Trades and Manufacturing Program Lead

Toronto Film School; Kawartha Lakes; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ampere in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario is seeking a Trades and Manufacturing Program Lead to architect and run an innovative adult-program in collaboration with community partners. The role oversees end-to-end program development, coordinates contracted tradespeople and sessional instructors, and ensures delivery aligns with funding requirements.

You will build partnerships with employers, manage scheduling and outcomes, and travel to remote and Northern communities as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a program or project end-to-end, ideally in workforce development, adult education, or nonprofit/public-sector delivery.
• Experience managing contractors, consultants, or subject-matter experts you don't personally supervise on technical matters.
• A track record building relationships with employers, funders, or institutional partners.
• Comfort with grant-funded program delivery, including reporting, compliance and funder relationships.
• Strong operational and organizational skills to balance multiple deliverables.
• Willingness to travel regularly, including to remote and Northern communities.
• Genuine interest in workforce development for rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel for programming and partner meetings.

Responsibilities

• Translate the program model into an operational build plan and delivery schedule
• Source, contract, and manage subject-matter experts (retired or working tradespeople) to design curriculum content and validate its technical accuracy
• Support recruitment and manage sessional trainers and site mentors for delivery, with SME input on vetting
• Build and maintain employer partnerships with small contractors and manufacturers, acting as the intermediary for grant navigation and training administration on their behalf
• Design and run the earn-and-learn model logistics , placement coordination, scheduling, employer agreements
• Set and track learner outcomes: completion, certification, job placement, and progression toward pension/retirement pathways
• Adapt program delivery for rural, remote, and Northern/Indigenous community contexts, working alongside community partners

Skills

Program management

Contractor management

Stakeholder relationships

Grant funding experience

Travel willingness

Operational planning

Job description

Job Title: Trades and Manufacturing Program Lead

Reports to: City of Kawartha Lakes Program Manager

Location: Kawartha Lakes, ON (In-Person) with regular travel to partner sites

Salary: $65,000

Term: Full-time, permanent

Existing Vacancy: New Vacancy

Who We Are

Join an organization that's making an impact in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities

Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association) isn't just another non-profit. We're an award-winning catalyst for change, activating opportunities for people of all ages in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to unlock their potential through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Through our partnerships with communities, businesses, and technology creators, we co-design and deliver culturally responsive tools, resources, curriculums, and world-class programming across the country. We believe the best education doesn't feel like work, it feels like discovery.

From our roots in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, we've grown to operate Makerspace and Skills Hubs in Iqaluit (Nunavut), Bathurst (New Brunswick), and the Kawartha Lakes (Ontario), while collaborating with partners nationwide. Our Lifecycle approach ensures that we're with learners at every age and every stage of life, and our mission-driven model ensures that 100% of social enterprise proceeds sustain programs that benefit communities we serve. Your work here directly changes lives. If you're passionate about making a tangible difference, this is where you belong.

Why Join us?

• Mission-driven impact – Contribute to meaningful work that supports communities and promotes digital inclusion across Canada.
• Enjoy the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance with schedules that fit your lifestyle.
• Comprehensive benefits – Access a robust benefits package designed to support your health and wellness.
• Pension Plan– Plan for your future with a competitive pension plan.
• Wellness Perks– Take advantage of wellness initiatives that promote your physical and mental well-being.

Job Summary

We're expanding our adult programming into trades and manufacturing, a program built around three ideas: financial literacy taught in the context of the trade itself, experienced tradespeople brought in as sessional trainers and site mentors, and a clear pathway to pension and retirement security for construction and manufacturing workers. This role owns that build from the ground up.

This role doesn't require a trades or manufacturing background. You're the person who can take a program vision, translate it into a working operational plan, and get the right experts in the room to build the technical content then keep the whole thing running: partnerships, funding, scheduling, and outcomes. You'll rely on contracted tradespeople and sessional instructors for curriculum content and technical judgment calls, and your job is to manage that relationship well and hold the program together end to end.

Responsibilities

• Translate the program model into an operational build plan and delivery schedule
• Source, contract, and manage subject-matter experts (retired or working tradespeople) to design curriculum content and validate its technical accuracy
• Support recruitment and manage sessional trainers and site mentors for delivery, with SME input on vetting
• Build and maintain employer partnerships with small contractors and manufacturers, acting as the intermediary for grant navigation and training administration on their behalf
• Design and run the earn-and-learn model logistics , placement coordination, scheduling, employer agreements
• Set and track learner outcomes: completion, certification, job placement, and progression toward pension/retirement pathways
• Adapt program delivery for rural, remote, and Northern/Indigenous community contexts, working alongside community partners

Attributes and Qualifications

Equal consideration will be given to non-academic skills and experiences of candidates.

• Experience managing a program or project end-to-end, ideally in workforce development, adult education, or nonprofit/public-sector delivery
• Experience managing contractors, consultants, or subject-matter experts you don't personally supervise on technical matters
• A track record building relationships with employers, funders, or institutional partners
• Comfort with grant-funded program delivery, including reporting, compliance and funder relationships
• Strong operational and organizational skills as this role will balance multiple deliverables
• Willingness to travel regularly, including to remote and Northern communities
• Genuine interest in workforce development for rural, remote and Indigenous communities
• Valid drivers license and ability to travel for programming and partner meetings

Nice to have

• Prior exposure to trades, construction, or manufacturing sectors (even if not hands‑on)
• Experience designing or running earn-and-learn, co‑op, or apprenticeship‑adjacent programs
• Existing relationships with contractors, manufacturers, or trade associations in Ontario

Ampere prioritizes the safety of our employees and the community members we work with, because of this we may require both new hires and current team members , if 18 or older, to undergo a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) or Criminal Record Checks. The approval for acceptance of a Police Check lies with our Human Resource Team and Management. To ensure up‑to‑date documentation, please ensure it has not been over six months since the date of completion of the Police Check you are submitting. The expense for the Police Check falls on the individual, not the company, if there are any concerns regarding this please speak to the Human Resource Team. Additionally, please confirm you're completing the Police Check in the correct region.

Ampere strongly believes in fostering diversity within the communities we serve. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our staff including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

Ampere is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. Please inform us should accommodation be required at any point in the recruitment process. We do not use AI or automated systems to screen or evaluate job applicants. Every application is reviewed by a member of our hiring team to ensure a fair and human-centered selection process.