Director of Safety, Compliance & Safeguarding (North America)

Director, Health & Safety Integration

About BrightPath Kids / Busy Bees

Build your career in the early childhood education field and become a valued member of our team at BrightPath Kids! As a proud member of the Busy Bees global childcare community, we offer exceptional opportunities for your career to thrive. Join our diverse community of over 5,000 dedicated employees, and experience competitive pay and benefits, including a childcare discount. With our rapid growth, now is the perfect time to apply and shape an extraordinary future with us. Unleash your potential and join BrightPath!

Job Summary

The Director of Safety, Compliance & Safeguarding North America is responsible for leading and advancing the organization’s safeguarding, child protection, regulatory compliance, health and safety, and risk management strategies across all North American operations. This role ensures the organization maintains the highest standards of child safety, operational compliance, ethical conduct, and regulatory accountability while fostering a culture centered on safety, wellbeing, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

The Director partners closely with operational leaders, field teams, human resources, licensing agencies, legal counsel, and executive leadership to strengthen organizational practices, mitigate risk, oversee investigations, and ensure compliance with all applicable provincial, state, and federal requirements.

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Lead the organization’s safeguarding and child protection strategy across all locations
• Develop, implement, and maintain safeguarding policies, procedures, standards, and response protocols
• Ensure consistent implementation of child protection practices and supervision standards
• Lead and oversee serious incident reviews, safeguarding investigations, and corrective action planning
• Monitor organizational safeguarding trends and identify proactive risk mitigation strategies
• Partner with operations and HR teams to ensure timely escalation and resolution of concerns related to child safety and employee conduct
• Ensure mandatory reporting obligations are met in accordance with jurisdictional requirements

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Oversee compliance with childcare licensing regulations, accreditation standards, health regulations, and organizational policies across multiple jurisdictions throughout North America
• Conduct compliance audits, operational reviews, and risk assessments to ensure adherence to regulatory and company standards
• Develop and maintain compliance monitoring systems, reporting tools, and documentation practices
• Support centers and field leadership during licensing visits, investigations, inspections, and corrective action processes
• Maintain awareness of evolving legislation, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices

Health, Safety & Risk Management

• Lead enterprise-wide health and safety initiatives for schools, centers, offices, and operational environments
• Develop and implement emergency preparedness, crisis response, and incident management protocols
• Monitor workplace safety trends, injuries, incidents, and environmental risks
• Partner with operational teams to strengthen safe practices, supervision, transportation safety, visitor management, and security protocols
• Oversee organizational risk mitigation planning and continuous improvement initiatives

Investigations & Incident Management

• Lead or support investigations involving child safety concerns, policy violations, employee misconduct, workplace safety incidents, and regulatory
• Ensure investigations are conducted professionally, objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with company policies and legal requirements
• Prepare executive summaries, recommendations, corrective actions, and follow-up plans
• Collaborate with legal counsel, HR, licensing agencies, and external authorities as required

Training & Culture Development

• Develop and oversee organization-wide training related to:

• • • Child safeguarding and protection
    • Health and safety practices
    • Compliance and licensing standards
    • Incident reporting and documentation
    • Professional conduct and ethical responsibilities
    • Emergency preparedness and crisis response

• Support the development of a strong organizational culture focused on accountability, safety, transparency, and child wellbeing
• Coach and support operational leaders in strengthening compliance and safeguarding practices

Leadership & Strategic Partnership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership regarding risk, compliance, safeguarding, and safety matters
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and organizational improvement projects
• Develop metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to monitor compliance and safeguarding performance
• Support due diligence activities, acquisitions, integrations, and organizational growth initiatives related to safety and compliance
• Participate in executive meetings, operational reviews, and crisis management activities as required

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Business, Occupational Health & Safety, Risk Management, or related field required
• Master’s degree considered an asset

Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in safeguarding, compliance, safety, childcare operations, education, healthcare, or another regulated environment
• Minimum 3–5 years of multi-site leadership experience preferred
• Experience within early childhood education, childcare, K–12 education, or child-serving organizations strongly preferred
• Experience managing investigations, critical incidents, and regulatory matters required
• Experience developing organizational policies, training programs, and compliance frameworks

Knowledge & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of:

  o        Child safeguarding and protection practices

  • • Licensing and regulatory compliance
    • Workplace health and safety standards
    • Incident investigation methodologies
    • Risk management principles
    • Crisis management and emergency response
    • Documentation and reporting requirements
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong judgment, discretion, and decision-making capabilities
• Ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential matters professionally
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-accountability environments

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel regularly throughout North America
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between locations
• Successful criminal record and vulnerable sector screening required
• Ability to respond to urgent and critical incidents outside regular business hours when necessary

Preferred Leadership Attributes

• Passion for child safety and high-quality early learning environments
• High emotional intelligence and professional maturity
• Strong ethical leadership and integrity
• Ability to lead through complexity, change, and sensitive situations
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented leadership style
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence

Top Reasons to join BrightPath Kids USA:

• We offer a 60% child care discount to ALL employees so that your family can take advantage of our great learning environment!
• All staff are eligible to participate in the 401(k) program which offers a company match – this is free money!
• We will support your long-term career goals by offering opportunities for professional development.
• Full-time staff accrue 3 weeks of paid time off in their first year.
• Full-time staff are scheduled 8 paid holidays.
• Full-time staff are offered health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance and $10,000 of company-paid life insurance.