Manager of Post-Secondary Programs

A proud member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada Federation

Manager of Post-Secondary Programs

Job Posting

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 realized 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 of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Federation. We are committed to enhancing the confidence, selfesteem and well-being of self-identified girls and youth who identify as non-binary, trans, and Two Spirit. 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 colour, 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 up to fifteen vacation days and wellbeing days, and up to three personal days, in the first year of employment. We provide a generous employer-paid extended health care and 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 a strategic, relationship-driven leader passionate about creating post-secondary opportunities for girls and gender-diverse youth. You build strong donor and funder partnerships, translate relationships into program impact, and balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day program delivery. You are comfortable leading through change, supporting your team with clarity and empathy, and managing stakeholders through a program transformation. Above all, you are mission-driven and committed to building the partnerships, programs, and team that help youth achieve their post-secondary goals.

About this role:

Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Manager of Post-Secondary Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for the sustainability, transformation, and growth of the Bright Futures Education Fund (BFEF) and Pumped for Post-Secondary (PFPS) portfolio. The Manager leads the transition of BFEF from a bursary to a mentorship-based model, oversees PFPS development and delivery, and leads the planning, implementation, launch, and evaluation of evolving programs that respond to youth needs. This role builds and stewards relationships with youth, families, volunteers, donors, funders, post-secondary institutions, and community partners to strengthen the portfolio’s reach, quality, sustainability, and impact. The Manager also leads Mentoring Coordinator(s), supports staff development and program quality, ensures alignment with BBBSC National Standards and agency policies, and represents the post-secondary portfolio internally and externally.

What you will be doing:

STRATEGIC – SUSTAIN, TRANSFORM AND GROW

• Develop and implement short- and long-term program workplans, including clear goals, strategies, timelines, outcome measures, and evaluation processes.
• Oversee the ongoing quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of BFEF and PFPS, ensuring youth have access to relevant wraparound supports, resources, and opportunities throughout their post-secondary journey.
• Serve as a key relationship lead for donors and funders supporting the portfolio, ensuring strong stewardship, communication, and impact reporting in collaboration with the Fundraising team.
• Ensure youth voice, program data, and evaluation findings are actively incorporated into program planning and continuous improvement, and that program activities align with BBBSC National Standards.
• Lead the strategic transition of BFEF from its current bursary model toward a mentorship-based program, including planning, implementation, launch, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Engage youth, families, volunteers, staff, donors, and post-secondary institutions in the development and transition of the new model, ensuring continuity of care and support for current and future participants.
• Lead the continued development and delivery of PFPS in alignment with the program model developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, applying insights from the initial pilot to inform ongoing improvements and expansion.
• Identify opportunities to expand the reach, quality, and impact of the portfolio, and develop strategic partnerships with post-secondary institutions and community organizations to support program delivery and growth.
• Identify opportunities to scale both the BFEF bursary and mentorship models while maintaining program quality and alignment with agency and BBBSC standards.
• Represent the Post Secondary portfolio externally, building awareness of its impact and identifying opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and networking.

OPERATIONAL

• Apply anti-oppressive and decolonizing principles throughout all stages of program development and delivery.
• Manage program budgets and monitor expenditures in collaboration with the Director of Programs.
• Lead the creation and implementation of activities and opportunities that engage and support BFEF youth throughout their post-secondary education journey, including information sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship.
• Develop and maintain systems, tools, resources, reporting processes, and evaluation mechanisms required for effective program delivery.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with post-secondary institutions to facilitate and strengthen delivery of the PFPS program, working collaboratively on implementation, communication, and evaluation.
• Provide program expertise, stories, and outcomes to support fundraising proposals, reports, and donor communications led by the Fundraising team, and participate in donor/funder meetings as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to develop compelling program stories and to build Volunteer Mentor and Mentee application pathways that comply with National Standards.
• Work with the Volunteer and Community Engagement Lead to implement an inclusive recruitment strategy for Volunteer Mentors, including public presentations and liaison with referral agencies.
• Collaborate with Mentoring Coordinator(s) to screen and train new Group Volunteer Mentors, recruit Mentees for PFPS, and respond to escalated volunteer inquiries.
• Ensure program documentation, records, and case files meet agency and National Standards requirements, and monitor program data and reporting to support evaluation and accountability.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of relevant community resources and supports to meet the needs of youth and Mentors, and represent Big Sisters through community, institutional, and stakeholder presentations and events.

LEADERSHIP – DEPARTMENT & AGENCY

• Provide leadership, coaching, supervision, and ongoing support to Mentoring Coordinator(s).
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance evaluation, and professional development of program staff, in collaboration with the Director of Programs.
• Monitor program deliverables, outcomes, and statistics, ensuring Mentoring Coordinator metrics align with program plans and agency strategic priorities.
• Support Mentoring Coordinator(s) in addressing escalated and/or sensitive issues involving youth, families, volunteers, or other stakeholders.
• Ensure Mentoring Coordinator(s) receive the direction, resources, tools, and support required to effectively manage their caseloads and deliver high-quality programming.
• Contribute to cross-departmental collaboration and agency-wide initiatives that advance Big Sisters' mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

OTHER

• Participate in general agency functions, including the Annual General Meeting, Volunteer Recognition Events, and the annual fundraising gala.
• Participate as a member of selected community groups, networks, and roundtables relevant to the Post Secondary portfolio.
• Assist in general agency functioning and perform other duties as requested or required.

What you bring:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Post-secondary education in child and youth care, social work, counselling, education, psychology, or a related human services field; minimum two-year diploma required, four-year degree preferred.
• Five or more years of professional experience coordinating, implementing, and delivering community service programs for diverse children and youth.
• Three or more years of experience leading and supervising staff, with one to two years of experience coordinating and supervising volunteers.
• Demonstrated experience managing project lifecycles from community engagement and development through implementation, iteration, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community partners, funders, donors, educational institutions, and volunteers, and cultivate new partnerships to support program growth.
• Experience developing, launching, scaling, or transitioning community-based programs or initiatives is strongly preferred.
• Experience with donor engagement, stewardship, funder relationships, or impact reporting is an asset.
• Experience developing mentorship, post-secondary transition, bursary, or wraparound youth programs is an asset.
• Knowledge of the challenges youth face transitioning from high school to post-secondary education and available supports.
• Experience in group leadership, facilitation, training, and public presentations.
• Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Strong relationship-building, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with youth, families, donors, funders, post-secondary institutions, and community partners.
• Strong strategic thinking and program development skills, with the ability to identify emerging needs and translate opportunities into practical plans and measurable outcomes.
• Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate program impact clearly to diverse audiences and deliver effective presentations and facilitation.
• Strong computer literacy; experience with Microsoft Dynamics is an asset.
• Comfortable representing the organization externally and engaging confidently with donors, funders, post-secondary institutions, and community partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-oppression and decolonizing principles, with an understanding of and passion for advancing gender-based initiatives.
• Experience working in a not-for-profit or community-based organization is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Able to work occasional evenings and weekends based on the needs of schools, volunteers, programs, and agency activities.

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 flexibility and work/life balance for employees
• An annual salary of $70,000
• Group benefits after three months
• Up to 15 vacation days, 15 wellbeing days, and 3 personal days within the first year of employment
• 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 two days per week with the option to work from the office or from home for the balance of the week. Daytime travel and some evening and weekend work will be required which will be supported through flex / lieu time. Accommodation will be considered on request.

If this position sounds like you, please let us know why by submitting your resume and cover letter to jobs@bigsisters.bc.ca using the subject line: Manager of Post-Secondary Programs

Applications will be reviewed as they are received; this posting will close without notice when the position is filled.