With over 40 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected charity with a province-wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, mental health, entrepreneurship, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for trades, women, and youth. Skills for Change believes the future of our services to newcomers and refugees requires a deep commitment to trauma informed counselling and personalized care. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with experience in the social impact sector who can help us transform our work, grow our team and move from a transactional approach to a relational one with our employment, trades and settlement programs and services. If you are motivated by building a team, experimenting with process and new ideas, leading through change and hitting your targets, then please keep reading!

The Director, Programs and Services plays a critical role in SfC. Reporting directly to the Vice President, Program Operations, the Director will lead a portfolio of programming across the organization and work collaboratively across the organization on growing an innovative program areas through sustainable funding, responsive programming and robust partnerships. The Director is also responsible for outreach and networking within a variety of stakeholders in order to enhance SfC’s competitive position. This role will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight to SfC’s Mental Health and Wellness department, Black Community Access Programs, Sustainable Communities and Pre-Apprenticeship and Trades programming. They will also be responsible for the portfolio growth and development of new initiatives to assist in the integration of newcomer professionals into the Canadian labour market.

The Ideal Candidate has:

· An entrepreneurial mindset, with a strong understanding of the foundations of change management, and demonstrated experience leading in a dynamic environment

· Is vision and mission oriented, with the “grit” to see the long-term picture and bumpy road of success

· Believes in the power of social programs as a means to help people build a better life

· Flexible, responsive, and open to new ways of thinking and problem-solving and a willingness to learn

· Has a strong affinity (and even a passion) for data and how it can be used to inform operational decision marking and strategic business case development

· Understanding of case management approaches to care and program delivery is ideal

· Strong understanding of how trauma can impact a person’s quality of life and barriers to employment

· Believes that collaboration is the name of the game to get things done

· Experience working with diverse funders across all three levels of government as well as corporate and privately funded programs

· Leadership experience in social impact, non-profit, social work, employment, skilled trades, newcomer services and can demonstrate how this experience relates to the role

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Lead the growth of strategic program areas through effective implementation of programs, new program development and community building

· Build a high performing team to align with the organization’s strategic directions and provide leadership to direct reports

· Instill a climate of success within the team by strong, supportive leadership and a positive attitude to facilitate a client centred approach to care

· Develop service accountability framework to implement quality improvement and provides a consistent approach to program delivery across multiple sites

· Work closely with counterpart Director and program managers to build best practices across teams

· Assist with the development of proposals to public and private funding organizations, based on emerging opportunities throughout each fiscal year

· Other duties assigned by the Vice President

Program Management

· Leverage deep program development and delivery expertise to lead a team that includes senior managers, mid-level managers and frontline staff across departments.

· Responsible for the strategic implementation and evaluation of the programs under leadership.

· Leverages the organization wide CRM (Salesforce) to ensure data integrity, consistency, and data capture is optimized for impact measurement

· Analyse and report on the monthly, quarterly and annual program statistics.

· Analyze trends in programs, identifying issues and developing and recommending solutions to the Vice President and CEO.

· In collaboration with the Director, Programs and Services – Employment and Training, develops and implements processes and policies for effective program delivery

· Develops community of practice approaches to programs and services to ensure cross functional team learning and development

· Works with community partners to develops strong community relationships and opportunities for collaboration across program areas

Program Development

· In collaboration with the Program Design team, leads the development and timely delivery of proposals to public and private funding organizations, based on emerging opportunities throughout each fiscal year.

· Staying abreast of current and future programmatic directions and funding prospects of various funders

· Ensuring that SfC is aware of all appropriate current and upcoming solicitations and/or market opportunities that affect program development strategies, and ensuring that SfC remains poised to respond to appropriate opportunities that fit our mission and capabilities.

· Working collaboratively with the development and program management teams in generating new opportunities to build upon, broaden and diversify SfC’s funding base

· Establish linkages with relevant community partners to develop innovative ideas to meet current and evolving client needs

· In collaboration with the Vice-President, supports the annual program development planning process

Budget & Administration

· · Prepare program specific budgets and financial reports.

· Participate in senior management meetings and general staff meetings.

· Manage special projects as required.

People Leadership

· Uses change management approaches to develop a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and transformation within the program areas Oversees program related leadership team, helping the team problem solve, exercise sound judgment, and to develop sound processes for efficiency and accountability

· Builds a performance-based culture

· Develops annual targets for the department and direct reports, conducts regular performance reviews, coaches and mentors a team, builds consensus and buy in

· Develops change management strategies and approaches to ensure staff are ready to respond

· Ensure that staff remains motivated and engaged in ongoing learning and skills enhancement opportunities to better serve the needs of clients.

· Ensure that staff relations and work conditions promote a barrier-free, non-discriminatory environment

Community Related

· Represent SfC in community activities and in organizations dealing with issues of concern to the agency and clients

· Builds relationships with individuals and organizations to facilitate awareness of and responses to community-based needs

· Participates in public meetings and events to develop and maintain organizational visibility

Minimum Qualifications

· MBA, Bachelor’s Degree in non-profit management, social work, public administration, business administration, or a related field of interest

· 10 years’ experience working in a management or other leadership position (Graduate Degree may be substituted for one or more years of experience) related to employment, settlement and newcomer services, or related sectors

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

· Track record of thinking conceptually and mastering complex subject matter quickly.

· Exceptional People Leadership and Program Management skills, with example of leading change at an organizational wide level

· Strong organizational skills and demonstrated capacity to develop and implement practical strategies, plans, and solutions to identified issues and problems.

· Proven ability to assimilate information gathered through research and consultations, to apply that information in creative and cross-cutting ways

· Superior critical thinking skills, including the capacity to identify and appropriately assess and order competing interests and priorities. First rate verbal and written communication skills.

· Exceptional research, writing, analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to convey complex concepts in a clear, concise and logical manner.

· Good judgment, discretion, tact and the ability to work easily with senior leaders within the charitable, government, and business sectors.

WORK WITH US AND ENJOY:

• 100% employer paid comprehensive health, dental & wellness benefits

• Generous paid sick days and attractive vacation package

• Employer matched RRSP contributions

• Professional development workshops, training & development opportunities

• Company wide wellness initiatives, staff awards and retreats.

As part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion racial justice and reconciliation, Skills for Change encourages applications from those who identify as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQS+, Racialized and other under-represented communities. Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in an alternate format on request. We thank all applicants for their interest in this position however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.