Chief Executive Officer

Blue Door; East Gwillimbury; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading emergency housing provider in York Region is seeking a visionary CEO to guide their mission of preventing and ending homelessness. The CEO will provide strategic leadership, ensure organizational excellence, and foster community engagement through innovative housing programs and support services.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years clinical administrative experience.
• At least 3 years at management level in a human services organization.
• Strong track record in human services management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all client services.
• Develop agency policies and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Foster positive relationships with stakeholders and community.

Skills

Leadership

Community Engagement

Strategic Planning

Client Service Orientation

Education

Graduate degree in social work or social sciences

Job description

Blue Door, York Region’s largest and most impactful emergency housing provider, is seeking a visionary and collaborative Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide the organization through a dynamic period of growth, innovation, and systemic impact. The organization has delivered innovative housing programs and essential support services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness for over 40 years. They transform the lives of youth, adults, seniors, and families, helping the community’s most vulnerable escape homelessness and access dignified housing.

Over the years, Blue Door has evolved into a multi-site, multi-program organization offering a wide range of housing, health, employment, and social supports to help people move from crisis to stability. Programs like Kevin’s Place, Leeder Place, Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, and INNclusion represent the organization’s diverse and inclusive approach. Blue Door also operates Construct, a social enterprise offering trade-skills training and employment pathways to individuals facing barriers to employment. At the heart of Blue Door’s work is a commitment to dignity, inclusion, and action. Every year, thousands of individuals and families are supported through services that are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and community-focused.

Reporting to a dedicated Board of Directors and supported by an experienced leadership team, the CEO will champion Blue Door’s mission to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring organizational sustainability, program excellence, and deep community engagement. The next CEO will lead Blue Door in expanding its influence across York Region and beyond, advocating for housing justice, strengthening partnerships, and scaling solutions that respond to the root causes of homelessness.

The CEO provides strategic and operational leadership to Blue Door, ensuring that the programming effectively meets the needs of clients and their families. The incumbent develops a strategic plan that supports the mission while effectively integrating resources and intervention strategies. They ensure that sound operations are in place, all in compliance with government policies and regulations.

As a key representative of the organization, the CEO fosters positive relationships and effective communication with related agencies, stakeholders, government officials, and the community to ensure efficient service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Service Delivery

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all client services, ensuring alignment with Blue Door’s Strategic Plan and maintaining the highest standards of quality, impact, and effectiveness.
• Oversee the development and continuous improvement of programs and interventions responsive to client needs.
• Maintain a focus on system-wide quality assurance and outcomes, rather than direct client engagement.

Organizational Development and Administration

• Develop agency policies and programs in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Ministry regulations and adherence to the agency’s governance policies and procedures.
• Lead the annual budget planning process with board and stakeholder input; oversee fiscal accountability and financial reporting.
• Ensure audits, bookkeeping, and accounting follow regulatory standards and best practices.
• Managing negotiations with the regional stakeholders, unions or funders to reach contractual agreements.

Human Resources Leadership

• Ensure organizational structure and staffing support the agency’s mission and service delivery.
• Champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-oppression principles across all HR practices, hiring, and volunteer engagement.
• Oversee HR policy development and ensure fair hiring, dismissal, and disciplinary processes in line with legislation and the Collective Agreement.
• Lead negotiations and administration of the Collective Agreement with the Board and external consultants as needed.
• Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports (e.g., Director of Client Services, Business Director).
• Promote employee recognition, development, wellness, and a safe, respectful workplace.
• Support a culture of open communication, continuous learning, and staff engagement.

Governance and Board Relations

• Serve as primary liaison to the Board of Directors, preparing reports and ensuring timely communication on strategic and operational matters.
• Support board meetings by helping to set agendas and providing necessary documentation.
• Participate in CEO performance reviews in consultation with the Board Chair.

Research, Evaluation and Program Effectiveness

• Oversee regular evaluation of services, ensuring adherence to the agency’s philosophy and responsiveness to community needs.
• Encourage community-based research activities and identify opportunities for research that enhances agency impact.

Community and Public Relations

• Represent Blue Door to the community, media, peer organizations, and at public forums to advance the agency’s mission and advocate for client needs.
• Educate the public and stakeholders on key issues related to homelessness, prevention, and social services.
• Maintain positive relationships with government bodies, ensuring awareness of Blue Door’s priorities and challenges.

Occupational Health & Safety

• Promote and upholds a culture of workplace safety and compliance with all health and safety legislation.
• Ensure all employees are informed, trained, and accountable for safe work practices.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a visionary and collaborative leader who will guide the organization through a dynamic period of growth, innovation, and systemic impact. They have a deep understanding of systemic issues that contribute to homelessness and poverty, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice, reconciliation, and equity. They are passionate about preventing and ending homelessness while ensuring organizational sustainability, program excellence, and deep community engagement.

Requirements

The new CEO should possess the following:

• A graduate degree in social work or social sciences.
• Minimum of 7 years clinical administrative experience, at least 3 of which are at a management level in a human services organization.
• Previous experience in an emergency housing environment is an asset.
• Previous experience in a unionized setting is an asset.
• A strong track record in human services management.
• Proven leadership skills with strong client service orientation.
• Working knowledge of office computer software applications.
• Ability to motivate and lead diverse groups of individuals.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to guide long-term planning while managing day-to-day operational complexity.
• Experience leading or scaling a social enterprise is a strong asset.
• Experience navigating and leveraging the current political environment with a track record of success.
• A facilitative management style and the ability to successfully lead employees towards the mission and to accomplish the Blue Door’s objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated understanding of administrative systems, including budgets and financial planning.
• Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Understanding and promotion of anti-oppressive practices.
• Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening Report from York Regional Police.

Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism Commitment

Blue Door is committed to the development of a 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 homelessness. Blue Door is a unionized work environment

If you require an accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] or communicate your needs to our team.