Social Enterprise Program Lead

About The Career Foundation: The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization and registered charity that offers a wide range of employment, training, and workforce development services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of seven locations in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, as well as offices in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, we now help thousands of people each year successfully achieve their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals has described The Career Foundation as caring, compassionate, innovative, and team-oriented. For more information about us and our services, please visit our website at CareerFoundation.com.

Program & Role Description: Delivered in partnership with Sorenson Institute, The Career Foundation’s Bloom Forward project is a floral‑design employment and training social enterprise initiative that empowers women transitioning from shelters in Scarborough, Ontario, to achieve lasting economic independence. Participants will receive specialized training in floral design, employability, life skills, and customer service, co‑designed primarily around the insights of women with lived experience and further informed by floral‑industry partners, social‑enterprise advisors, and community agencies.

As the Social Enterprise Program Lead, you will lead the development and pilot delivery of the social enterprise to support women transitioning from shelters based in Scarborough into employment. Your responsibilities will include project coordination, market research, and feasibility analysis, as well as stakeholder and community engagement. You will oversee partnership development, curriculum and support design, participant recruitment and onboarding, and pilot implementation. You will also monitor outcomes, refine the model based on findings, and prepare documentation and reports to support scale‑up and investor engagement.

Position Type:
This is a contract position up to February 2nd, 2027 averaging 30 hours per week, and will be structured either as an hourly employee role or an independent contractor arrangement, to be discussed with the successful candidate based on their preferred option.

Experience Level Required:
3 – 5 years

Hourly rate:
The hourly rate for this position is $35.00 per hour.

Work Location and Travel Requirements:
This role will permit a hybrid‑remote work schedule, as approved by the Manager, Economic and Workforce Development Strategies and contingent on scope of work. The position requires in‑person work as assigned from our offices within the GTA, as well as on-site work from our partner locations in Scarborough. The hybrid schedule requires a private work‑from‑home space with reliable high‑speed internet.

Vacancy Status:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Reporting to:
Manager, Economic and Workforce Development Strategies

Vulnerable Sector Check:
An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).

Use of Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not currently used to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.

Start:
As soon as possible

Responsibilities include the following:

Project Planning, Research & Stakeholder Engagement

• Conduct market research, feasibility analysis, and sustainability projections for the social enterprise.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders, including social enterprise experts, industry advisors, and community partners.
• Lead consultations with shelters, floral businesses, and women with lived experience to inform program design.
• Implement insights from research and consultations into clear recommendations and program design.
• Plan and administer the project’s budget in consultation with the Manager, Economic and Workforce Development Strategies.

Social Enterprise Design, Partnerships & Program Development

• Design and validate the social enterprise model, including operations, workflows, workspace, and technology needs.
• Formalize partnerships and agreements with floral shops, training partners, mentors, and community agencies
• Co‑develop industry‑aligned skills training curriculum and assessment tools.
• Establish wraparound supports such as mentorship, counseling, and employment readiness resources.

Pilot Implementation, Evaluation & Scale Readiness

• Recruit, onboard, and support vulnerable women transitioning from shelters into the program.
• Monitor participant progress, program delivery, and financial performance, including gathering and analyzing real-time feedback.
• Evaluate pilot outcomes against social, employment, and financial success metrics.
• Refine operations, training, and supports based on findings and stakeholder feedback.
• Prepare reports, finalize agreements, and support engagement with social impact investors.

Qualifications/ Skills Required:

• Demonstrated 3 – 5 years’ related experience in program coordination and project implementation, including planning, timeline management, and delivery of multi‑partner initiatives, with strong competencies in market research, feasibility studies, financial modeling, and data‑informed decision‑making to support sustainable social enterprise design.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in a related field relevant to the position’s duties is highly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Experience developing or contributing to training curriculum or workforce development programs informed by adult learning principles and employability outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead stakeholder and community engagement, including consultations and co‑design processes with shelters, community partners, industry advisors, and women with lived experience.
• Knowledge of or direct experience within the Ontario shelter system, or programs supporting individuals facing barriers to employment.
• Demonstrated understanding of entrepreneurship, small business operations, and social enterprise models, ideally within customer‑facing or product‑based environments.
• Strong facilitation, partnership‑building, and relationship‑management skills, with the ability to formalize agreements, negotiate roles, and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with program evaluation, including data collection, outcomes measurement, participant feedback analysis, and iterative improvement processes.
• Ability to prepare clear reports, presentations, proposals, and investor‑ or funder‑ready documentation.
• Knowledge of or familiarity with the floral design sector, floristry operations, or related creative product‑based industries is considered an asset, particularly in supporting curriculum alignment, industry partnerships, and employment pathways for participants.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills; fluency in a second language is an asset.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel within the GTA and Scarborough for in-person meetings, stakeholder engagement, and on‑site activities.
• High emotional intelligence, demonstrating patience, empathy, and connectivity when working with clients of various experiences, needs, and abilities.
• A professional and courteous approach to client service with a high level of respect for the diversity of the people served.
• Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to uphold the organization’s service standards, policies, and core values.
• High ethics and confidentiality standards with proven experience maintaining sensitive information and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and good judgment.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to multi-task to meet deadlines and achieve targets and objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Office 365 applications, including MS Teams and SharePoint. Must possess the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
• Strong work ethic with the ability to multitask while maintaining a positive and proactive attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to remain flexible and resilient, adapting quickly to changing priorities while maintaining trust and positive working relationships.