Summary
Description
Director of Programs
Full-Time Position – 37.5 hours per week
Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package
SUMMARY OF POSSITION
The Director of Programs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all programs and services delivered by Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA). This role ensures programs align with CIWA’s mission to support immigrant women and their families in achieving social, economic, and cultural integration and provides leadership and direction to all program departments in support of CIWA’s operations. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and collaborates closely with CIWA’s leadership team to identify community needs, enhance program effectiveness, and ensure services are delivered in alignment with the goals and requirements of CIWA funding partners.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Planning
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally responsive programs that address the needs of immigrant women and their families.
- Collaborate with the COO and leadership to shape strategic goals and ensure alignment with CIWA’s mission and values.
- Monitor emerging trends and community needs to inform new program development and strategic adjustments.
Program Oversight and Quality Assurance
- Oversee the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of programs and services, ensuring they are trauma-informed, inclusive, and evidence-based.
- Ensure programs meet or exceed all contractual, legal, and regulatory requirements, including outcome measurements and reporting standards.
- Develop and implement systems for program evaluation, client feedback, and impact measurement to guide program enhancement.
- Monitor client service delivery and apply quality improvement strategies for optimal results.
- Manage and mitigate risks related to program delivery and operations.
Staff Leadership and Development
- Lead, inspire, and support a diverse team of program managers to deliver high-impact services with empathy, professionalism, and cultural humility.
- Promote a collaborative and inclusive team culture that values open communication, continuous learning, and mutual respect.
- Provide clear direction, coaching, and performance management to ensure staff understand expectations and are equipped to meet program goals.
- Conduct regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and performance reviews to support individual and team growth.
- Identify and facilitate relevant training and professional development opportunities, including topics such as trauma-informed care, gender equity, intercultural communication, and anti-oppression practices.
- Support with workforce planning efforts, including hiring, onboarding, and succession planning to maintain organizational continuity and capacity.
- Champion staff wellbeing and advocate for healthy work-life balance, psychological safety, and supports that reflect CIWA’s commitment to equity and empowerment.
- Address and mediate workplace issues or conflicts promptly and constructively, fostering a solutions-oriented environment.
- Encourage innovation and staff-led initiatives by creating space for new ideas and piloting promising practices within programs.
- Model ethical leadership and act as a role model for CIWA’s values and mission in all interactions.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
- Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with community organizations, funders, government agencies, and others to enhance service delivery and advocate for systemic change.
- Represent the organization at community events, sector tables, conferences and public forums to build visibility and strengthen community connections.
- Facilitate engagement processes to ensure programs are shaped by the voices and lived experiences of immigrant women.
Funding and Reporting
- Work closely with the Communications & Stakeholder Relations team and the Data, Evaluation, Research & Compliance team to support grant proposals, reports, and funding applications, contributing program data and success stories.
- Monitor program budgets, ensuring effective use of resources in line with funding agreements and organizational priorities.
- Prepare and present regular reports for the COO, CEO, CFO and funders as needed.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
- Embed principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of program design and delivery.
- Ensure services are accessible to clients of diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those with intersecting identities.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Proven ability to lead diverse teams with empathy and clarity.
- Skills in strategic planning and execution aligned with organizational mission and community needs.
- An ability to foster a shared vision and motivate others toward collective goals.
- Expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality, client-centered programs.
- Knowledge of outcome measurement frameworks and continuous improvement processes.
- Ability to translate community needs into responsive and innovative programming.
- Deep understanding of intersectionality, migration journeys, and the unique barriers faced by immigrant women and their families.
- Commitment to equity, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed practices in service delivery and leadership.
- Ability to lead inclusive initiatives that reflect the diverse identities and needs of clients.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Ability to build trust-based relationships with staff, community partners, clients, and funders.
- Skilled in conflict resolution, active listening, and fostering collaborative dialogue.
- Experience supervising and mentoring multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to develop staff potential through coaching, training, and performance management.
- Capacity to support staff wellbeing and cultivate a positive, supportive workplace culture.
- Strong knowledge of government and foundation funding processes, including grant compliance and reporting.
- Ability to align programs with funder priorities while maintaining client-centered service delivery.
- Skilled in gathering and using data to demonstrate program impact and support fundraising efforts.
- Experience managing program budgets and allocating resources effectively.
- Familiarity with operational planning, risk management, and policy development in a non-profit setting.
- Strong understanding of community-led approaches and grassroots collaboration.
- Ability to advocate for systemic change and amplify the voices of immigrant women in public and policy spaces.
- Skilled at forging partnerships with service providers, funders, government agencies, and community members.
- Capacity to lead organizational or programmatic change in a responsive, inclusive way.
- Open to innovation, with the ability to pilot and scale new ideas to better serve clients.
- Resilience in managing complexity and ambiguity in a dynamic nonprofit environment.
- Knowledge and experience in program management, communications, marketing, outreach and fund development
- Proven experience in staff supervision, team development, and building positive, inclusive workplace cultures.
- Experience in program evaluation, logic models, and outcomes reporting.
REQUIRED SECURITY CHECKS
- Satisfactory completion of a Police Intervention Check
The successful candidate must satisfactorily complete a Police Information Check. CIWA does not cover this cost.
CIWA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request accommodation, please contact Careers@ciwa-online.com in advance of your interview.
The Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. We thank all interested candidates in advance but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
