Director, Programs

Talent Edge; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

4 weeks vacation

Mental health leave days

Medical leave days

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Whole Way House in Vancouver seeks a Director of Programs to provide strategic and operational leadership across its programs and services. Reporting to the President, you will work with Site Managers to ensure programs are delivered effectively and in line with WWH’s mission and standards.

You will coach Site Managers, build partnerships, evaluate programs, and identify opportunities to expand impact, balancing strategic planning with hands-on support across communities in Vancouver, Burnaby

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional management and staff development experience.
• Experience leading community-based, housing, social service, nonprofit, healthcare, recreation, or related programs.
• Strong coaching, mentorship, and leadership skills.
• Experience managing partnerships and stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational support.
• Compassionate, trauma-informed approach to community-based service delivery.
• Emotional intelligence and resilience in challenging environments.
• Alignment with Whole Way House’s mission and values.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Whole Way House’s programs and services.
• Coach and develop Site Managers and support frontline teams.
• Evaluate and improve programs; strengthen community partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to expand the organization’s impact.
• Translate organizational priorities into strong day-to-day program delivery.
• Collaborate with leadership and residents to ensure consistent program delivery.
• Lead during complex situations and maintain compassionate, solution-focused management.
• Ensure programs align with WWH’s mission, philosophy, and standards.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Partnerships

Communication

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Trauma-informed approach

Emotional intelligence

Driver's license

Job description

About Talent Edge:

As trusted Executive & Professional Search partners, Talent Edge brings deep expertise in talent acquisition and advisory across industries. We leverage cutting-edge research and market mapping tools to deliver exceptional candidate matches for our clients. Our talented team prides itself in bringing innovative strategies and a passion for excellence to each and every engagement.

About our Client:

Whole Way House is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to building healthy communities in housing through community-building programs and tenant support services for seniors, veterans, families, and vulnerable residents.

WWH partners with housing providers to help reduce the risk of homelessness, improve quality of life, and rebuild a sense of belonging. The organization currently operates across Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, and Victoria. Its work is grounded in three pillars:

• ReConnect by building meaningful relationships and reducing loneliness and isolation.
• ReBuild a sense of belonging and purpose through opportunities to contribute, learn, and participate.
• ReCenter around a meaningful and purposeful life through individualized support and connection to community resources.

Whole Way House has grown from its roots in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside into a broader model of community support within housing. The organization’s work is grounded in a simple belief: when people feel loved, valued, and treated with dignity, they are better positioned to find purpose and connection.

About this Role:

As the Director of Programs, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across Whole Way House’s programs and services.

Reporting to the President, you will work closely with Site Managers and the broader leadership team to ensure programs are delivered consistently, effectively, and in alignment with WWH’s mission, philosophy, and standards. This is a broad leadership role that brings together program strategy, people leadership, quality assurance, community partnerships, resident engagement, special events, and continuous improvement.

You will coach and develop Site Managers, support frontline teams, evaluate and improve programs, strengthen community partnerships, provide leadership during complex situations, and help identify new opportunities to expand the organization’s impact.

The opportunity is particularly well suited to a leader who enjoys being both strategic and hands‑on. You will spend meaningful time with teams across WWH’s sites, building relationships, supporting managers, understanding what is happening on the ground, and helping translate organizational priorities into strong day‑to‑day program delivery.

About the Candidate:

We are looking for an experienced people leader who is comfortable coaching others, solving operational challenges, building partnerships, and thinking about the future. You will bring:

• 3+ years of professional management and staff development experience, with a track record of leading and developing teams.
• Experience leading community‑based, housing, social service, nonprofit, healthcare, recreation, or related programs; experience supporting seniors or individuals facing barriers is an asset.
• Strong coaching, mentorship, and leadership skills, with the ability to create accountability while maintaining a supportive and respectful environment.
• Experience managing partnerships and stakeholder relationships across internal and external groups.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to balance strategic planning with hands‑on operational support.
• Strong judgment and critical‑thinking skills, particularly in complex or unexpected situations.
• A compassionate, trauma‑informed approach to community‑based service delivery is an asset.
• The emotional intelligence and resilience required to remain calm, caring, and solution‑focused in challenging environments.
• A genuine alignment with Whole Way House’s mission, philosophy, and commitment to dignity, value, and belonging.
• A valid Class 5 driver’s license.

The successful candidate will also be required to complete a Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector Search) and provide a current Driver’s Abstract.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success will mean:

• Site Managers feel supported, developed, and equipped to lead their teams effectively.
• Programs operate consistently while remaining responsive to the unique needs of individual communities.
• WWH continues to strengthen program quality, accountability, and resident experience.
• Staff development becomes an increasingly strong part of the organization’s culture.
• Community and strategic partnerships continue to expand.
• New ideas are translated into practical programs and initiatives.
• Leadership has strong visibility into program performance, outcomes, opportunities, and risks.
• Residents continue to experience programs and services that reflect WWH’s commitment to connection, belonging, dignity, and purpose.

Compensation & Benefits:

This position comes with a competitive total compensation package, including:

• Base salary of CAD $75,000–$90,000
• Extended Health Benefits, with employee premiums fully covered
• 4 weeks of vacation
• 4 Mental Health Leave days annually
• 2 Medical Leave days annually
• Employee Assistance Program and structured team debriefs following critical incidents

This position follows a 'hybrid' working model. Given the nature of the position, the successful candidate should expect regular on‑site presence across Whole Way House’s communities in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Langley.

The final offer will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications, skills, and experience. Talent Edge and Whole Way House believe in pay equity, fairness, and transparency.

Working Environment

This is a hands‑on leadership role supporting teams and residents across a diverse community‑based environment. The Director of Programs should be comfortable working in settings where residents may be experiencing complex challenges, including mental health, addiction, risk of homelessness, and complex medical needs.

The role requires the ability to remain calm, independent, and effective under pressure, including when responding to challenging or emergency situations. Candidates should also be comfortable spending time on their feet, with occasional lifting, carrying, climbing stairs, and other physical activities as required. Some work outside regular hours, including occasional weekends and statutory holidays, may be required based on operational needs.

Why Whole Way House?

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to join an organization where leadership is closely connected to purpose.

Whole Way House has built its model around something fundamental: people need meaningful relationships, dignity, belonging, and a sense of purpose. Its work extends beyond delivering programs. It is about helping people feel seen, valued, connected, and supported.

The Director of Programs will have the opportunity to build on that foundation, develop people, strengthen a growing organization, and help shape how Whole Way House continues to serve residents and communities across British Columbia.

Talent Edge and Whole Way House are equal opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and candidates. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know at [e-mail]. All applications are treated with the utmost confidentiality. Your personal information is solely for the purpose of the hiring process and will not be shared or circulated without your consent.