Board Member - Volunteer Position

Job Title: Member, Board of Directors

Position Type: Volunteer

Location: Toronto / Greater Toronto Area

Term: Minimum two-year term

Time commitment: Approximately 10 Board meetings per year, plus committee participation and meeting preparation. Each Director should be available to serve on at least one committee and is expected to serve at least one two-year term.

WHO WE ARE

Meta Centre is a community-based charity that provides services and supports for the social inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. We support approximately 600 children, youth, and adults through 24-hour residential services, supported independent living, respite services, community participation, and day programs across North York, Scarborough, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $29 million, Meta Centre plays an important role in helping people with developmental disabilities live with dignity, inclusion, choice, and belonging in their communities.

Our mission is to provide quality services and supports for the social inclusion of people with special needs. Our vision is a community where all people thrive, are valued, respected, and lead dignified and productive lives. The Board of Directors is the governing body of Meta Centre.

WHY VOLUNTEER WITH META

Serving on Meta Centre’s Board is an opportunity to help guide an essential GTA organization through a period of growth, change, and sector transformation. As a volunteer Director, you will help shape strategy, strengthen governance, oversee risk and financial sustainability, support service quality, and ensure that Meta Centre remains accountable to its mission and to the communities it serves.

Board members contribute through a flexible volunteer model that includes both remote and in-person participation, annual events, and opportunities to connect with leaders across the developmental services, health, community, business, and public sectors. This is a meaningful opportunity for individuals who want to apply their professional expertise, community leadership, lived experience, or sector knowledge to a mission that matters to the people and families we serve.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking committed, thoughtful, and community-minded volunteer Directors to join our Board of Directors at an important time for developmental services in Ontario. The sector is evolving in response to growing demand, workforce pressures, changing expectations around individualized and community based supports, housing needs, digital transformation, and renewed public investment.

Ontario’s 2026 Budget announced an additional $407 million over three years to help community organizations manage rising operating costs and continue delivering vital services, including supports for individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities.

As a recognized leader in developmental services across the GTA, Meta Centre has a strong community presence and a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of inclusive, person-centred supports. Meta Centre welcomes and encourages applications from all interested candidates. To complement the strengths of the current Board and support thoughtful succession planning, we are especially interested in candidates who bring experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Developmental services, social services, housing, health care, or complex care operations
• Human resources, labour relations, organizational development, or workforce transformation
• Technology, data, privacy, cybersecurity, digital systems, or digital transformation
• Community leadership, partnerships, government relations, philanthropy, or external relations
• Lived, family, caregiving, or community experience related to developmental disability, inclusion, accessibility, or the communities served across the GTA

DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Board Directors are expected to:

• Provide strategic governance and stewardship in support of Meta Centre’s mission, vision, and values.
• Attend Board meetings, prepare in advance, and participate actively and constructively in deliberations.
• Serve on at least one Board committee.
• Review financial reports, budgets, audit materials, strategic plans, policies, and organizational performance information.
• Ask thoughtful questions that support sound decision-making, risk oversight, quality improvement, and long-term sustainability.
• Help ensure that Meta Centre remains responsive to the needs of clients, families, staff, volunteers, funders, and the broader community.
• Uphold confidentiality, integrity, objectivity, and the duties of a Director.
• Support Board decisions once made.
• Contribute to a respectful, inclusive, consensus-oriented Board culture.
• Act as an ambassador for Meta Centre’s mission and, where appropriate, support community relationships, partnerships, and philanthropic engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will bring:

• A strong commitment to Meta Centre’s mission and values.
• Integrity, sound judgment, objectivity, and respect for confidentiality.
• The ability to work collaboratively in a deliberative Board environment.
• Strategic thinking and willingness to engage in governance-level discussions.
• Relevant professional, sector, community, family, or lived experience.
• Willingness to participate in Board orientation and ongoing learning.
• Availability to meet the expected time commitment.
• No conflicts of interest that would prevent the candidate from acting in the best interests of Meta Centre.

HOW TO APPLY

Please forward a letter of interest and resume, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience, to rsandland@metacentre.ca by June 30 2026. Candidates may be invited to attend a Board meeting as part of the recruitment process and require Board approval before appointment. Successful candidates must complete a Vulnerable Sector Screening. We thank all applicants; however, only those invited for an interview will be contacted.