Summary

Highbanks supports mothers aged 16 – 24 who are emerging from trauma, homelessness, or instability. With safe, affordable housing and trauma-informed services, our program weaves together education planning, life-skills development, mental-health supports and cultural connection so that young families can heal, grow and move toward confident, independent future.

Description

Program Director

Title: Program Director
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Status: 37.5 hours/week permanent employee
Nature & Scope:
We are seeking a dynamic and compassionate Program Director with a strong background in serving vulnerable populations particularly youth and children through case management and community development to join our leadership team. This role is essential in overseeing the delivery of frontline services, managing a skilled team, and ensuring the ongoing development of impactful programming that aligns with our mission.
The ideal candidate is trauma-informed, team-oriented, and deeply committed to supporting young mothers and their children. You will work closely with the CEO, interact with the Board of Directors, and contribute to the strategic and operational growth of the organization.
The role of the Program Director is to research, develop, facilitate, and measure outcomes of all aspects of the Highbanks Curriculum module which exists to guide the academic, personal & social growth of our young families. This role is also responsible for the creation, implementation, and ongoing development of the facilitation of Highbanks outcomes measurement. This role works in conjunction with CEO in establishing best practices, coaching team members in understanding workflow, case management responsibilities and duties, and ensures that follow through of goals of family support, community development, and children’s program are accomplished. This role has a cooperative partnership with the administration team to ensure that all client services are guided and modeled around trauma informed care principles.

About Highbanks Society
Highbanks Society is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to serving vulnerable pregnant or parenting women between 16-24 years old who are leaving traumatic situations of violence, poverty, and/or homelessness, and are committed to their educational goals.
Through our housing program, we empower youth to enrol in education, build on life and parenting skills with our dedicated team of Family Support Workers. Our strong Community Development team enhances community connections in a trauma-informed and inclusive environment. The foundation of our services is rooted in Indigenous wisdom and encompassed in our daily work with our clients and each other. Through cultural connection we remove barriers and nurture our parenting youth to build healthy, independent lives through compassionate support and holistic programming.

Program Leadership & Case Management

Supervise and lead the Family Support Team overseeing the delivery and evaluation of client-centered programs and services, case management, transitional housing through a trauma informed culturally sensitive lens.
Supervise and lead the Community Development Team managing partnerships and the overall Highbanks programming module including elements of building natural supports, decreasing social isolation, life skills, financial education
Manage the overall Highbanks Programming Module including elements such as parent education, nutrition, sleep, and child development.

Program review and adjust reports to CEO to ensure relevancy and effectiveness of program modules in the Highbanks workbook.

Research best practices to support Highbanks’ families such as educational, career, legal, budgeting, parenting, health and wellness, self-esteem, etc. Helping to connect the program outcomes contained in Highbanks program service delivery to team outputs.

In consultation with CEO, develop programs to support planned daily activities as well as organized recreational and social activities.

Assist CEO in developing protocol to measure outcomes of program and track & report statistics.

Explore opportunities for children’s programming with openness to new models that enhance early childhood development.

Explore opportunities for parenting programming with openness to new models that enhance parenting development.

In consultation with the CEO, help coordinate caseloads with Family Support Workers. Provide updates to CEO on clients requiring intensive support, progress of intake, oversee housing stock and partnerships, and alignment of organizational goals with service delivery.

In collaboration with Community Development team and in consultation with CEO, oversee the organization of annual social activities such as: Graduation, BBQ, Holiday, etc.

Contribute to the intentional culture building by clearly defining and communicating the organization's core values. Proactively weaving these values into everyday practices, ensuring they are living principles.

Foster and help create and guide a continuous culture of appreciation. Encouraging peer-to-peer recognition and celebrate small wins regularly in a resource limited environment.

Crisis Response & Client Support

Respond effectively to crisis situations, providing guidance to the family support team ensuring intensive case management protocols are implemented with sound resolution for de-escalation
Interact and support in Children’s Services case conferences providing support and guiding family support team in outcomes ensuring quality of service for reunification strategies.
Support staff and clients during high-stress situations with empathy, professionalism, and appropriate boundaries

External Partnerships
Working alongside the administration and Community Development Team you will support and enhance:

Partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders
Facilitate community programming, workshops, and events for residents as needed
Oversee the volunteer program supporting External Partnership team with initiatives such as volunteer appreciation and training.

Professional Development

Participate actively in orientation, supervision, evaluation, in-service training, and performance developmental programs

In conjunction with the CEO identify areas of personal strength and weakness.

Develop goals and action plans to increase work performance

Assume responsibility for contacting CEO to receive assistance, advice or to report in the event of an emergency or questionable occurrence

Advance communication approaches to maintain ongoing feedback loop with CEO to support collaborative decision-making processes. The organization is strengthened and energized by the employee’s participation

Ensure workflows of teams are established with consistent and regular feedback, weekly meetings, and communication between teams to optimize program service and delivery. completed thoroughly, accurately and in a timely manner.

Supervise a multidisciplinary team including child and youth care workers, social workers, support staff, volunteers, and those with lived experience.
Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance evaluation in partnership with CEO to team members
Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture

Strategic Support & Governance

Work closely with the CEO to support organizational planning and goal setting
Attend and participate in Board of Directors meetings and strategic planning sessions to help set priorities for an organization that is growing and experiencing increasing demand in the homeless serving system of care
Assist in preparing reports, presentations, and program updates for internal and external stakeholders
Complete funding requests and reporting as needed for program and operational needs
Meet in community with external stakeholders to represent Highbanks in CEO’s absence

Qualifications

Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field (BSW or MSW preferred) a combination of education and lived experience is recognized and supported in our cultural hiring environment.
3–5 years of experience in leadership, program facilitation and development or management, preferably in a non-profit or social services setting
Strong background in trauma-informed care, case management, and crisis response
Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
Skilled in building rapport with children, youth, and young adults and the ability to interact meaningfully with young mothers and children at risk
Experience working with marginalized populations, including young mothers with experience in the housing sector an asset
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively within a team and independently
Proficiency in report writing, documentation, and outcome tracking
Knowledge of community resources and service navigation
Excellent problem-solving skills: able to think quickly and adeptly to address problems and learn from them so they do not recur

Ability to develop and deliver a clear and detailed programming plan

Ability to multi-task and remain focused despite interruptions.

Ability to keep pace within a dynamic and evolving organization

Adaptability, enthusiasm, and knowledge of social justice issues at play in vulnerable populations
Strength in relationship building with a variety of stakeholders

“Can do” attitude, and collaborative work approach

Strong people skills with the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender backgrounds

Ability to build authentic relationships with diverse communities

Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities at once

Ability to work well independently and as a member of a highly integrated and diverse team

Demonstrated ability to solve problems and manage conflict with a trauma informed and strength-based approach

Indigenous with a traditional and cultural background; Effective and strong ties within Indigenous community both urban and nation considered an asset

Experience working with families experiencing files with children services and justice system with strong advocacy and support

Why Join Highbanks Society?
We pride ourselves in an inclusive culturally safe environment that fosters a strength-based approach rooted in the grandfather teachings that provide a foundation for how we work with our clients and each other. We offer competitive compensation package that values your work in providing:

Meaningful work that changes lives and strengthens families
Supportive team environment grounded in empathy and mutual respect
Opportunity to shape innovative programming and contribute to community development

How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter to Chief Executive Officer at shannon@highbankssociety.ca
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until successful candidate found. Our 3 stage Interview process will include review from Highbanks team members, clients, elders, and board members.
We encourage those of Indigenous decent to apply as our organization is committed to the calls to action of the TRC and understand the role we play in serving youth in our organization who identify as Indigenous to Turtle Island.
Highbanks Society is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and persons with disabilities. Please note only successful applicants will be contacted for interview.
Selection Process:

Successful applicants will be selected for initial virtual interview with staff.
Successful first interview candidates will advance to leadership interview for an in-person conversation on your interest in joining the leadership team at Highbanks.
Successful second stage interview candidates will then be provided with the opportunity to present on their 1^st year of leadership plan if successful at Highbanks. The strategies you would utilize in your first 90-days, and goals you would empower yourself and your team with.
Final interviews will be held with the Highbanks Board of Directors for selection of successful candidate.