Program Manager

Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario; London; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ontario Public Service is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead innovative human services initiatives. In this key role, you will drive change by managing diverse programs and fostering partnerships across sectors. The position requires strong leadership and analytical skills, a commitment to inclusivity, and an ability to navigate complex challenges. You will ensure optimal program performance while supporting vulnerable populations. This role primarily requires onsite presence with some potential for remote work.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit plans

Robust pension program

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Experience managing high profile projects and providing evaluative analysis.
• Strong knowledge of governance models and assessment practices for children/youth.
• Excellent judgement with the ability to respond to politically sensitive issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and innovate within a specialized program area.
• Monitor implementation of programs, policies, and legislation.
• Build relationships with stakeholders to improve programs and services.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Thinking

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Are you a strategic, trauma-informed leader passionate about shaping impactful human services? The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead and innovate within a specialized program area. This role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful change by managing diverse programs, aligning service delivery with ministry goals, and fostering partnerships across government and community sectors. You'll be at the forefront Are you a strategic, trauma-informed leader passionate about shaping impactful human services? The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead and innovate within a specialized program area. This role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful change by managing diverse programs, aligning service delivery with ministry goals, and fostering partnerships across government and community sectors. You'll be at the forefront of planning, resource management, and project leadership—ensuring programs are not only effective and compliant but also responsive to the evolving needs of children, youth, and families across Ontario.

As a Program Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of service delivery through data-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and collaborative leadership. From overseeing multi-year budgets and human resource strategies to implementing change initiatives and evaluating program outcomes, this position demands a high level of analytical thinking, organizational acumen, and interpersonal finesse. If you're ready to lead with purpose, influence policy, and make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable populations, this is your opportunity to thrive in a high-impact, high-responsibility role.

This position thrives on your physical presence. While there are opportunities for remote work, the role is primarily onsite.

About the Children with Special Needs Division

Lead policy development and program design and provide operational oversight and accountability in support of a family-centred, data-informed, and effective integrated service system for children and youth with special needs. Promote effective and individualized supports for families, infants, and children with risk to healthy development, and children and youth with special needs. Work collaboratively across the ministry and in partnership across government and broader public sector to transform service delivery models for children, youth, and their families across the life course.

Leadership in the Ontario Public Service

A leadership career in the Ontario Public Service offers meaningful opportunities to lead impactful projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and shape policies, programs and services that positively influence the lives of millions of Ontarians, all within a supportive and inclusive work environment. Our leaders enjoy comprehensive benefit plans, a robust pension program, and challenging and rewarding work that will keep you motivated and fulfilled.

About the job

Create the Work Environment

In the Ontario Public Service, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. It will be your responsibility to create a work environment and team culture that ignites innovation, nurtures collaboration and champions inclusivity by creating a diverse, psychologically safe, anti-racist and accessible workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. By aligning your choices with these values, you will create a vibrant work environment where every individual can thrive.

Deliver on Business Goals and Priorities

Your leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards the achievement of their business goals. It will be your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team to deliver their best performance and align the team's daily actions with the strategic vision of the ministry. As the Program Manager you will:

• You will monitor the implementation of programs, polices and application of legislation on the assigned portfolio.

• You will manage high profile projects and provide sound evaluative analysis on new initiatives.

• You will build solid trusting relationships within government and with external stakeholders and partners to create mutually beneficial solutions that improve programs and services for our clients.

• You will develop an engaged team of professionals, and a culture of diversity and inclusion using a positive and values-based leadership approach.

• You will bring an innovative, business focused mindset to your work, with the goal of ensuring optimum program and service delivery performance, and efficient/effective solutions that are consistent with ministry objectives and priorities.

What you bring to the team

Strategic Leadership

• You have a strategic, team-focused leadership style to frame program visions and deliver on strategic program objectives, while facilitating a positive and productive working environment.

• You have experience managing high profile projects and providing evaluative analysis on new initiatives.

• You are a transformative leader with the ability to implement significant change initiatives to programs and services.

• You have excellent judgement and political acuity to recognize and respond to politically sensitive issues.

Communication and Stakeholder Relations

• You have superior communication skills to articulate strategy, business requirements, advice, and recommendations.

• You have experience preparing, reviewing, and approving contentious issue reports, position papers, decision notes and business cases.

• You can develop and manage key business relationships with internal and external clients and stakeholders and facilitate engagement with community partners.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• You have knowledge of theories and practices related to governance models of community service organizations including charitable, government, private sector agencies and educational institutions.

• You have knowledge of clinical theories and practices of assessment and treatment for children/youth to manage the delivery of a full range of assessment and treatment services and to provide advice and expertise to the Ministry and the provincial network.

• You can understand legislation, policies and guidelines and their relationship to a comprehensive range of services.

• You have excellent research, analytical, issues management and problem-solving skills.

• You are experienced at establishing accountability mechanisms and evaluation processes for programs and services, ensuring legislative compliance, service levels, and results are met.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

Apply by: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 11:59 pm EDT