Manager, Employment Programs

Position Title: Manager, Employment Programs (Church Location)

Locations: 355 Church Street, Unit 201, Toronto, ON, and with the possibility of working at any of our other locations as needed.

Vacancy: Existing

Vacancy number: MGT-0006

Number of openings: 1

Hours: Full-time, In-person, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. This position also requires working outside of regular operational hours including evenings and weekends

Classification: Permanent - Full Time

Salary Range: $65,000 - $78,000

Reports to: Senior Manager, Employment and Training Programs

Application Deadline: Ongoing

Position Summary:

The Program Manager provides strategic, financial and administrative leadership for a portfolio of programs and services.

The Program Manager is accountable for funder compliance, program performance, financial management, quality assurance, risk management, partnership development and achievement of organizational strategic priorities. The position manages relationships with funders, employers, community partners and other external stakeholders and ensures that programs operate in accordance with contribution agreements, legislation, organizational policies and established quality standards.

Working closely with the Assistant Manager, the Manager translates funding requirements and organizational priorities into clear workplans, performance expectations and operational strategies. The Assistant Manager oversees day-to-day service delivery and staff supervision, while the Manager retains overall accountability for the portfolio’s outcomes, compliance, budget and external relationships.

The Manager is a member of the organization’s management team and contributes to cross-departmental planning, organizational development and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program leadership and strategic direction

• Provide overall leadership, direction and accountability for the assigned program portfolio.
• Translate the organization's strategic plan into annual program priorities, measurable outcomes and workplans, in collaboration with the Director and Assistant Manager.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen, expand or redesign programs in response to client needs, labour-market conditions and government policy.
• Monitor progress toward strategic and operational objectives and lead corrective initiatives when performance, quality or compliance expectations are not met.
• Contribute to organizational planning, policy development and cross-departmental collaboration as a member of the management team.

2. Funder compliance and contract management

• Serve as the primary management contact for assigned funders.
• Review, interpret and administer funding agreements, contribution agreements and program guidelines, ensuring all activities remain within approved scope, timelines, budgets and eligibility requirements.
• Translate funder requirements into clear operational expectations for the Assistant Manager to implement.
• Obtain required funder approvals for material changes and coordinate responses to funder monitoring, audits and reviews.
• Identify and resolve compliance risks, escalating material concerns to senior leadership.

3. Reporting and performance accountability

• Maintain overall accountability for the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of all program reports.
• Review operational data and internal reports prepared by the Assistant Manager, and prepare or oversee monthly, quarterly, annual and final funder reports.
• Analyze performance against contractual targets and organizational objectives, identifying significant variances and areas requiring management intervention.
• Develop and monitor performance-recovery plans when targets are not being achieved.
• Provide portfolio updates to the Director, senior leadership and the Board as required.

4. Budget and financial management

• Develop annual program budgets in collaboration with Finance and the Director, and maintain overall accountability for the portfolio's financial performance.
• Review financial statements, forecasts and variances; monitor staffing costs, expenditures and restricted funding.
• Ensure expenditures are eligible, reasonable and consistent with funding agreements; review and approve expenditures within delegated authority.
• Identify financial risks and develop timely corrective actions, ensuring program and staffing decisions remain financially sustainable.
• Work with Finance to support funder claims, audits and year-end processes, and contribute budgets for new or renewed initiatives.

5. Risk management and quality assurance

• Identify, assess and manage operational, financial, compliance, reputational and service-delivery risks across the portfolio, maintaining a risk register where required.
• Establish the program's quality-assurance framework, standards and procedures, and oversee their implementation by the Assistant Manager.
• Review quality trends, client feedback and file-review findings, ensuring identified deficiencies are corrected and improvement plans monitored.
• Lead the management response to serious incidents, complaints and significant program, client or partner concerns.
• Ensure accessibility, equity and anti-oppression principles are reflected in program design and quality standards.

6. Partnership and stakeholder management

• Act as the senior relationship contact for funders, employers and significant program partners.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships that strengthen client pathways and program outcomes, negotiating agreements and MOUs within delegated authority.
• Represent the organization at external committees, networks and community tables.
• Address escalated stakeholder concerns, monitor partnership effectiveness, and identify reputational risks and sensitive matters for senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities for joint funding, collaborative delivery and program expansion.

7. Management and human resources

• Directly supervise the Assistant Manager and other designated positions, establishing clear objectives and performance expectations and conducting evaluations and regular supervision.
• Provide coaching, feedback and professional-development support, and participate in the recruitment and selection of management and program staff.
• Review and approve resource and staffing plans developed by the Assistant Manager.
• Ensure management practices comply with organizational policies, employment legislation and the collective agreement, and promote a respectful, inclusive and accountable workplace.

8. Program Development and Sustainability

• Identify opportunities for program renewal, expansion and new funding.
• Develop funding proposals, program models, workplans, budgets and partnerships.
• Ensure proposed programs, targets and delivery models are operationally and financially viable.
• Support negotiation and implementation of new or renewed funding agreements.
• Provide leadership for the transition of approved initiatives into operational delivery.

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in social services, public administration, business administration, nonprofit management, education, workforce development or a related field. 
• An equivalent combination of education and senior program-management experience may be considered. 
• At least five years of progressively responsible program-management experience in a nonprofit, public-sector or community-services environment. 
• At least three years of formal staff-management experience. 
• Experience managing government-funded programs, contribution agreements or service contracts. 
• Demonstrated experience with budget management, financial forecasting and funder reporting. 
• Experience managing program compliance, quality assurance and organizational risk. 
• Demonstrated success developing partnerships and managing external stakeholder relationships. 
• Experience working in a unionized environment is an asset. 
• Experience supporting funding proposals, program development and organizational planning is an asset. 
• Knowledge of the settlement, language-training, employment, workforce-development or related community-services sector is an asset.

Apply Now:

If you are an individual who thrives in a fast-paced, challenging work environment and wants to join a diverse and collaborative team, this could be the position for you.

Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, newcomers, and underrepresented groups.

Note: Accommodations are available upon request for all aspects of the selection process. Please inform us of any needs in advance.

Disclaimer - Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be used in the screening, evaluation or selection of candidates. All applications are reviewed and assessed by our hiring team.