Division

Homelessness Services

Important Notices & Amendments

This position currently falls within our hybrid model**, allowing the employee to** typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

Temporary Duration

Approximate Duration: 2 years

About Us

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

We welcome all applicants! For more information about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Niagara Region, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Niagara Region, Ontarioor email related questions to diversity@niagararegion.ca. To send input on reducing barriers in the current hiring process, please email myhr@niagararegion.ca

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.

Don’t have every qualification?

You may be hesitant to apply if you do not have every qualification listed in the posting. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience and education to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Please note that for unionized roles, we must follow collective agreement requirements. However, we encourage all interested candidates to submit their applications. We believe success in a role can extend beyond meeting every single requirement.

Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Homelessness Services & Community Engagement, the Manager, Homelessness Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of Niagara Region’s homelessness service system. This role oversees both community service agencies and Region-operated programs, ensuring high-quality, client-centered services. The Manager leads the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, policies, and funding, supports service expansion, fosters collaboration with community partners, and ensures compliance with legislation and guidelines while promoting the effective use of public resources.

Education

• Post-secondary degree in Business/Public Administration/ Social Sciences, or equivalent
• Project Management Training an asset

Knowledge

• At least 5 years of experience in administration of homelessness services.
• At least 2 years of experience working with federal or provincial funding agreements, purchasing and contract management
• At least 2 years of experience in an area related to management in the public sector
• Knowledge and interpretation of the relevant Acts and Regulations (Social Housing Reform Act, National Housing Act, Residential Tenancies Act, other relevant housing Federal/Provincial/Municipal Housing and Homelessness legislation).
• Working knowledge of computer software applications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Manages homelessness serving agencies providing support for the provision homelessness in Niagara. (20% of the time)

• Ensures that Committee and Council are kept informed of developments in Homelessness and reports on business and system developments or issues. Participates in business planning, program evaluation and business improvement projects.
• Collaborates with the Niagara Regional Housing, housing providers and homelessness agencies on research and cost benefit analysis of programming options.
• Prepares reports providing information, guidance and recommendations to the Director, HSCE and Commissioner of the Community Services Department, Public Health and Social Services Committee and Council and respond to inquiries.
• Monitors and evaluates programs to determine overlapping services and streamlining of services, measure performance against KPI’s and perform data analysis for the system.
• Identifies, develops and evaluates strategic homelessness programs for the Region.
• Responds to inquiries from politicians from all levels of government, the general public, applicants, tenants, and agencies to provide policy, procedure, and practice interpretation.
• Exchanges information, and discusses policy development and position papers with provincial groups, agency advisory committees, community planning forums, community development, other homeless service managers, agency managers, and executive directors.

Manages the contractual relationship between the Regional Municipality of Niagara and homelessness agencies to ensure services are being delivered effectively. (20% of the time)

• Acts on behalf of the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager and Community Advisory Board in the administration and delivery of homelessness services in Niagara.
• Manages the procurement process, develops and implements the operating agreements between the Regional Municipality of Niagara and homelessness agencies and monitor and evaluate the operating agreements.
• Liaises with agency management of homelessness agencies to ensure the service is meeting the requirements of their service contracts.
• Act as a back-up on site emergency social services coordinator.

Manages direct operations (20% of the time)

• Ensures that goals and objectives are established, aligning broader division/department plans, monitoring progress and outcome achievement
• Identifies operational and service needs, collaborating with staff and other partners to develop solutions.
• Identifies trend and outcomes against plans and determine strategies to improve performance, as required.
• Resolves issues/complaints that cannot be resolved at the team level.
• Plans and manages health and safety matters within direct operations environment.
• Initiates polices, procedures and training, and participates in the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, as required.
• Ensures operations and activities are managed consistently and in compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and corporate policies and practices.

Develops relationships with internal/external invested parties, to ensure the delivery of value-add services and keep abreast of issues and developments. (10% of the time)

• Develops and maintains relationships with federal departments, provincial ministries, local municipalities and regional department.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships and partnerships with other Regional Departments and Divisions, Regional Council and local boards and agencies and other levels of government.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of internal and community resources as well as community trends to enable effective planning and strategic program management.
• Advocates for homelessness programs and services
• Develops grant proposals for new funding opportunities ensuring alignment with system transformation goals and data informed demand in partnership with the Director.

Ensures effective processes, policies and practices are in place and support legislative and regulatory standards and requirements, monitoring compliance and addressing issues. (10% of the time)

• Ensures compliance with all funding requirements.
• Coordinates services, while maintaining the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
• Develops policy for the system.
• Supports the policy and integrity of the HIFIS data reporting system.
• Monitors service and makes recommendations on modifications and alternative service delivery models/procedures.
• Contributes to the development of plans for new initiatives in consultation with program staff, monitoring implementation and establishing strategies towards continuous quality improvement.
• Assists in the implementation of evidence based strategies, programs and activities related to homelessness services.

Manages people resource planning for the division or operating unit, determining ideal organizational structures, identifying desirable role and skill mix requirements and ensuring ongoing work quality and deliverability of results. (10% of the time)

• Enables results with the organization’s human capital strategy to foster employee engagement.
• Directs and provides leadership for the activities and coaching of direct reports, providing work direction, setting priorities, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, ensuring results are achieved, and managing staff recruitment, performance, and skill development activities
• Ensures alignment and coordination of activity and quality of output between teams under their direction
• Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and work flow integration.
• Ensures staff has the information and resources to make successful plans and decisions.
• Ensures all people related issues, including recruitment, grievances and labour relations issues, are aligned to HR and Corporate standards and practices.
• Helps to break down barriers to employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within their division and department
• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented, and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of OH&S processes, and other OH&S concerns are responded to promptly.
• Ensures all individuals under supervision have been informed of hazards and instructed on the necessary risk control and emergency response measures

Develops, manages, and administers annual and multi-year operating budgets for the unit ensuring support of Council’s objectives, financial transparency and accountability, monitoring budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances, and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies. (10% of the time)

• Ensure goods and services are acquired in accordance with the procurement policy.
• Authorize, and administer the acquisition of goods and services for the operating unit and direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy and procedures

Special Requirements

• In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Records Check and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
• Incumbents must maintain the ability to travel to various locations in the Region for meetings and other business reasons.
• At times, working outside of normal business hours to accommodate a response to emergency situations.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

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

We confirm that we do not use AI in screening of applicants, and this position is an existing vacancy.

If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

• Email: myhr@niagararegion.ca
• Phone: 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
• In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department