Program Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation (Niagara Region)

Ontario Municipal Social Services Association; Golden Horseshoe; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization is seeking a Program Manager to oversee systems planning and evaluation in child care services. This role focuses on implementing funding programs, ensuring compliance, and enhancing service delivery. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in program management and financial accounting, with a passion for improving access to child care. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a difference in the community, with opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to work-life balance through hybrid work arrangements.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension plan

Corporate wellness centre

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Mentorship and training programs

Employee recognition programs

Flexible work arrangements

Qualifications

• 5+ years in program management or related roles.
• Experience with financial accounting and reporting.
• Leadership experience in child care funding programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program.
• Oversee compliance processes and financial accountability.
• Manage data reporting and analysis for evidence-based decisions.

Skills

Program Management

Financial Accounting

Data Analysis

Compliance Management

Education

Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or Business Administration

CPA, CA, CGA, CMA designation

Training in Social Sciences or Human Development

Job description

Program Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation (Niagara Region)

Program Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation (Niagara Region)

Job OpeningNon-UnionJob Title:Program Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation
Job Opening Id:42370
# Required: 1

Business Unit:Corporate Services
Division:Children’s l Services
Location:Headquarters Campbell East

Standard Hours:35.00 / week
Full/Part Time:Full-Time
Regular/Temporary:Regular

Salary Grade:6
Salary Range:$100,640.00 - $118,400.00

Post Date:2025-05-02
Close Date:2025-05-15IMPORTANT NOTICES AND AMENDMENTS

This position currently falls within our hybrid model, allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

ABOUT US

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

We welcome all applicants! For more information about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Niagara Region, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Niagara Region, Ontario or email related questions to [e-mail] . To send input on reducing barriers in the current hiring process, please email [e-mail]

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.

Don’t have every qualification?

You may be hesitant to apply if you do not have every qualification listed in the posting. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience and education to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Please note that for unionized roles, we must follow collective agreement requirements. However, we encourage all interested candidates to submit their applications. We believe success in a role can extend beyond meeting every single requirement.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary
Salary Pending Review

Reporting to the Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation, the Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of provincial and federal funding programs, focusing on the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Program (CWELCC), and ensuring the effective delivery of financial and service data related to child care services. The Program Manager will play a key role in managing cost-based funding for child care service providers, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and driving initiatives to improve child care access through infrastructure grants and directed growth. The Program Manager oversees compliance processes, manages data reporting requirements, and ensures robust internal controls to safeguard assets and mitigate risks. The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing data analysis to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development related to child care and early years funding.

Education

• A degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience may be considered.
• A relevant accounting-related designation (i.e. CPA, CA, CGA, CMA) is preferred.
• Additional training/certifications in the social sciences or human development would be an asset.

Knowledge

• At least 5 years of experience in program management or related roles.
• At least 5 years of experience with financial accounting, reporting and analysis
• At least 3 years related experience in a leadership role
• Knowledge and understanding of regulations and legislation applicable to the Ontario Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
• Knowledge of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Program (CWELCC) or similar provincial/federal funding programs is highly desirable.

Responsibilities
Lead the implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program, ensuring accurate distribution of financial support, enhancing child care access through grants and growth initiatives, and managing provider onboarding, performance, and program delivery in alignment with guidelines, policies and relevant legislation. (40% of time):

• Lead the implementation of provincial and federal child care funding programs, with a primary focus on the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Program (CWELCC).
• Ensure accurate allocation, distribution, and reconciliation of cost-based funding to child care service providers, ensuring timely and effective delivery of financial support.
• Oversee initiatives to enhance child care access, including the management of infrastructure grants and directed growth programs aimed at expanding child care capacity.
• Work with key stakeholders to identify areas for growth and support funding opportunities for child care service providers.
• Manage the policies and procedures for onboarding new child care service providers.
• Monitor both the financial and operational results of child care service providers and addressing any issues
• Deliver affordability and access initiatives with funding secured from the federal and provincial government in accordance with program guidelines, deadlines and contractual agreements for the Region
• Establishing the necessary frameworks for the delivery of affordability and access programs including implementation and reporting on outcomes

Oversee compliance processes, internal controls, and financial accountability for child care funding programs, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, monitoring service provider compliance, and implementing strategies to address risks, inefficiencies, and eligibility issues (25% of time)

• Manage a range of compliance processes related to funding programs, ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirements at the provincial and federal levels.
• Implement and monitor internal controls to safeguard assets, mitigate risks, and ensure financial accountability in program operations.
• Responsible for the oversight of financial and program compliance of child care service providers
• Collaborate on and monitor appropriate strategies with child care service providers who are in difficulty or at risk of compliance and service agreement breaches
• Develop and implement strategies to seek out child care service provider business efficiencies and identify ineligible expenditures while ensuring viability is maintained.
• Oversee the annual third-party auditing of child care and early years service providers.
• Conduct random and targeted audits of child care service providers

Oversee the accurate collection, processing, and reporting of financial and service data, ensuring timely submissions, supporting data analysis for evidence-based decision-making, and providing insights to inform policy development and program evaluation (10% of time).

• Oversee the timely and accurate collection, processing, and reporting of financial and service data for various funding programs.
• Provide accurate and comprehensive financial reports on an annual and quarterly basis, including submissions for Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada (MBN) and the Education Finance Information System (EFIS).
• Ensure the accuracy of all data submissions and support the team in resolving any discrepancies or issues related to data reporting.
• Oversee data analysis processes to support evidence-based decision-making and the development of policies related to child care and early years funding.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on data analysis to guide strategic planning and inform policy development.
• Ensure that data analysis supports program evaluation, outcome measurement, and the continuous improvement of child care funding programs.

Oversee the evaluation of funding programs to assess their effectiveness and alignment with strategic objectives, using evaluation results to recommend adjustments to program design, funding allocations, and policy development (10% of time).

• Oversee the evaluation of funding programs to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Coordinate the development and execution of program evaluations, ensuring that data collection, analysis, and reporting meet the necessary standards.
• Use evaluation results to make recommendations on adjustments to program design, funding allocations, and policy development.
• Accountable for the management, oversight and forecasting of the assigned program budgets

Supervisesstaff, coordinating and planning work,providing work direction, assigning tasks and projects,determining methods and procedures to be used,monitoring quality of work,resolving problems and ensuringassignedresults are achieved. (10% of time)

• Enables results with the organization’s human capital strategy to foster employee engagement.
• In conjunction with the Manager providestraining and development, coaching and discipline when necessary, and manages staff recruitment.
• Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and work flow integration.
• Ensures staff has the information and resources to make successful plans and decisions.
• Ensures all people related issues, including recruitment, grievances and labour relations issues, are aligned to HR and Corporate standards and practices.
• Helps to break down barriers to employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within their division and department
• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented, and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of OH&S processes, and other OH&S concerns are responded to promptly.
• Ensures all individuals under supervision have been informed of hazards and instructed on the necessary risk control and emergency response measures;

Collaborate with child care providers to ensure the smooth implementation of CWELCC, address concerns, and enhance provider capacity through tools, policies, and training (5% of time).

• Collaborate with child care providers to ensure smooth implementation and operation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Program (CWELCC).
• Act as a liaison for child care service providers, addressing concerns and facilitating communication regarding CWELCC.
• Provide opportunities to enhance child care service provider capacity by developing and maintaining tools and policies, including trainings, guidelines and templates

Manages and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for which they are delegated authority ensuring support ofCouncil’s objectives,financial transparency and accountability, monitoring budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances,and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies.Administer andapprove the acquisition of goods and services for their direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy.(5% of time).

Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.

Special Requirements

• In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Records Check and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
• Incumbents must maintain the ability to travel to various locations in the Region for meetings and other business reasons.
• May be required to support emergency operations under the incident management structure, at the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre Director.
• Regional staff strive to enablethe strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

HOW TO APPLY

To view the full job description and requirements, visit our Careers page - Job Opening # 42370

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges...today!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application no later than May 15, 2025, before midnight by visiting our ‘Careers’ page at www.niagararegion.ca . We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.