Program Manager – Employment & Lifeskills Training Programs (Full Time Temporary for approximately 1-1.5 years for Leave Coverage)

Aunt Leah’s is seeking a talented Training Manager to provide full time coverage for a pregnancy/parental leave for approximately 12 to 18 months. This is an immediate vacancy and a wonderful opportunity for the right person to join our dynamic team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our youth.

Who we are: For over 30 years, Aunt Leah’s place has helped prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey to self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills. We believe that youth in and from government care should have similar supports akin to their parented peers. Through family privilege young people are afforded their first employment

opportunities and work experiences. Aunt Leah’s Training programs are designed to replicate what families do for their teenagers and young adults to prepare them for employment as well as inspire them around careers and employment opportunities.

Job Summary: This position, plans, implements, manages and evaluates the employment training services provided through Aunt Leah’s Place (Bootstraps Training Program, Branches Lifeskills Program, Essential Skills Workshops, Cooking Club and Food Distribution Program). In addition this position works closely with the Social Enterprise Lead around the Retail Training Programs that operate out of Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store and Christmas Tree lots. One key way of meeting our mission is by working with youth in and from care and mothers in need to engage in meaningful paid employment in the community.

Reports To: Director of Training & Social Enterprises

Skills & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a field related to the job goal.
• 3+ years working in vocational/employment settings, preferably with people who are marginalized, stigmatized and isolated.
• 3+ years working in a training & development management position implementing and supervising training programs.
• Experience working with high risk youth.
• Ability to take initiative, and get things done in an organized and methodical way.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to simply and matter-of-factly explain what’s needed and change your approach and tone for different audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, and ability to build strong relationships and work in a highly collaborative environment with diverse stakeholders.
• Reflective – you see the value of regular reflection and use this practice to continually improve the work that you do.
• Knowledge of theory, principles and practices in the field including a demonstrated understanding of Person-Centred service delivery.
• High degree of comfort using a variety of technology including Microsoft 365.
• Embrace cultural humility and work to create a culturally safe work environment.
• Program and policy development and implementation skills.
• Ability to liaise with community members and other professionals.
• Conflict resolution skills and crises management strategies.

Job Requirements

• This role is on a flexible schedule and occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
• Current Class 5 BC driver’s license and adequately insured vehicle.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
• Emergency Aid Training, Super-Host Food Safe Certification as a Trainer.
• Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention.
• Proof of vehicle business insurance and $5 million liability.
• Adheres to the Society’s Code of Ethics.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team setting.
• Experience in budget preparation and in exercising financial control.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the vocational needs for high risk youth and mother’s in need.
• Experience designing effective employment support for people with multiple, complex support needs.
• Familiar with traditional and modern learning/training processes.
• Background or experience with developmental leadership.
• Experience with provincial and federal funding agreements.
• Experience with innovative, strong decision-making and outstanding facilitation of learning.
• Superb track record in developing and executing successful training programs.
• Develop and deliver programs for job readiness, supported and customized employment, self- employment, and resource ownership.
• Primary Job Goal – Develop and implement a strategic plan of action to advance Economic Inclusion for youth in and from care and mother’s in need.

Human Resources:

• Provide ongoing leadership and support for a staff team including regular day-to-day support and case consultation as well as performing HR functions associated with the operation of this department (hiring and performance management).
• Support staff in conducting assessments, planning and implementation of effective support for job seekers.
• Monitor and evaluate programs and services using qualitative and quantitative measures that allow us to engage in continuous learning and evaluation and to understand the impact that our efforts are having.
• To ensure all applicable regulations and standards are maintained at all times.

Partnership (Business/Community):

• Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant businesses, community agencies and services towards advancing economic inclusion.
• Raising the profile of Aunt Leah’s as a leader in customized and supported employment and engaging in networking, events and opportunities for collaboration that advance economic inclusion.
• Maintain federal and provincial funding agreements for the Training Programs, includes activity and financial reporting.
• Responsible for Health and Safety procedures.

Organizational Development:

• Participates as a member of the Leadership team in developing long range strategic goals for the organization.
• Works as a dedicated team member in assessing and resolving operational issues and procedures.
• Participates in ongoing professional development, attending workshops as requested.
• Participates in all promotional and marketing program campaigns.

Community Building:

• Builds relationships and networks both internally and externally for the Society with staff, social workers, and stakeholders as well as in the larger community of non-profit societies.

Confidentiality:

• Ensures all information about participants in the program is strictly confidential both internally and externally.
• Ensures all written material is locked in the office and all phone calls regarding participants take place in the office.
• Follows Aunt Leah’s Society Policies and Procedures and Aunt Leah’s Code of Ethics (includes Child and Youth Care Association of BC Code of Ethics, Aunt Leah’s Privacy Policy, BC Rights of Youth in care & UN Rights of the Child).

Outcomes Report:

• Provides quarterly reports to Executive Director.
• Ensures that staff in each training program are keeping accurate records.
• Compiles statistics for proposal/grant writing and funding requests.
• Meets all contract obligations.

Financial responsibilities:

• Ensures that budgets are met, managed appropriately, and reviewed regularly with the Executive Director.
• Balances and codes monthly expenses for all training programs & businesses
• Conducts ALDA Performance Reviews.
• Prepares and ensures accuracy of payroll timesheets
• Ensures that hiring policies are followed
• Acts as the Privacy Officer for the society

Health and Safety:

• May participate as a member of the Health and Safety Committee
• Ensures health & safety of staff in the workplace

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed mainly in an office environment
• May be required to travel to other locations to deliver training programs and/or for meetings, etc.
• May be required to work some weekends and evenings to meet service delivery goals
• Flexibility to work 37.5 hours a week; some remote work during pandemic

On call:

• Participates as an On- Call Supervisor as scheduled

This position may be required to perform other related duties that do not affect the nature of the work.

If this position sounds like something you would enjoy doing and matches your skills, we would love to hear from you!

We offer: A comprehensive benefit package (for positions that are longer than 6 months in duration) that includes: dental, extended health care including vision care and prescription, personal time package and employee discount at our Thrift Store.

Hours of Work: Generally Monday to Friday (37.5 hours a week; 7.5 hours/day); may require working some evenings and weekends as well as some remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications.

To apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter, quoting Training Manager in the subject line, to hr@auntleahs.org. Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Although this posting will remain open until the right person is hired, we are aiming for March start to allow sufficient transition time. Thank you for your interest in Aunt Leah’s Independent Life Skills Society!