Job Description

We are currently seeking a highly skilled, seasoned, and motivated leader to join our team as Area Manager - School Operations. We are dedicated to providing high-quality, enriched early childhood education that will prepare children to succeed as they transition to kindergarten and provide them with skills for life. CEFA Early Learning was established in 1998 and is Canada's leading private junior kindergarten for children ages one to five. Our proprietary, award-winning curriculum is based on the latest research in child & brain development. We are seeking an energetic leader with a passion for early childhood education to help us introduce the CEFA Early Learning program to more families across the country.

The Area Manager-School Operations will have excellent problem-solving skills with a strong business acumen background to increase customer satisfaction and drive enrollment in schools. The area manager will be CEFA Early Learning's liaison with our Franchise Partners, school Principals, Administrator, Teachers, and other school staff, as well as licensing agencies and representatives.

The Area Manager-School Operations will provide daily support to a team of up to 15 CEFA Early Learning Schools located in either British Columbia, Alberta or Ontario and will offer ongoing leadership, motivation, and development. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance with brand policies, elevating operational guidelines, coaching and communication. They will align our school teams and improve accountability of the CEFA Early Learning brand expectations. The Area Manager-School Support will act as the Early Learning ambassador, modelling and coaching staff to provide each student an amazing CEFA Early Learning experience.

Responsibilities

The Area Manager is accountable for combining strong educational leadership with business insight and a growth mindset to support, guide, and grow a network of schools. Key responsibilities include:

Ensure compliance with Childcare Licensing Regulations while cultivating a culture of continuous professional development, aligned with growth and learning goals Apply business acumen in decisions: analyze school-level performance metrics (enrollment trends, revenue per student, cost drivers, retention data) to inform strategic direction and resource allocation Lead strategic planning at the area level: set enrollment growth targets, monitor progress, and intervene when performance deviates Develop and maintain decision-making processes that build consensus, commitment, and collaboration across schools and supporting teams Foster team building, a shared sense of mission ("one learning community"), and an inclusive, continuous-learning culture Provide leadership, guidance, and operational support to schools and staff in alignment with CEFA methodology and operational standards Maintain positive and professional relationships with franchise partners, school leaders, families, staff, head office, and community stakeholders Advise and support marketing efforts and enrollment-driving initiatives: Coaching on school tours, open houses, community outreach events, local partnerships, and campaigns Monitoring and optimizing marketing investment ROI, tracking lead generation, conversion rates, and retention Build and sustain strong relationships with CEFA Principals; act as a trusted advisor and escalation point Conduct regular school visits to review systems and operational protocols, perform audits, assess performance, and coach school leadership teams on improvements Promote a data-driven approach: use dashboards, KPI reporting, and trend analysis to drive decision making and identify early warning signs Mentor and develop emerging leaders in schools to strengthen leadership capacity and succession planning

The ideal candidate must have:

Requirements:

ECE Diploma, Bachelors or equivalent education and experience Knowledge of childcare licensing regulations CEFA knowledge would be beneficial Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and foster teamwork. Experience working in a fast paced, high-growth, entrepreneurial environment is a plus Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task, prioritize work and manage deadlines. Leadership and business acumen skills - ability to resolve conflict Must possess excellent judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills Minimum of 2 years' management experience Minimum of five years' Early Childhood Education (ECE) experience Strong working knowledge of provincial and regional Public Health child care laws relating to licensing Current food handler's permit Current first aid and CPR card Ability to lift in excess of twenty (25) lbs Strong written and verbal communication skills that reflect professionalism and tact at all times Willing to complete a police background check

Salary and Benefits:

Schedule - M-F - full time - 40 hours per week - may be required to work some evenings and weekends, dependent on role. Travel will be required a minimum of 50%.

Benefits:

- Leadership Development

- CEFA Methodology/Training

- Full benefits after 3 months

- Mileage/Travel Reimbursement

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $72,000.00-$75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Extended health care Mileage reimbursement Paid time off
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON