Director of Programs

Director of Programs Job Posting

Our agency is embarking on an exciting period of growth and transformation, driven by our newly launched 2025 -2030 Strategic Plan. This plan outlines four strategic priorities designed to elevate our impact and expand our reach and opportunity to shape the future for girls and gender-diverse youth . We are seeking passionate leaders to join us in creating safe spaces, fostering resilience, and empowering young people to reach their full potential .

Mission, Vision and Core Values

Our Mission is to enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

Our Vision is that all young people realize their full potential.

Our Core Values are:

• We Champion Potential
• Every Connection Counts
• Showing Up Matters

Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland (www.bigsisters.bc.ca) is a non-profit society and proud member agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Federation. We are committed to enhancing the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of self-identified girls, non-binary, trans and Two Spirit youth. Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland is a leader in mentoring youth and providing ongoing support through a variety of engaging programs. Our organization is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and ongoing learning towards creating a more equitable society. We encourage applications from those who identify as Indigenous, a person of color, 2SLGBTQIA+, a person with a disability or a member of another community that experiences additional barriers. Join us and make a positive difference in the lives of others in the community.

Why it’s great to work with us:

Big Sisters is a friendly, inclusive and committed team who offers their employees fifteen vacation days within the first year, fifteen well-being days as well as three personal days. We provide a generous health care and extended benefits package, including prescription drugs and dental plan. We also offer our employees a professional development allocation and various learning opportunities. Ignite your full potential with Big Sisters!

Is this you?

You are an experienced people leader who thrives on supporting, coaching, and inspiring teams to do their best work in delivering high-quality community programs for girls and gender-diverse youth. Skilled at building trust, fostering collaboration, and engaging staff, you balance strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving. You bring expertise in program leadership, evaluation, and risk management, and you approach complex situations with compassion, equity, and a trauma-informed lens. Above all, you are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where both your team — and the children and youth they serve — can thrive.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and leading a team of approximately 13 team members (including 4 direct reports/supervisors), the Director of Programs directs the day-to-day operations of the agency’s programs and services to ensure that the organization’s goals and objectives are met. The Director of Programs oversees the planning, coordination, and administration of the programs to ensure consistency and quality of service delivery. As a member of the senior leadership team, participates in developing and executing operational and strategic plans.

The successful candidate embodies our core competencies including leading with courage, making thoughtful decisions, thinking strategically, nurturing teamwork, promoting purpose and vision, managing the work and driving results.

What you will be doing:

Program Strategy & Impact

• Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of inclusive, trauma-informed programs that meet the diverse needs of youth and families.
• Ensure program quality, consistency, and compliance with legal and national accreditation standards.
• Use data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate impact.
• Collaborate with the fundraising department to develop funding proposals
• Oversee program budgets, case management systems, and child safety protocols.

Organizational & Community Leadership

• Contribute to strategic planning and agency-wide initiatives as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Foster meaningful partnerships with community organizations, funders, and national networks, and school districts.
• Represent the agency in public forums, roundtables, and collaborative initiatives. Team Development & Culture
• Recruit, train, and support a high-performing, values-aligned program team.
• Promote a culture of accountability, learning, and psychological safety.
• Supervise staff performance and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Champion equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices across all program areas.

Volunteer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support volunteer recruitment, engagement, and recognition strategies.
• Collaborate with fundraising and communications teams to share program outcomes and stories of impact.

What you bring:

• Post-secondary education in social work, counselling, education, psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum six (6) years of leadership/management experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in social service program delivery, coordination, or implementation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community-based programs and provincial support systems.
• Strong knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Experience working with culturally diverse clients and stakeholders, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Experience in quality assurance, including implementing and complying with accreditation standards, impact measurement, and program evaluation.
• Experience in group leadership, facilitation, and training.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with case management systems is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.
• Experience in not-for-profit leadership is an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.

What we offer:

• An opportunity to do meaningful work and make a positive impact on the community
• A supportive, positive and engaging work environment
• A commitment to work/life balance for employees, including a hybrid work environment, reduced full-time work week (35 hours), and flex time
• An annual salary of $100,000
• Group benefits after three months
• Generous paid time off, including up to 15 vacation days, 15 wellness days, and 3 personal days in your first year
• Commitment to training and development to support employee growth through our Pro-D benefit

This Position:

This is a permanent, full-time (35 hours/week) position reporting to our Vancouver office with a minimum of two days in office. Daytime travel and some evening and weekend work will be required, which will be supported through flex time. Accommodation will be considered upon request.

If this position sounds like you, please let us know why by submitting your resume and cover letter to jobs@bigsisters.bc.ca

Please use the Subject Line: Director of Programs

We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates. To ensure timely consideration, applications will be reviewed as they are received; therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly. If your background and qualifications align with the position's requirements, we will be in touch.