Outdoor Play Canada is looking to hire a full-time Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) Fellow for one year to build capacity and thought-leadership for outdoor play stakeholders. As the CCOP Fellow, your role will be to lead advocacy and thought-leadership initiatives for the promotion of outdoor play in the early years, in collaboration with the CCOP partnership, consisting of the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO) at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Andrew Fleck Children’s Services, Algonquin College, and Outdoor Play Canada (OPC).  

Available from: April 15th, 2025

Salary: $54,080/yr for 1 year 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Location: 415 Corkstown Rd, Ottawa, ON 

Closing Date: until filled

Apply: ldelannoy@outdoorplaycanada.ca 

In this role you will: 

• Lead and promote reciprocal relationship building, reflection and collective learning at the CCOP among partners, practitioners, community members, Indigenous leaders, and families  
• Co-manage a nationally representative expert panel and community of practice focused on outdoor early childhood education 
• Support the development and evaluation of outdoor early childhood education resources and tools 
• Create thought leadership and capacity development resources to promote and support outdoor play in Canada 
• Co-develop sustainability and innovation planning for the CCOP 
• Assist with preparing funding grant applications 
• Participate in CCOP Leadership Group meetings 
• Carry-out other duties as requested 

To qualify for this role you have: 

• An early childhood education diploma and/or Forest and Nature School certification, and/or experience working in a forest and nature program/outdoor learning program 
• Minimum two years’ experience working in/with early learning and childcare programs 
• English Essential – Bilingualism an asset (French and English)  
• Experience with data collection/record keeping 
• Strong knowledge of child development 
• A love of the outdoors  
• Demonstrated skills in leading committees/trainings/participation and experience with successful communities of practice  
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team and in various early learning and childcare settings 
• Ability to work flexible hours 
• Excellent communication (written and oral), interpersonal and organizational skills 
• Ability to take guided initiative and to work in an organized fashion  
• Demonstrated collegiality, professionalism and team skills   
• Excellent computer skills (word processing, email, spreadsheets, presentations)  
• Capable of effectively handling multiple priorities simultaneously  
• Strong work ethic and motivation  
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility and ability to work independently  
• Police Record Check for vulnerable populations 

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  

Featured image by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash.