Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services

About The Career Foundation:

The Career Foundation is a dynamic non-profit organization and registered charity that offers a wide range of employment, training, and workforce development services to job seekers and employers. Since its inception in 1988, The Career Foundation has steadily expanded its services. Operating out of seven locations in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, as well as offices in British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, we now help thousands of people each year successfully achieve their employment goals. Our team of dedicated professionals has described The Career Foundation as caring, compassionate, innovative, and team-oriented. For more information about us and our services, please visit our website at CareerFoundation.com.

Some of the benefits and features available to our employees include:

• Competitive compensation


• A comprehensive health benefits plan that includes massage therapy, naturopath services, travel coverage, and much more


• A comprehensive dental insurance plan


• An RRSP Matching benefit


• An Employee & Family Assistance program


• Employee wellness initiatives


• Paid days off for religious observance purposes


• Paid days off for personal wellness purposes

Program and Role Description:

The Career Foundation operates five full suite Integrated Employment Services (IES) Centres across the Greater Toronto Area, conveniently located in Etobicoke, North York, Toronto, York, and Scarborough. These locations provide job seekers with a comprehensive range of services, including career exploration, résumé and interview preparation, job search support, employer connections, and employment retention support. The Career Foundation also partners with employers that share our commitment to community hiring. Employer services include access to a diverse talent pool, support with coordinating and hosting hiring events, guidance on how to effectively coach and support new hires, and strategies to support job retention.

We are seeking a results-driven, experienced manager to join our team as Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services with our full-suite Integrated Employment Services (IES) Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. Reporting to the Senior Manager, the Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services is responsible for overseeing site operations, service delivery, and team performance to ensure positive client outcomes, compliance with organizational and funder requirements, and the ongoing effectiveness and success of the site.

As the ideal candidate, you are an experienced manager with solid Employment Ontario programming experience and a proven track record of effectively managing a team of 10 or more employees. Your leadership style strikes the right balance between supporting, coaching, and motivating your team while maintaining accountability for individual performance expectations and service outcomes. You are skilled at building trust, and navigating challenging situations with professionalism, fairness, and confidence. You are also highly comfortable using technology, able to quickly learn new systems, and adept at leveraging data and digital platforms to support operational efficiency, service quality, and team performance.

You are passionate about advancing client-centered employment solutions that create meaningful opportunities for job seekers and employers while strengthening the communities we serve.

Position Type:

Full-time (37.5 hours per week), one-year contract with excellent potential for permanency.

Salary:

The annual starting salary for this position is $75,000.00.

Location and In-Office Requirements:

This position is based on-site at The Career Foundation’s Scarborough Employment Centre, located near Kingston Road and Midland Avenue . The successful candidate must be willing to work on-site on a full-time basis to provide effective management to the team across all areas of program delivery, with travel to other locations and stakeholder sites as needed. The role also currently permits a hybrid schedule of one work-from-home day per week, requiring a private work-from-home space with a reliable, high-speed internet connection. Please note that the hybrid schedule is contingent on both individual and team performance, as well as operational requirements, and is therefore not guaranteed and is subject to change at any time. A company laptop, cell phone, and other equipment will be provided.

Vacancy Status:

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Start:

As soon as possible.

Reporting to:

Senior Manager, Employment Services

Vulnerable Sector Check Requirement:

An offer of employment for this opportunity will be contingent on the incumbent providing an acceptable Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).

Use of Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not currently used to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.

Responsibilities include:

Monitoring Service Delivery and Quality Control

• Takes ownership of all aspects of the site's performance, including the daily management of client service delivery, client feedback, team KPIs, and performance targets.


• Monitors the quality of client records maintained in online funder and internal reporting systems to ensure compliance with funder requirements and internal quality assurance standards.


• Ensures all team deliverables, performance targets, expenditure claims, job placement outcomes, and other funder-mandated service requirements are achieved.


• Proactively monitors team performance data and develops and implements corrective action plans, in consultation with the Senior Manager, Employment Services, and Director, Employment Services, when performance gaps are identified.


• Oversees, approves, and tracks budget expenditures related to financial supports and incentives provided to eligible job seeker clients and employer partners, ensuring all necessary supporting documentation is obtained and audit-ready.


• Reviews and approves Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) applications prepared by staff for submission to the funder, ensuring all required documentation meets funder requirements and is appropriately recorded in mandatory reporting systems.


• Promptly and effectively handles stakeholder feedback, demonstrating exceptional customer service while maintaining appropriate documentation in accordance with funder requirements and The Career Foundation's policies and procedures.


• Performs other relevant duties as needed.

Staff Management and Performance

• Conducts daily performance management and provides effective coaching, support, and direction to ensure all team members have clarity at all times regarding performance metrics and requirements.


• Leads by example and provides the team with expertise in all areas of program delivery, including client intakes, job coaching, case management, customer service, employer engagement, and client employment retention.


• Cultivates a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment, demonstrating respect and fairness at all times and ensuring that team members feel heard, valued, and supported.


• Leads regular team meetings to conduct case conferences, share progress towards goals, and support the team in troubleshooting and brainstorming solutions.


• Completes all staff performance reviews at required intervals and maintains required documentation.


• Proactively addresses performance shortcomings and consults with senior management as appropriate regarding escalations.


• Takes initiative to recognize high performers and encourages team participation in company initiatives and events.


• Prioritizes recruitment efforts when vacancies arise within the team, promptly scheduling and conducting interviews upon receiving screened candidates from HR.


• Leads all onboarding and training for new team members and works collaboratively with senior management when updates to role-specific training curricula are required.


• Ensures that all team members adhere to organizational policies and procedures, as well as funder requirements and guidelines, and proactively addresses compliance concerns as they arise.


• Oversees and approves staff schedules and time-off requests.


• Performs other relevant duties as needed.

Reporting and Administration

• Provides regular reports to senior leadership (e.g., daily and weekly), as requested, regarding the team’s progress towards goals.


• Prepares funder reports, business plans, and other communications required for the program, follows internal review and approval systems, and meets all report submission deadlines.


• Responds promptly to funder requests and consults with senior management when needed.


• Works collaboratively with the Quality Assurance department to implement improvements.


• Disseminates correspondence and manages sign-off requirements for HR-related correspondence in a timely manner.


• Performs other relevant duties as needed.

Budget Management

• Maintains, tracks, and administers the site’s operational and client support budgets to ensure related targets are achieved.


• Reviews and reconciles program budget expenditures in collaboration with the Finance department and ensures all requested information is provided promptly.


• Oversees and approves staff expenses in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.


• Performs other relevant duties as needed.

Outreach and Partner Relations

• Works collaboratively with the team and other managers to develop and implement outreach strategies for the program to ensure a steady flow of client intakes and support the development of effective relationships with employers.


• Builds and maintains relationships with community partners to facilitate client referral pathways and enhance services and supports to meet clients’ needs.


• Represents The Career Foundation at community partner meetings.


• Performs other relevant duties as needed.

Qualifications/Skills Required:

• Minimum five years of experience in a direct management role within the Employment Services sector or a directly transferable industry, leading a multidisciplinary team of 10 or more employees, with demonstrated success in staff development, coaching, performance management, and driving results.


• Demonstrated managerial experience working within the Employment Ontario Integrated Employment Services (IES) pay-for-performance model is a strong asset. Qualified candidates who possess this experience will be prioritized.


• Solid knowledge and understanding of employment services operations and service delivery, including job coaching, case management, job development, and employer engagement strategies.


• University degree in a related field relevant to the scope of the position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Experience managing program budgets, including translating and planning projections into actionable timelines.


• Tech-savvy, with experience using case management systems (e.g., FFAI, CaMS), advanced Excel functions, and Power BI considered a strong asset. Must possess the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.


• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365, including SharePoint and MS Teams.


• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Bilingualism is considered an asset.


• Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to develop and maintain trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, including staff members, job seeker clients, employers, funders, and community partners.


• High ethical standards, with a proven ability to maintain sensitive information, uphold confidentiality requirements, and exercise sound judgment.


• High emotional intelligence, demonstrating patience, empathy, and connection when working with clients of varying experiences, needs, and abilities.


• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and exceptional customer service.


• Skilled at identifying systems and practices for operational effectiveness and efficiency.


• Capable of working under pressure and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, target-driven environment with shifting priorities.


• Demonstrated organizational skills, effective time management, and ability to multitask to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.


• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to mediate issues and implement effective solutions.


• Flexibility to work outside of normal business hours when needed.


• Proactive and solutions-oriented leader who fosters a positive team culture, leads by example, and consistently demonstrates initiative, accountability, and a strong commitment to collaboration and shared success.

The Career Foundation’s Commitment:

The Career Foundation is committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy and rewarding environment for all. We welcome applications from qualified individuals who represent the diversity of the people we proudly serve, including, but not limited to, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and individuals of all genders and sexual orientation. The Career Foundation, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), is also committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with candidates requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.