The Associate Director of Employment and Community Programs provides strategic leadership to guide, expand and enhance the YWCA’s program portfolio. Creating new partnerships, working with other community providers and employers, as well as representing the YWCA on community and industry tables are key components of this role. This role focuses on new program development as well as oversight of programs including those of newcomer self-identified women. The position is key to ensuring programs meet evolving community needs while fostering impactful partnerships and sustainable growth.
What you’ll be doing:
Key Responsibilities:
Program Expansion & Partnership Development
- Lead the development and expansion of community-based programs, in collaboration with the Director and VP of Employment and Community Programs and supported by the VP of Social Enterprises.
- Identify community needs and emerging market opportunities to design innovative programs, including fee-based programs that align with the YWCA’s mission and generate new revenue sources.
- Attend events, often in evenings and weekends to represent the YWCA on industry and community tables.
- Write proposals, create budgets, collaborate with fundraising teams, and actively seek new opportunities through partnerships and external contacts.
- Work with key contributors to develop and implement strategic initiatives to sustain and grow programs.
Leadership & Program Oversight
- Oversee a portfolio of high-quality employment and community programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, funder requirements and participants’ needs.
- Provide strategic direction, empowerment, coaching, and mentorship to program managers and senior managers, ensuring staff development and program excellence.
- Champion a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture, encouraging cross-functional cooperation and creative problem-solving.
- Develop, implement, and manage program budgets, ensuring financial deliverables are met and resources are efficiently allocated.
- Support and manage human resources including recruitment, development, and staff supervision.
- Manage complex and detail-oriented budgets
- Work closely with the departmental leadership team to align program delivery, support collaboration, and optimize client support services.
- Advocate for diversity, inclusion, equity, accessibility, and Indigenous perspectives in programming and organizational practices.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Program and Partnership Development: Identify new program opportunities, create partnerships and seek funding opportunities to explore program expansion.
- Strategic Planning and Financial Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and oversee budgets, expand programs and maximize program revenue.
- Community Outreach and Engagement: Establish and maintain strong relationships with businesses, government agencies, funders, and community partners to build the visibility of the YWCA, programs and secure funding.
- Staff Leadership and Development: Provide leadership in the areas of professional development, team building, and capacity building for all program staff, while ensuring high standards of client care and program impact.
- Risk and Compliance Management: Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and maintain a commitment to risk management protocols in all programming.
Qualifications:
- Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Master's an asset; not required) with at least 5 years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and lived experience, particularly in working with self-identified women, gender-diverse individuals, and marginalized populations.
- Leadership Skills: Strong ability to lead teams with strategic vision, foster a collaborative work environment, and support staff through mentorship and professional growth.
- Program Development: Proven experience in developing new programs, particularly fee-for-service models, with a focus on sustainable revenue generation and long-term growth.
- Financial Acumen: Demonstrated expertise in financial management, including budgeting, and financial forecasting. Experience in fee-for-service revenue models will be considered an asset.
- Commitments: A deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and Indigenous perspectives, with a focus on trauma-informed practice.
- Flexibility: Willingness to adapt to changing environments, work flexible hours, and travel throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and occasionally beyond.
What you’ll need:
- An entrepreneurial approach to program development and revenue generation initiatives, involving large corporate enterprises.
- A strategic mindset with a proven track record in building partnerships, securing resources, and developing sustainable programs.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- A commitment to creating meaningful impact in the lives of women, gender- diverse individuals, and other underserved communities.
- Requirements: Valid driver’s license and access to vehicle for site visits; clear criminal record check
- A valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) is required.
What we offer:
We offer our eligible employees the following benefits as part of their total rewards package:
- Extended medical and dental benefits
- A defined benefit pension plan (MPP)
- Pregnancy, parental and adoption leave top up
- 22 vacation days and 3 personal days, in addition to paid sick leave
- Flexible working arrangements for applicable positions
- Employee Family Assistance Program, a confidential and voluntary support service for employees and their eligible family members
- A workplace that prioritizes employee health, safety and well-being, including many learning and growth opportunities such as our employee mentorship program and three equity committees that help to support our goals towards achieving meaningful equity and inclusion.
- Free staff membership to our Health + Fitness Centre
- Discounts at our YWCA Hotel
- Priority in YWCA Child Care centres
Work Location: This role is hybrid, with the ability to work out of a home office and travel to different locations as required for meetings and onsite engagements. Travel throughout Metro Vancouver is required. Occasional travel throughout BC and / or Canada for relevant conferences, events or presentations is expected.
Pay Rate: $104,658 per annum. Salary increases annually over 5 years with annual cost of living adjustments and progressions.
If you're seeking a workplace where your values align with your work, and where every voice drives meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter by June 9, 2025 by 12 PM PT to:
Najah Hage
Director, Employment and Community Programs
C/0 Lindsay White, Executive Project Assistant
email: lwhite@ywcavan.org
No emails or Phone calls please
We’re committed to increasing representation and equity across our organization. We strongly encourage applications from women, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities and others from marginalized communities. We’re also focused on creating leadership opportunities for Indigenous, Black, and gender-diverse individuals. If you'd like to learn more about our inclusive culture before applying, feel free to contact our Equity and Engagement Manager at people@ywcavan.org.
Accessibility is a priority for us. If you need any accommodations to apply or have questions about the process, please reach out to the hiring manager listed. We make hiring decisions based on qualifications, transferable skills, lived experience and organizational needs. Thank you to everyone who applies — only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Want to learn more about working at the YWCA? Explore our careers page.
We respectfully acknowledge that our main office and many of our programs are located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and that our work across British Columbia spans the territories of more than 200 First Nations. We also acknowledge the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples who live in our communities.
YWCA Metro Vancouver is committed to truth and reconciliation. This includes understanding the truth and impact of our shared colonial history, making positive changes within our organization and taking actions that advance safety, justice and equity for Indigenous peoples.