Manager, Family and Community Programs

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic leader to oversee and grow our Family and Community Programs.

Reporting to the Associate Executive Director and serving as a member of the Leadership Team, the Manager, Family and Community Programs, provides strategic and operational leadership for family support, counselling / intake, and community-based programs, including outreach and education initiatives.

This role plays a critical leadership function in strengthening programs, building community partnerships, supporting staff development, and ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed services that respond to the diverse and evolving needs of families in our community.

The Manager supports staff through supervision and consultation, oversees program planning, quality improvement, and sustainability, and works collaboratively with community partners to strengthen outcomes for children, youth, adults, and families.

Join a value-driven organization with over 100 years of service supporting Ottawa families through life’s challenges, where your leadership will have a meaningful and lasting impact.

Location: Ottawa, Office-based. FSO-SFO is located on the unceded Territory of the

Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.

Start date: Immediate

Position: Permanent Full-Time Non-Union Managerial

Salary: $76,343.00 to $100,913.00

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week (one evening per week and on-call coverage as required)

Job ID: 66-2026 Manager, Family and Community Programs Permanent Full Time (Sunday through Thursday)

ABOUT US

Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSO-SFO) has been strengthening individuals and families—and, by extension, the Ottawa community—since 1914. We provide skillful and compassionate support to address the mental health, family conflict or violence, and parenting challenges that families face. Through accessible counselling, support groups, and educational programs, families increase their knowledge and skills, adopt healthy strategies, build meaningful connections, and enhance resilience.

We serve individuals across the lifespan and within all types of family constellations, including children, youth, transitional-aged youth, adults, seniors, couples, and families. Our work is grounded in the real needs of our clients and families, the complex environments they live in, and a strong foundation of clinical and mental health expertise.

From Mothercare during the influenza epidemic of 1917, to supporting families through post-WWII reintegration, to redefining family therapy to reflect the diverse realities of “family”, FSO-SFO continues to innovate and evolve in response to the changing needs of our community.

We strive to lead and convene the best and most promising practices, ensuring our services remain relevant and impactful. Today, 98% of clients report that working with FSI-SFO has had a positive impact on their lives.

As an accredited non-profit charitable organization, FSO-SFO is a trusted pillar of the Ottawa community. Our team is united by a commitment to well-being, belonging, community, accountability, and client-centered care.

Join us in making a lasting difference for Ottawa families.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Manager, Family and Community Programs provides leadership for a diverse portfolio of family support, counselling, outreach, and community-based programs designed to strengthen families and communities.

This position oversees:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Supervised Access Program (SAP)
• Education and Outreach Initiatives
• Intake Services
• Other Programs / Services as Assigned

Programs primarily support families with current or previous involvement in the child protection system and may include complex family dynamics, trauma histories, high-conflict relationships, parenting challenges, and experiences of gender-based violence. The successful candidate will bring an understanding of the unique needs of these families and the ability to support programs that promote safety, stability, resilience, and positive outcomes.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the Manager plays a key role in advancing organizational priorities through program development, community engagement, partnership building, staff leadership, and continuous improvement.

The position works closely with community partners, funders, stakeholders, and internal teams to ensure programs remain responsive, accessible, impactful, and sustainable.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Program Leadership and Growth

• Provide leadership and oversight for family support, counselling, outreach, and community-based programs.
• Lead program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify emerging community needs and opportunities for service enhancement, program expansion, and innovation.
• Develop strategies that strengthen program impact, accessibility, sustainability, and community reach.
• Support the development of partnerships, funding opportunities, and initiatives that contribute to program sustainability and growth.
• Ensure programs are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with organizational policies, service standards, and funder requirements.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain effective relationships with community organizations, schools, healthcare providers, child welfare partners, and funders.
• Represent FSO-SFO in community initiatives, professional networks, and collaborative partnerships.
• Support outreach and foster collaborative opportunities that strengthen service delivery, awareness, and access, and improve outcomes for children, youth, adults, and families..

Staff Leadership and Team Development

• Provide managerial oversight, including recruitment, supervision, coaching, and performance management.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment.
• Support staff development and professional growth.
• Address staffing, operational, and performance-related concerns in accordance with organizational policies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning

Quality Improvement, Data, and Reporting

• Oversee data collection, reporting, and program evaluation.
• Monitor program outcomes, performance indicators, and service utilization trends.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual program reports for organizational leadership and funders.
• Support accreditation and organizational quality standards.

Financial and Administrative Management

• Monitor program budgets and authorize expenditures.
• Support budget development and financial planning activities.
• Contribute to the sustainability and effective stewardship of program resources.
• Maintain accurate program statistics, documentation, and operational reports.
• Support administrative functions related to program delivery and reporting.

Practice Leadership and Service Oversight

• Provide clinical supervision and consultation to intake and front-line staff
• Support staff in integrating family systems, trauma-informed, and strength-based approaches into service delivery.
• Support ethical, professional, and trauma-informed service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards, privacy legislation, records management practices, and legislative requirements
• Provide direct service support when required to meet program needs.

ABOUT YOU

You are an experienced people leader who enjoys supporting staff, strengthening programs, and helping services run effectively. You bring experience in family services, mental health, counselling, social services, healthcare, or a related field, along with strong organizational and relationship-building skills. You are comfortable managing competing priorities, supporting quality service delivery, and working collaboratively with colleagues and community partners to meet the needs of children, adults, and families.

You balance operational excellence with continuous improvement and are motivated by opportunities to strengthen services, support staff development, and respond to emerging community needs.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Human Services, or a related field.
• Registration, or eligibility for registration, with a recognized professional regulatory body is preferred, such as: OCSWSSW, CRPO, CNO, COTO or another relevant professional regulatory college.
• Candidates must possess the professional knowledge and practice background necessary to provide consultation, guidance, and support to counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and intake staff.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of supervisory, leadership, or program management experience.
• Experience working in family services, mental health, counselling, social services, healthcare, or a related community-based setting.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary teams and fostering positive workplace cultures.
• Experience managing program operations, budgets, and reporting requirements.
• Experience with program evaluation, data collection, and quality improvement processes.
• Experience working with families experiencing complex challenges, including trauma, conflict, parenting concerns, or child protection involvement.
• Experience developing community partnerships and collaborative initiatives is considered an asset.
• Experience leading program development, service innovation, or service expansion initiatives is considered an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and administrative abilities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, family systems, child development, and family-centred approaches.
• Understanding of the child welfare system and community service networks.
• Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Experience presenting to community groups, partners, or stakeholder audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and data management systems.
• Ability to safeguard confidential client and employee information.
• Bilingualism in English and French is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Primarily office-based
• Scheduled work week: Sunday through Thursday, including one evening per week, and on-call coverage required
• Limited travel within community to attend meetings, participate in community initiatives, and support partnership development.

Additional Requirements:

Proof of legal entitlement to work in Canada

Satisfactory Criminal Police Record Check

We look forward to hearing from you. FSO-SFO is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know how we can best support you.

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