coalition & Membership Development

• Strengthen and expand a diverse and broad coalition of supporters
• Engage and grow the organization’s membership base
• Foster strong relationships with partner organizations and stakeholders

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Lead the development and implementation of organizational strategic plans
• Ensure strong governance practices in collaboration with the Board of Directors
• Ensure compliance with all legal, financial, and regulatory obligations

Organizational Leadership & Management

• Lead, support, and manage a small, distributed team across Canada
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing organizational culture

Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant experience in advocacy, ideally at a national level
• Demonstrated expertise in policy-maker relations and public policy development
• Strong background in early learning and child care policy and related social and economic policy, as well as feminist and intersectional analysis
• Experience in organizational leadership, including managing staff and working with a Board

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking
• Strong media relations and public engagement skills
• Proven ability to design and lead effective advocacy campaigns
• Sills in fundraising and organizational sustainability
• Ability to work with membership-based organizations and coalitions
• Abilities in organizational administration and governance

Assets

• French language proficiency

How to Apply

Applicants must send a covering letter with a resumé to info@childcarenow.ca by June 30, 2026 (please put “Executive Director Application” in the subject line).