ABOUT STRIDES TORONTO

Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency providing a wide range of exceptional programs and services that improve the mental, social and physical health of infants, children and youth from the pre-natal stage to age 29, and their families. With a range of community, residential and treatment services our work helps to strengthen social and emotional well-being for culturally diverse clients to reach their full potential. We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support. In its Lead Agency role, Strides Toronto collaborates with 23 publicly funded infant, child and youth mental health (ICYMH) core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that promote access, responsive service delivery and experience, and positive mental health outcomes for young people and families across Toronto's diverse communities.  To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit our website at www.stridestoronto.ca

WHY JOIN STRIDES?

• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We provide a hybrid work model and competitive Group Health Benefits and Pension Plan.
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We have a diverse and inclusive work environment with staff who speak multiple languages and dialects.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our team members and clients can thrive.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The CEO of Strides Toronto is seeking a seasoned and passionate leader to join the Senior Management Team as the new Senior Director, Strategy. The successful candidate will have a strong background in non-profit or public sector environments and significant experience leading transformative strategic initiatives related to system and organizational programs, processes and infrastructure working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Externally, this position collaborates with system partners to ensure equitable access to high quality programs and services that are effective, efficient and continually evolving based on feedback from clients, research and data. Internally, this role provides leadership to the organization’s strategic and operational planning, quality, evaluation and accreditation initiatives, contributing to creating a culture of learning, accountability and ongoing quality improvement throughout the organization.

The successful candidate is a highly skilled strategic and systems thinker and change leader who can build capacity and has the ability to adapt to competing priorities, while leading a team of five direct reports in the following areas of the strategy portfolio:  

• Director, System Management
• Director, Strategy and Quality
• Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications
• Executive Assistant

The Senior Director, Strategy is a vital part of the Senior Management Team and works collaboratively to support the management of key sector initiatives and at an organizational level, ensure strategic alignment, a culture that reflects a commitment to EDI, quality and excellence, as well as effective communications across and by the organization. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight to system planning and management of the infant, child and youth mental health (ICYMH) sector in Toronto, working collaboratively with 23 organizations and related sectors.
• Provides strategic leadership to and effective oversight of system features such as One Stop Talk (a provincial virtual walk-in service), Help Ahead (the central point of intake for ICYMH services in Toronto) and the Provincial Youth Outreach Worker Program. 
• Provides leadership and support to strategic and operational planning for Strides Toronto.
• Ensures that Strides Toronto’s commitment to further health equity and address the social determinants of health are incorporated into the system leadership, planning, quality improvement and evaluation aspects of the organization’s work.
• Oversees the development of a comprehensive evaluation and quality framework and plans that track achievement of organizational goals, key performance indicators, priorities for quality improvement, efficient use of resources, client and organizational outcomes.
• Working with the CEO and Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, directs the organization’s internal and external communications functions including public relations, staff communications and media relations. Oversees planning, development and management of mission-aligned internal and external communication strategies to foster strong client, community partner, staff and donor engagement and to effectively describe and promote the organization and its services.
• Strategic leadership and oversight of the Strategy Department including Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health (ICYMH) Lead Agency functions for Toronto.
• Human resources management of the Strategy Department.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

• Masters Level education in Business, Health Administration, Public Policy/Health, Social Services or related field.
• Experience working in the not-for-profit sector and/or public sector with demonstrated knowledge of public sector funding, policy development and programming.
• 10 years of senior level management experience in leading sector wide initiatives, program development.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder development, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship skills and strategic policy and programming skills.
• Extensive experience within the infant, child and youth mental health and/or health fields is an asset.
• Leadership experience to supervise, mentor and coach employees in keeping with sound human resource management practices, in order to build and maintain a healthy and productive work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interact positively with all levels of the organization including the providing strategic advice and expertise to senior management, sector partner tables, and the Board of Directors.
• Knowledge of the mission, mandate, strategic directions, priority goals, policies, guidelines, standards and organization of Strides and the various departments.
• Superior planning, organizational and administrative skills including excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to motivate others to provide high levels of service to clients while building a strong cohesive team.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, negotiating, consensus building, conflict resolution and decision-making skills.
• Strong equity, diversity and inclusion competence and experience, and a reputation for successfully transforming cultures.  
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to negotiate and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong proficiency in computer and various software applications including MS Office (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint), Zoom.
• Full understanding of government strategic directions, government policies, legislation and regulations.
• Established relationships with sector leaders and other key stakeholders.
• Awareness of the role of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and within the community being served.
• An understanding of anti-Black racism, anti-oppression and anti-racism in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Knowledge of the cultural diversity of communities served by the agency. 

BEFORE STARTING WITH US 

As our work puts us in direct contact with young people and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority, the successful candidate must complete or obtain the following before commencement of their employment: 

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 or have received an exemption from the organization’s policy. 
• A Vulnerable Sector police check.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Applications will be accepted until August 12^th, or until the position is filled. If you are interested in this position, please send your application, including a cover letter and your resume to: .

Please note that only those candidates meeting the selection criteria will be contacted further. Although we may not contact you directly for this particular role, all applications will be reviewed as we would like to consider you for future opportunities that may be appropriate.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to  increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace. 

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process. 

ABOUT STRATEGISENSE CONSULTING:

Strategisense Consulting is a highly sought-after learning, professional development, and talent strategy firm committed to supporting individuals and organizations to deepen the quality of their thinking and evolve the way they work - ultimately enhancing resilience and overall impact. Services include customized and signature learning programs, leadership and team coaching, talent strategy, executive search, and leadership strategy development.