Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, aged 16-29 through mental health services, social services, and housing. Friends of Ruby offers Youth Mental Health services, a Youth Drop-In Centre, and a Transitional Home. The Centre provides access to barrier-free counselling and therapeutic groups, case management and a drop-in space with hot meals, community, and comprehensive programming. The Home provides transitional and emergency housing, as well as mental health and life-skills to support youth moving towards independent living.

Friends of Ruby recognize that a diverse work force is critical to accomplishing our mission. Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We strongly encourage applications from the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, and diverse backgrounds that meet the requirements of the job posting. We suggest applicants introduce themselves, their stories and lived experiences in their cover letter to the degree they are comfortable with.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Youth Services, the Manager of Programs and Community Partnerships is responsible for the effective management and delivery of our youth programs and community partnerships.

The Manager of Programs and Community Partnerships will:

1. Develop and implement our programming and partnership opportunities.
2. Work with the Fund Development team in identifying new funding and program development opportunities to support youth services initiatives teams and engagement in community partnership opportunities.
3. Oversee summer job applications, oversee associated agreements, and support our summer students and volunteers.
4. Provide leadership in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programming, mental health, youth services and strategic initiatives and agency objectives.
5. Lead the development of effective program strategies and activities.
6. Lead, develop and implement activities associated with PRIDE 365 and other committees developed to support year-round activities of Friends of Ruby
7. Support and oversee a multi-disciplinary team in a range of projects and programs in a community-based setting.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the effective planning, coordination, implementation and management of Youth Services programming and community partnership activities.
• Support the successful delivery of programs and services to achieve program targets and outcomes.
• Monitor each program and project budget ensuring expenditures are aligned with funder guidelines and liaise with Finance to meet all reporting deadlines and accountable for each program’s individual budgets.
• Generate clear and concise reports based on data and program analysis for internal and external purposes meeting funding timelines, ensuring the privacy of participants information. Respond promptly and thoroughly to all funder inquiries ensuring productive and cohesive relationships are built and maintained.
• Create a team environment that is results oriented, adheres to ethical and clinical service standards, models integrity, encourages constructive feedback and acts on clients, community partners, staff, and funder feedback. Utilize team potential to set strategic program plans and priorities that are clearly communicated to the youth program delivery teams.
• Oversee the implementation, development, coordination, and monitoring of administrative, data collection and service delivery processes and systems.
• Recruit, provide orientation and train new staff or volunteers manage and motivate staff fostering a team approach to service delivery coordinated with the team of coordinators and team leads.
• Supervise, document, evaluate and appraise staff performance, ensuring that all staff receive regular and consistent supervision and evaluation.
• Effectively manage staff relations through knowledge of agency policies, legislation, and best practices; seek advice from People and Culture as required.
• Provide leadership that embraces change, promotes innovation, and cultivates learning and growth.
• Promote and coordinate programs and services through community partnerships, networks, and consultations; using a community development approach, determine the service needs of our youth.
• Prepares for, and actively participates in, regular supervision meetings with supervisor to establish and evaluate an annual goal plan.
• Acts as active participant on the Youth Services teams, undertaking responsibilities as assigned, while directing or participating in agency-wide functional teams, as required.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures and ensure confidentiality is maintained on all client, human resources, and agency matters.
• Cooperates and participates with health and safety procedures, and ensure staff are compliant.

We’re Passionate About Finding Someone Who…

• Has 5 years of experience in mental health and housing programs.
• Has 3 years of experience in community partnerships and engagements.
• Has 3 years of experience in the development and implementation of programs
• Has a BA / BSW and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in progressively responsible positions in the non-profit employment sector, or a combined equivalent of education and experience.
• Has recent program management experience within a community mental health setting serving youth and/or adults.
• Has recent experience working with various funders including the Ministry of Labour, Skills Training and Development, Service Canada Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the City of Toronto.
• Has experience in program budgeting, including monitoring expenses and forecasting; report writing and statistical analysis.
• Is a high performer that thrives in a fast-paced environment and growing organization, takes initiative to make change happen, can quickly adapt when needed, and is excited by collaborating and harnessing the knowledge from different internal & external stakeholders (e.g., staff, community organizations and youth).
• Has an understanding relevant approaches: trauma-informed, harm -reduction, anti-racism, anti-oppression, knowledge of effective career counseling, job coaching and job development, and others to housing services is an asset.
• Highly motivated with excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal influence and credibility and a strong aptitude with conflict resolution and mediation skills
• Recent experience managing a diverse team including positive relations and demonstrated ability to hire, train, motivate staff and evaluate performance would be an asset.
• Has strong strategic planning, service coordination and project management skills, strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work in a dynamic community-based setting with diverse marginalized populations.
• Has proficiency with MS Windows, MS Office products including Teams, Outlook, and databases used in the employment sector.
• Has professional and/or personal experience within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Additional Requirements:

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Police Check Program
• Must be qualified to legally work in Canada.
• Ability to both work from home and at our offices located in Downtown Toronto
• Ability to travel to other community-based settings as needed.