Project Manager IELCC (Contract until January 2027)

Please note: This job posting will close on February 6, 2026, at 5 PM and this posting is for an existing vacancy.

Objective:

To plan, design, develop, implement, and evaluate a governance model for Friendship Centre IELCC program which ensures high-quality support. Oversight includes planning, implementing, and evaluating programs, initiatives, and finances to meet project requirements and staying compliant, while also enhancing and expanding existing IELCC programs and supporting self-determination initiatives within Friendship Centres.

Key Deliverables:

• Develop a robust governance model to facilitate the transition of Friendship Centre IELCC programs from municipalities to the OFIFC.


• Establish a provincial framework for IELCC licensing that supports culturally responsive programming in Friendship Centres.


• Collaborate with the external partners to transfer funding and administration responsibilities of Friendship Centre IELCC programs to the OFIFC.


• Develop quality standards for IELCC programs to enhance access, affordability, and


• Leverage existing OFIFC work on Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to develop standards of quality, guidelines, and tools for Friendship Centres to support children with diverse disabilities within their IELCC programs.


• Leverage existing OFIFC’s programs to develop and provide guidelines, tools to the FCs supporting Children with unique needs.


• Management of IELCC project budgets, deliverables and reporting as delegated by the Leadership and accountable for the results.

Key Responsibilities:

IELCC Project Management (Design, Implementation, Review, and Evaluation) (35%) :

• Manages the development of project work plans, schedules and resource


• Manages the development of proposals, research, needs assessments, sector-specific policy analysis, and publications.


• Identifies funding opportunities and options and acts on them as appropriate/directed.


• Bridges mainstream and Indigenous communities, concepts and practices in the context of Indigenous childcare.


• Ensures project budget is managed and reporting compliance is


• Ensure IELCC project is evaluated, and findings shared with relevant

Communication, Liaison, Partnership, Support and Advocacy (30%):

• Implements strategic plans to advance and support OFIFC’s organizational strategic plan and meet the needs of the Friendship Centre movement.


• Builds and maintains positive supportive stakeholder and funder partnerships to ensure growth and development of OFIFC’s programs and initiatives.


• Acts as government liaison, chairperson, facilitator, and spokesperson in fora or meetings as directed.


• Identifies policy and program needs, gaps and priorities for


• Ensures communication functions with respect to sector-specific programming and Friendship Centres are maintained, timely and interactive.


• Represents OFIFC’s interests at public meetings and fora as applicable to the adoption and enactment of supportive public policy by local, provincial and federal government bodies and the general advancement of the OFIFC’s policy positions.


• Provides strong and persuasive advocacy for Friendship Centres and their communities and the Friendship Centre movement as a whole.

Partnership Development and Engagement (25%):

• Conducts engagements with Friendship Centres, Indigenous and non-Indigenous ELCC service providers, First Nations, and different levels of government to inform the development of high-quality IELCC.


• Establishes a Friendship Centre technical table/Community of Practice to advise on the transition and development work.


• Completes literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, and environmental scans to inform the development of recommendations on a provincial framework for IELCC


• Adapts existing OFIFC program supports to Friendship Centre ELCC programs based on wise and promising practices from the field.


• Collaborates with stakeholders to test partnership approaches supporting a coordinated and integrated system of IELCC programs and services in Friendship


• Conducts analysis of engagements and scans to create OFIFC's own standards, regulations, and licensing grounded in Indigenous culture for high-quality IELCC


• Review data collected through municipalities to adapt and build on the OFIFC’s Integrated Database for IELCC program administration.


• Develop and pilot evaluation and outcome measurement approaches for IELCC programs in Friendship Centres.


• Collaborate with Friendship Centres on community-based research to collect wise and promising practices in terms of Indigenous knowledge transfer and culture-based.


• Develop and publicly release quality standards for IELCC programs to enhance access, affordability, and availability.

Human Resources (HR) (10%):

• Supervises and maintains HR responsibilities for direct reports by providing direction, coaching, feedback, training and development opportunities and implements the performance management process.


• Participates in the recruitment, selection and termination processes for staff in area of responsibility.


• Ensures delegation to direct reports is appropriate and


• Coaches and develops standards of performance and skill set of direct

Education/Work Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education and Care or related discipline combined with 3 – 5 years’ experience in Program Management.


• Minimum 2 years’ experience at a Supervisory/Management


• 3 – 5 years’ experience working within a not-for-profit sector, preferably within an Indigenous organization.


• 3 -5 years working in early learning and childcare, working within an Indigenous organization is an asset.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Strategic & Analytical Thinking


• Creativity/Innovative


• Problem Solving/Decision Making


• Planning and Organising

Technical Competencies:

• Proficiency in the Child Care and Early Years Act licensing and


• Excellent interpersonal and management skills including demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff.


• Knowledge of Ontario not-for-profit Governance, Board, Bylaws, relevant


• Understanding of Public Policy, government process, Indigenous service needs and providers as it relates to Friendship Centres and service delivery providers.


• Ability to provide facilitation and public


• In-depth knowledge of urban Indigenous community needs, solutions, trends, and


• Sector-specific knowledge including IELCC program and policy landscape, emerging trends and issues, key stakeholders and partners.


• Exceptional knowledge of fiscal management (budgets, program expenditures,)

What we offer:

• Culture-based organization


• Registered Pension Plan - Employer Matching


• Hiring Range: $80,000 - $84,400


• Full Pay Range: $80,000 - $98,000


• Comprehensive Health benefits after the probationary period including Health Care Spending Account & Lifestyle Spending Account (100% Employer paid)

The OFIFC is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce; we promote employment equity and encourage applicants to indicate if you belong to one of the four designated employment equity groups Women, Indigenous peoples, Persons with disabilities, or Members of visible minorities when you apply. 

Preference will be given to qualified Turtle Island Indigenous people including members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis (recognized by the Metis National Council). Applicants claiming Indigenous ancestry will be required to provide supporting documentation to substantiate their claim.

Accommodation:

The OFIFC is committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Candidates who participate in an interview will be informed of the outcome of their candidacy within 45 days following their final interview.

OFIFC does not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools in the screening or selection of candidates for this position.

Pre-screen Interviews are scheduled to start February 6 - 11, 2026.

Formal interviews are scheduled to take place February 12 - 17, 2026.