Manager, Pre-Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: Manager, Pre-Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades

DEPARTMENT: Programs Operations

COMPANY: Skills for Change

LOCATION: 30 Weston Road

REPORTS TO: Director, Programs and Services

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent (Non-Union)

HOURS: 35 hours per week (Monday – Friday, occasional evenings and/or weekend hours)

START DATE: Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled

COMPANY:

Located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, Skills for Change (SfC) is working towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Named Charity Village's Best Non-Profit Employer - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and winner of the 2021 Canada Volunteer Awards for Innovation, our organization is committed to reducing poverty, improve mental health, eliminating gender-based violence, building community, eradicating systemic racism, and settling and creating sustainable communities for all immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities. Start your career with SfC and join our 40-year history of creating innovative programming to build welcoming and equitable communities.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:

With 40 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected non-profit charity with a province wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for skilled trades, women, and youth. We have 5 locations across the GTA and serve 16,000 clients annually. We believe we are in the best position to provide thought leadership through evidence-based programming, impact stories and proactive policy advocacy using knowledge mobilization products.

PROGRAM NATURE AND SCOPE:

Skills for Change believes the future of our services to newcomers and refugees requires a deep commitment to trauma informed counselling and personalized care. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with experience in the social impact sector who can help us transform our work, grow our team and move from a transactional approach to a relational one with our employment, trades and settlement programs and services. If you are motivated by building a team, experimenting with processes and new ideas, leading through change and hitting your targets, then please keep reading!

Reporting to the Director, Programs and Services, the Manager, Pre Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades offers strategic leadership to a multi-disciplinary program team. With a key emphasis on the pre-apprenticeship and pathways to skilled trades portfolio, their role actively drives the development of program plans and fosters close partnerships with both internal program management and external stakeholders.  The Manager cultivates and develops strong partnerships with innovative partners, community organizations, ensuring a seamless alignment with Skills for Change's corporate strategy and vision.

IDEAL CANDIDATE must have:

  • An entrepreneurial mindset, with a strong understanding of the foundations of change management, and demonstrated experience leading in a dynamic environment

  • Demonstrated experience scaling and leading programs on a national level

  • Is vision and mission oriented, with the “grit” to see the long-term picture and bumpy road of success

  • Believes in the power of social programs as a means to help people build a better life

  • Flexible, responsive, and open to new ways of thinking and problem-solving and a willingness to learn 

  • Believes that collaboration is the name of the game to get things done and can do so in a matrix environment

  • Experience working on Skilled Trades, Employment Ontario

  • Leadership experience in social impact, non-profit, social work, employment, skilled trades, newcomer services and can demonstrate how this experience relates to the role 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management

  • Manage all program aspects including staff leadership, funding relations, reporting, community engagement, budgeting, and business planning

  • Lead the development of program annual plans in alignment with organizational priorities and funding guidelines

  • Implement operational efficiencies and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the portfolio.

  • Collaborate with internal programs to ensure efficient processes and client-centered approaches for optimal outcomes

  • Implement strategies to enhance interdepartmental collaboration and synergies with external partners

  • Oversee contract management and compliance with funder reporting requirements

  • Cultivate a culture of innovation and transformation through change management approaches

Program Development

  • Lead timely development and delivery of proposals to public and private funders in collaboration with the Program Design team

  • Stay updated on programmatic directions and funding prospects of various funders

  • Identify and prepares SfC to respond to relevant solicitations and market opportunities aligned with our mission and capabilities

  • Collaborate with development and program management teams to generate new funding opportunities and diversify SfC's funding base

  • Knowledge of the employment, pre-apprenticeship and skilled trade sector is an asset

  •  Establish partnerships with community stakeholders to develop innovative ideas addressing evolving client needs

People Leadership

  • Cultivate innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery areas

  •  Manage program-related staff, fostering problem-solving, sound judgment, and efficient processes

  •  Establish a performance-based culture accountable to clients, funders, and stakeholders

  • Set departmental targets, conducts performance reviews, coaches and mentors the team, and builds consensus

  • Draft and recommend new policies, procedures and best practice related to partnership development and service delivery for the portfolio

  • Implement change management strategies to prepare staff for the ongoing changes in the sector

 Community Partnership

  • Develop strategy to raise community awareness of SfC through community outreach and events that raise organizational visibility

  • Lead and manage development of new partnerships creating new opportunities for collaboration and agreements

  • Build and maintain ongoing relationships with partners and funders

  • Draft partnership agreements and maintain records to ensure compliance with funding and reporting requirements

  • Engage with innovative partners to expand Skills for Change's reach and become a preferred partner

  • Represent SfC at external planning tables, public meetings, and events to maintain visibility

  • Provide individual short-term problem-solving support and long-term stability plan for adult populations including newcomers, immigrants, refugees, racialized groups, LGBTQI2S+, low-income communities through identifying the presenting problems, goals, and available service options.

  • Other duties as assigned by Director or Senior Leadership

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND OTHER SKILLS

  • Bachelor’s Degree in non-profit management, MBA, public administration, business administration, marketing or public relations, or a related field of interest

  • 5-7 years’ experience working in a management or other leadership position (Graduate Degree may be substituted for one or more years of experience)

  • Proven ability to quickly grasp complex concepts and think conceptually.

  • Strong organizational skills with a track record of developing and implementing practical strategies, plans, and solutions.

  • Skilled at assimilating information from research and consultations to generate creative and cross-cutting strategies and responses.

  • Superior critical thinking skills to assess competing interests and priorities effectively.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Demonstrated initiative in managing competing priorities and working under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

  • Exceptional research, presentation, report-writing, analytical, and organizational abilities.

  • Familiarity with research sources in the non-profit sector.

  • Possesses good judgment, discretion, and tact when collaborating with senior leaders.

  • Effective partnership and collaboration skills with colleagues within and outside the organization.

  • Able to work independently and take on supervisory responsibilities as needed.

  • Experience in a unionized environment and applying collective agreements is advantageous.

  • Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

  • A clear, mandatory vulnerable sector check is required and must be presented within weeks of employment.

Skills for Change is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. We are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. 

PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO: hr@skillsforchange.org 

As part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion racial justice and reconciliation, Skills for Change encourages applications from those who identify as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQS+, Racialized and other under-represented communities. Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in an alternate format on request.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.