Employment Program Director

Ymca Gta; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is seeking an Employment Programs Director to lead Get SET and Employment services, building relationships with funders and partners to expand impact. You will guide staff, monitor outcomes, and ensure programs meet high standards.

You will develop strategic proposals for external funding, foster collaborations, and ensure effective resource use while upholding the YMCA values and commitments to equity and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Post secondary education or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of three years related experience in program management and staff supervision.
• High proficiency with MS Office and video conferencing tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with participants, staff, and volunteers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends and evenings.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in program design.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing guidance, direction, and leadership to staff of Get SET and Employment programs.
• Understand community needs and align program activities to close service gaps.
• Support General Manager in developing strategic initiatives and proposals for external funding.
• Develop strategic alliances with similar community service agencies to advance outcomes.
• Monitor program targets and budgets for stipends and service plans; manage resources.

Skills

MS Office Suite

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Staff supervision

Education

Post secondary education in business, social sciences, or related fields

Tools

MS Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)

Video conferencing (Teams, Zoom)

Job description

Locations

Scarborough Tapscott YMCA Emp & Immigrant Services
Scarborough, ON M1B, CAN

Location: Scarborough Tapscott YMCA Employment and Immigrant Services

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Employment Type: Contract Full Time Salaried - 12 months (Existing Vacancy)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: November 2, 2026

Deadline to Apply: October 23, 2026 at 5:00 pm

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The Employment Programs Director leads the development and management of Employment and Get SET programs to meet community needs and support the Association’s objectives. The role builds and maintains relationships with funders and external partners to enhance program support and impact. Represents YMCA services to community stakeholders, employers, and business groups to increase awareness and engagement. Guides staff to deliver high-quality services while ensuring effective use of resources.

In this role, you will:

• Provide ongoing guidance, direction, support, and leadership to staff of both Get SET and Employment programs and services.
• Possess a thorough understanding of the community, participant needs, and service gaps as they relate to Get SET and Employment services, and align program activities accordingly.
• Support and provide feedback to the General Manager in developing and implementing strategic initiatives to achieve program outcomes.
• Capitalize on gap areas that match Association Strategic Outcomes by pursuing and submitting appropriate proposals for service expansion with external funding mechanisms.
• Develop and maintain key strategic alliances with similar community service agencies to further the Association’s Strategic Outcomes.
• Monitor program targets and achievements regularly, and develop and monitor budget distribution for stipends. Administer the approved fiscal, program count, volunteer budget, and the service plan.
• Ensure services and programs uphold internal standards of excellence.
• Ensure marketing, promotions, and outreach initiatives occur to achieve center and regional targets and are within Association standards.
• Hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate staff to ensure defined targets are met, coach staff, and provide regular feedback to support employee development and engagement. Problem-solve issues related to staff performance.
• Be punctual, respond to business communication in a timely manner, and demonstrate well-developed time management skills.
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

You bring:

• Post secondary education in business, social sciences, or related fields, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of three years related experience in program management and staff supervision.
• High proficiency in computer skills, including but not limited to MS Suite (Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive) and video conferencing platforms (Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Proficiency in interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with participants, staff, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends and evenings.
• Excellent understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, including the ability to identify and address barriers, work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and integrate equity into program design.

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here .

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together , which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here .

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.