Careers in the Early Years Sector

EarlyON educator sings and dances in a circle with children and caregivers

A career in the Early Years sector is fun, rewarding, and has the potential to greatly impact the lives of children, their families and the broader community. As an Early Childhood Educator (ECE), you would help care for, support, and enhance the learning and growth of the next generation.

The essential services you would provide to the community help:

  • young children to develop and flourish through educational learning and social skill development
  • caregivers to receive the support they need to be able to work and attend personal commitments while knowing their child is safe and cared for
  • families to make meaningful memories and connections through facilitated programming
  • the local economy to benefit from an increased workforce

View current job opportunities in Northumberland

Benefits of working in Early Years

  • Flexible hours with options to work weekdays, evenings, before and after school hours, etc.
  • Great variety of hands-on and in-office work opportunities to fit your preferred work environment
  • Opportunity to have a significant, meaningful, positive impact on individuals and the community as a whole
  • Opportunity for a fun, playful and creative work environment, which could include physical activity and outdoor recreation

Shine a light on the path to a brighter future

Every day, ECEs provide children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for their development and well-being. Children who participate in high-quality learning environments experience increased verbal communication, reading, math, and science skills, as well as a host of other benefits.

Uncover facts about the many ways ECEs benefit children, their families, and the growth of our economy:

Download our ECE fact sheet

Why work in Northumberland?

Aerial view of historic downtown with river crossing throughNorthumberland County is a great place to live, work and play! Our tight-knit community is welcoming and supportive, and our small town communities offer a safe, relaxing and comfortable lifestyle for you and your family. Our region has a unique blend of landscapes including historic towns, scenic rural areas and waterfront locations. It is renowned for its many outdoor recreational opportunities and notable heritage sites.

To learn more about our community, view our Community Profile or visit the Northumberland Tourism website to explore what we have to offer for recreation, art, culture, community events and more.

Looking for professional development opportunities? 

Northumberland County Early Years Services and Five Counties Children’s Centre are constantly pursuing thought-provoking and pertinent professional learning and networking opportunities for the Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Workers in our community. Explore this section to find the opportunities that best fit your professional needs.

 Professional development opportunities 

January development opportunities 

Development opportunityDate/time Location Target audience 
Pedagogical Lead 

January 14

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Teams or in person 

555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg 

Pedagogical Leads 
Self-Regulation Community of Practice 

January 15 

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

800 Division Street, Cobourg - Five Counties Side 

RSVP: kchang@fivecounties.on.ca

Everyone

Talk with Sheryl - EDU 

January 21 

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

Location: TBD 

Please send questions a head of time.

Supervisors/Directors 
Nurturing circles of care: School Age Series with Alan Faigal

January 28

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Virtual  

RSVP: kchang@fivecounties.on.ca 

 Everyone 

What types of work can ECEs do?

Our local Early Years sector has a wide variety job opportunities that range from hands-on roles that work directly with children to assist with Early Learning in the classroom or at child care centres, to office-based roles that focus on strategic planning, program development and implementation.

Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE)

Job duties

  • Develop and implement child care programs that support the intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth and development of children
  • Lead activities including story telling, teaching songs, physical activity, educational day trips, and creative expression through art, music, play
  • Manage an environment that ensures the health, safety and well-being of children
  • Assess abilities, interests and needs of children
  • Communicate progress or problems with parents
  • Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents and supervisors
  • Help children develop proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
  • May supervise and coordinate activities of other ECEs and EAs 
  • May work hands-on in a day care, child care or school, or may focus on the development and delivery of programming from an office-setting

Requirements

  • Must complete a two- to four-year college program in early childhood education or a bachelor's degree in child development
  • Must be registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators

Job titles

  • Child care worker - daycare
  • Daycare worker
  • Early childhood education worker
  • Early childhood educator (ECE)
  • Early childhood educator - preschool

Early Childhood Assistant (EA)

Job duties

  • This position works alongside of qualified Early Childhood Educators to assist in all aspects of program
  • Engages children in activities including story telling, teaching songs, physical activity, educational day trips, and creative expression through art, music, play
  • Help prepare snacks and maintain a safe, clean and comfortable learning environment
  • Help children develop proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
  • May help ECEs and supervisors in record keeping and reporting

Requirements

  • Must complete secondary school education
  • Must have experience in child care
  • May be required to complete an early childhood education assistant certificate program or post-secondary courses in early childhood education
  • Does not need to be registered

Job titles

  • Child care worker assistant
  • Daycare helper
  • Early childhood assistant
  • Early childhood program staff assistant
  • Preschool helper

Enhanced Educator

Job duties

  • Working with children with special needs to integrate them into the program
  • Support the program environment

Requirements

  • No education needed — education is considered an asset
  • Does not require professional qualifications in Early Childhood Education

Supervisor

Job duties

  • Plans, manages and implements child care programming within the provisions of organizational policies and the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA)
  • Supervises and coordinates activities of other ECEs and EAs
  • Completes reporting and inspection requirements
  • Establishes and maintains collaborative partnerships with community service providers that work with children
  • May work hands-on in a child care facility or may focus on the development and delivery of programming from an office-setting

Requirements

Job titles

  • Daycare supervisor
  • Early childhood supervisor
  • Preschool supervisor

For more information about the roles, duties, skills and requirements of ECEs, visit the Government of Canada Job Bank website.

Interested in training to be an ECE?

Research Early Childhood Education programs at your preferred college or university for more information about educational pathways.


Current job postings in Northumberland

The following positions are currently available at local childcare agencies in Northumberland County:

Job titleSpecificationsPosition Start DateContact
RECE, Ganaraska Child Care Centre, Port Hope Highschool Site
  • Full Day Shift
  • Before & After School 
  • $24.34 - $28.39/hour
TBD ganaraskaccc@outlook.com 
EA, Ganaraska Child Care Centre, Port Hope Highschool Site
  • Full Day Shift
  • Part-time 
  • Split Shift
  • $24.19/hour 
TBD ganaraskaccc@outlook.com 
RECE, Ganaraska Child Care Centre, Ruth Clark Site
  • Full Day Shift 
  • $24.34-$28.39/hour
TBD ganaraskaccc@outlook.com 
EA, Ganaraska Child Care Centre, Ruth Clark Site
  • Full Day Shift
  • Part-time 
  • $24.19/hour
TBD ganaraskaccc@outlook.com 
Supervisor, YMCA 
  • Before & After School Program 
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • RECE, In Program Supervisor
TBD Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
RECE, YMCA
  • Full-time
  • Family Age Grouping
TBD Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistants, YMCA 
  • Full-time 
  • Family Age Grouping
TBD Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistants, Hastings & Warkworth YMCA
  • CYD, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • Before & After school
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • School Age 
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, Colborne YMCA
  • Enhanced position
  • CYD, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • Before & After school
  • Part-time 
  • School Age 
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistants, C.R. Gummow YMCA Child Care
  • CYW, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • After School 
  • Part-time 
  • School Age
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, YMCA
  • On-Call/Supply
  • All areas of Northumberland 
  • All Ages 
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, YMCA
  • Before & After School
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • School Age
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, Burnham YMCA Child Care
  • CYW, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • Before & After School
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • School Age
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, Grafton Public YMCA Child Care
  • CYW, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • Before & After School
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • School Age
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
Child Care Assistant, Beatrice Strong YMCA Child Care
  • CYW, DSW, SSW, PSW
  • Before & After School
  • Split Shift, Part-time 
  • School Age
As soon as possible Samantha Gray at samantha.gray@nrt.ymca.ca 
RECE, Compass Early Learning and Care Cobourg Program 
  • Full-time 
  • Toddler, Preschool, or Infant Room 
  • $20.34 - $22.34/hour 
On-going Ryan Heath at rheath@compasselc.com 
Float RECE, Compass Early Learning and Care Cobourg Program 
  • Full-time 
  • All age groups 
  • $20.34 - $22.34/hour 
On-going  Ryan Heath at rheath@compasselc.com 
ECE, Compass Early Learning and Care Cobourg Program 
  • Part-time 
  • School-Age Room 
  • $20.34 - $22.34/hour 
On-going Ryan Heath at rheath@compasselc.com 
Registered Early Childhood Educator, Kinderlinx Child Care Centre
  • Full-time 
On-going

Stephanie Darling at childcare@officelinx.com (905-800-1414)

Early Childhood Assistant, Kinderlinx Child Care Centre
  • Part-time 
On-going  Stephanie Darling at childcare@officelinx.com (905-800-1414)
Early Childhood Assistant, Kinderlinx Child Care Centre 
  • Full-time 
On-going Stephanie Darling at childcare@officelinx.com (905-800-1414)
Educator Assistant, Cobourg Day Care 
  • Casual Supply position 
  • Starting wage:  $20.00/hour 
  • Experience is an asset 
As soon as possible Sara Demmings at sarademmings@cobourgdaycare.ca 
Registered Early Childhood Educator (R.E.C.E), Ganaraska Child Care
  • Full-time, Monday-Friday
  • Approx. 8 hours/day
  • $21.00-$27.00/hour 
As soon as possible ganaraskaccc@outlook.com