Data and Insights Manager

House of Friendship of Kitchener; Kitchener; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable social service agency is seeking a Data & Insights Manager in Kitchener. This full-time position involves leading data strategy development, supervising a team, and ensuring compliance with data governance. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and a background in data management within social services or healthcare. Competitive compensation includes comprehensive health benefits and a pension plan, ensuring a supportive work environment.

Benefits

4 weeks vacation

Group health benefits

Defined contribution pension plan

Paid sick time

Professional development resources

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in data management, with 2 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in social services or healthcare environments preferred.
• Proven ability to apply project management practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Data Analyst and Data Coordinator teams.
• Develop and implement program data management strategies.
• Ensure compliance with data governance and privacy legislation.

Skills

Data governance

Risk management

Leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Data visualization tools

Project management

Education

University degree in Health Informatics or related field

Tools

EMHware

Power BI

Excel

Job description

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!

House of Friendship is a charitable social service agency serving thousands, providing addiction treatment, food, housing, and community resources throughout Waterloo Region. The Quality team stewards the data, evaluation, processes and frameworks that support House of Friendship’s team members, leaders, and Board of Directors to manage privacy and risk, ensure program reporting compliance, maintain accreditation, and improve the quality of our services. The Data & Insights Manager leads the organization’s program data and participant records strategy and oversees the development of robust data systems, processes, and reporting tools that enable evidence-informed decision-making. This role supervises the Data Analyst and Data Coordinator and collaborates with the Addictions, Community, and Housing program teams, ensuring alignment of data practices with organizational priorities, compliance requirements, and quality improvement goals. The Manager will champion data literacy and foster a culture of continuous improvement by guiding teams in effective data use, reporting, and evaluation. They will serve as the primary liaison for internal and external interest‑holders on program data governance, electronic health record system administration, and insight generation.

This is a permanent, salaried, full-time (37.5 hours per week) position with paid sick time, personal days, vacation time; group health benefits and defined contribution pension plan. Schedule generally Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm; with flexibility.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Data Analyst and Data Coordinator, including coaching, performance management, and professional development

• Responsible for ensuring a physically and psychologically healthy work environment for all team members

• Develop and implement the organization’s program data management strategy across Addictions, Community & Housing Services, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, funder requirements, and regulatory compliance

• Manage the design, implementation and continuous improvement of participant record systems (primarily EMHware) used in all Addictions, Community & Housing programs, ensuring functionality meets program and reporting needs, and that privacy (PHIPA) and information security protections are in place

• Supports the Advanced Clinical Practice Leader to establish and maintain practices, policies and procedures on client documentation standards and case management within EMHware

• Lead the development of organizational program reporting processes and dashboards for Board, leadership, funders, grantors and regulators

• Champion organizational and departmental change initiatives led by the Quality Team; helping leaders, team members and people we support to understand the change and engaging them in the process

• Drive initiatives to improve data quality, integrity, and accessibility across all programs

• Collaborate with program leaders to identify data needs, support service integration, and translate data into actionable insights for decision‑making, program evaluation and quality improvement, and team engagement

• Champion data literacy and evidence-informed practices by developing and delivering training, resources, and knowledge products for staff and leadership

• Manage relationships with external database vendors and system administrators, negotiating service agreements and ensuring system reliability

• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in data management and analytics to inform organizational improvements

• Contribute to strategic planning and organizational projects as a member of the Quality leadership team, and the organizational management team

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency and expertise in data governance, privacy legislation (PHIPA), and risk management in a social services or healthcare context

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience supervising data-focused roles

• Expert knowledge in the management and administration of health information systems and electronic health records (EHRs); familiarity with EMHware is a strong asset

• Proven ability to design and implement organizational reporting frameworks and dashboards for diverse interest‑holders

• Demonstrated ability to apply project management and change management practices to drive the successful implementation of departmental and organizational initiatives

• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, with experience in translating complex data into actionable insights

• Proficient understanding of data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) and advanced Excel functionality, as needed to effectively supervise staff who execute using these tools

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to present data to non‑technical audiences

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities

Education/Experience:

• University degree in a related field (e.g., Health Informatics, Public Health, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science)

• Minimum 5 years of experience in data management, analytics, or decision support, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role

• Experience in healthcare or social services environments strongly preferred

• Demonstrated competency in qualitative and quantitative data analytics, visualization, and reporting

Critical Skills:

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected

• Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem-solving skills required

• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members

• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs

• Experience with and commitment to using an anti‑racism, anti‑oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery

• Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude

• Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges

• Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping

Compensation:

At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• Time off includes four (4) weeks of vacation, 5 personal days and sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year

• Full‑time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Account and Employee & Family Assistance Program

• We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members, including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, $2,000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs

• We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account

• 37.5 hours weekly, generally daytime, weekday hours; flexibility may be required

• Work may be performed in a home office for some of the weekly hours

• Encountering participants at program sites under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration.

Grade: 5
Min: $33.94
Mid: $38.58
Max: $43.23

Working Conditions:

• 37.5 hours weekly, generally daytime, weekday hours; with flexibility

• Work may be performed in a home office for some of the weekly hours

• Encountering participants at program sites under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to an organization that is anti‑racist and anti‑oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here: https://house-of-friendship.hirehive.com/data-and-insights-manager-kitchener-on-2TuuaV

By end of day January 4, 2026.