Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing
Full Time
Director
East Gwillimbury, ON, CA
ApplySalary Range:
$100,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually
Title: Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing
Job Status: Full Time 40 hours
Job Region: All Blue Door Locations
Equipment: Computer, telephone, Reliable Vehicle/Valid Driving License/Insurance.
Salary: $100,000- $120,000
Blue Door is a not-for-profit registered charitable agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We have been an integral part of our community providing essential emergency shelter services since 1982. Blue Door’s mission is to support people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness to attain and retain affordable housing.
Job Summary
Working closely with the Vice President, Programs and Services, the Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing will contribute to the achievement of Blue Door’s mission, vision and strategic objectives. This role provides leadership, plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates all agency direct service programs to ensure the achievement of goals. The Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing takes a long-term view of operations to ensure accountable, effective and responsive programs are delivered. The Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing will follow through on issues that impact the overall quality of client care across programs offered to the homeless or those at risk of homelessness at Blue Door. This role provides leadership within the agency for program evaluation, quality and risk management activities. The Director will supervise and function as a role model for Managers/Supervisors and assists staff with professional development to achieve program goals. This role adds value to the organization by enhancing networks and through building meaningful local and provincial partnerships. The Director, Programs - Emergency and Seasonal Housing, will ensure that the goals and objectives of Blue Door are accomplished within prescribed time frames and funding parameters.
Responsibilities
Emergency and Seasonal Housing
- Oversee the coordination and effective day-to-day program delivery, and effective and responsible use of resources.
- Provide oversight and leadership for Emergency and Seasonal Housing programs across York Region, including hotel-based programs, ensuring consistent quality and alignment with organizational goals. Develop, plan, implement and evaluate all programs in accordance with the mission, values and strategic direction of the organization. Ensure client-centered and asset-based approaches in all program planning and delivery.
- Ensure the development of peer engagement opportunities to incorporate lived experience in the development, delivery and assessment of programs.
- Ensure consistent needs assessments to gather data, maintain confidential client statistics and ensure excellence in client care.
- Ensure that all program related data are appropriately collected, assessment tools are utilized, and program outcomes are met across all programs.
- Develop new and relevant programs based on needs identified and with a clear understanding of various social determinants of health. Collaborate on resource development initiatives to ensure sustainable and evidence-informed programs.
- Collaborate with service providers across the Region to address program needs relating to various social determinants of health and ensure an anti-oppression and harm-reduction environment.
- Ensure all program activities comply with relevant legislation, professional standards and funding objectives.
- Develop and update program manuals, standards and procedures for consistent implementation of service delivery across all programs.
- Ensure service users have access to complaint resolution mechanism. Follow up on issues that impact overall quality of client care.
- Identify and evaluate risks associated with program activities and take appropriate action to control/reduce risks.
- Ensure all programs are developed evidence-based approaches.
- Share on call responsibilities.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Directly supervise and mentor Managers/Supervisors to ensure effective and efficient program delivery. Promote health and wellbeing for the managers/supervisors, ensure appropriate and consistent supervision, conduct performance reviews, implement corrective action, and ensure excellence in documentation. Work closely with the Director, Human Resource and Vice President, Programs and Services to ensure effective employee relations for all staff.
- In collaboration with the Director, Human Resources, responsible for the recruitment, support, development, and retention of qualified program staff.
- Support the Managers/Supervisors in ensuring excellence in supervision, conflict resolution, mediation, and team support of staff at all programs.
- Ensure the application of social work standards and best practices to guide program teams in day-to-day operations.
- Experience working with diverse staff and with the collective bargaining process.
- Identify training needs, ensure appropriate professional development opportunities and ensure follow up supervision as well as documentation.
- Ensure adherence to the collective agreement for appropriate staff.
Support Services
- Oversee all facilities maintenance and enhancement projects, as well as program health and safety standards, including food services, cleaning, daily maintenance orders, and transportation needs.
- Work closely with the Manager, Support Services to ensure a comprehensive maintenance and housekeeping plan.
- Work closely with the Manager, Support Services to ensure a comprehensive inventory of existing contracts and due dates for various property maintenance activities. Recommend and forecast new or replacement purchasing as needed.
- Oversee and support the Manager, Support Services with establishing and maintaining procedures for menu planning, order of supplies, database of suppliers, inventory management, recruitment of cleaning company as needed, preparing weekly work schedules, and continued improvement of task sheets.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive dietary services plan - including identifying and implementing best practices for meeting diverse food needs and standardizing cooking and cleaning procedures across all three shelters.
- Lead the planning and implementation of purchasing and inventory control mechanisms with the support of the Manager, Support Services.
- Work closely with the Manager, Support Services to ensure all food and supplies purchasing is within the approved budget.
- Work with the Director, Human Resources in developing appropriate annual training for the Support Services team, identify optimal volunteer and support needs for housekeeping and cleaning activities, appropriate job descriptions, human resource activities and labour relations.
Leadership and collaboration
- Initiate, nurture and build positive relationships to ensure improved program offerings at Blue Door.
- Identify current and future partnership opportunities and lead resource enhancing activities to sustain our long-term operational health.
- Identify, foster, and nurture partnerships with faith-based organizations to explore opportunities for program support, organizational growth, and service expansion in alignment with Blue Door’s mission. Develop and evaluate memorandums of understanding with partnering agencies. Ensure high degree of collaboration and alignment with organizational values, mission and strategic directions.
- Represent Blue Door at various community forums and engage with stakeholders to highlight the context of homelessness in the York Region.
Respect and Professionalism
- Maintain professionalism in the workplace.
- Working cooperatively alongside and supporting all Blue Door team members and departments.
- Adherence to the mission, vision, policies and procedures of the agency.
- Able and willing to promote harm reduction practices in accordance with core standards.
- Attend internal staff meetings and staff training as required.
- Maintain the confidentiality of all client and agency information.
- Utilizes effective conflict resolution skills in accordance with (Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training.
- Fosters positive and appropriate relationships with clients, colleagues, community partners and volunteers.
- Provides referrals and follow-up as necessary.
- Meets with manager on a regular basis and participates in completion of annual performance evaluation.
Occupational Health & Safety
- All employees are responsible for carrying out work in a way that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others.
- All employees shall learn and understand health and safety policies and procedures and will comply with them.
Qualifications
- Dedication to a client-centered approach and a commitment to the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Graduate degree in Social Work or a combination of education, professional development and work experience.
- At least 5 years’ experience working in a non-profit, community based organization, in a leadership capacity.
- A firm understanding of anti-oppression and harm reduction practices.
- Attention to detail and comfort with data collection, evaluation and analysis is a necessity for this role.
- Superior and proven skills in resource development, report-writing, program development, evidence-informed practice and program evaluation skills.
- Committed to a team approach and is a role model for staff.
- Experience working with assessment tools, such as SPDAT, and databases, such as HIFIS is an asset.
- Experience in an organized labour environment.
- Excellent coaching, team building and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in a language other than English.
- Excellent knowledge of the Region and key service providers, and the ability to build strong relationships with various stakeholders is a must.
- Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening Report.
Blue Door is committed to the development of staff and leadership team that reflects the incredible diversity of the communities we serve. We promote the principles of intersectional anti- racism and anti-oppression and adhere to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We both welcome and encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to access and equity, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of homeless. Blue Door is a unionized work environment.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and Blue Doors AODA Policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.
All applications will be reviewed as received, and interviews will begin with qualified candidates as soon as possible. The position may be filled before this job posting ends. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@bluedoor.ca
