Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region Inc. is a feminist organization, dedicated to empowering all persons who identify as women and their children through safe shelter, resources, information and advocacy in order to eliminate violence in their lives. Established in 1992, Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region strives to meet the needs of all women and their children in an inclusive and respectful manner.
Job Title: Programs Manager
Number of positions: 1
Terms: Fulltime (40 hours per week) plus benefits. This is a non-unionized position. Must be available to work onsite at Sandgate Women’s Shelter sites (Jackson’s Point and Richmond Hill shelters and transitional housing units). Some evening and weekend availability may be required.
Compensation: $87,360.00 to $95,680.00 annually
The Programs Manager works in co-operation with all staff at Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region and reports to the Executive Director. Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region Inc. works within a harm reduction, feminist and intersectional framework, following the mission, vision and guiding principles of the organization.
Major Responsibilities
The Programs Manager is responsible for the management, development and evaluation of all shelter programs, transitional housing, and service delivery. The Programs Manager also ensures that programs and services are maintained. The Programs Manager is part of the management team of the organization. The Programs Manager is based within Sandgate’s Shelter Programs, but also provides management support to Sandgate’s transitional housing services. Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region Inc. works within a harm reduction, feminist, and intersectional framework, following the mission, vision, and guiding principles of the organization.
Programs Manager, Roles and Responsibilities
Personnel (Shelter Programs) leadership and support
- Participates in hiring, support and frontline guidance for shelter program personnel, in consultation with the Human Resources Manager and the Executive Director
- Provides leadership, direction, support, training and direct supervision (including regular supervisory meetings and performance appraisals) to all shelter program personnel
- Creates and maintains a staff team approach which values diversity, intentional integration of diverse perspectives, collaborative sharing and learning
- Coordinates and provides group and individual orientation
- Coordinates and leads training and professional development for program staff in response to organizational, service delivery and staff needs, as well as training and professional development for staff in response to gender-based violence issues, community trends and needs, and service-use trends and needs
- Coordinates and leads team building activities for program staff
- Ensures organizations’ policies and procedures (including safety standards) are communicated to program staff, clear and accessible to staff, and carried out consistently by program staff
Sandgate team leadership and support
- Provide advanced case consultation and guidance to staff supporting women with complex needs
- Serves as a resource support to staff team and Executive Director, particularly in areas related to frontline service delivery management
- Ensures accurate maintenance of client records and databases (e.g., WISH) and compliance with funder and legislative requirements:
- Reviews and approve staff schedules, timecards, overtime, and accruals
- Ensures incident reporting, WSIB documentation, and health and safety protocols are completed as required
- Maintains organized program, supervision, and operational records
- Maintains a collaborative working relationship with shelter supervisors; supports effective and shared personnel management
- Maintains a collaborative working relationship with community-based staff
- Ensures adherence to the terms of the Collective Agreement (the Collective Agreement guides the employer’s relationship and employee rights of all frontline shelter and transitional housing staffs)
- Provide updates to Sandgate team members and Board on duties and accomplished work
- Participate in the Collective Bargaining process as required
- Active participation in the management team
- Provides representation on inter and intra agency networks, coalitions and relevant community and/or special events
- Develops and maintains strong relationships with community agencies, housing providers, and service networks
- Works collaboratively with partnering agencies in the region/province
Shelter maintenance, support and safety
- Reviews and maintains all records of required, scheduled, accomplished, outstanding and emergency site tasks, using both digital and paper record-keeping
- Provides leadership and supervision of the House Coordinator, who coordinates essential shelter maintenance
- Support assessment and coordination of outdoor maintenance tasked to the House Coordinator
- Ensures that scheduled testing of emergency procedures and equipment (ie. quarterly fire drills) are conducted as per Sandgate’s Health & Safety policies and procedures; and ensure that Public Health policies are implemented and up to date conducted as per Sandgate’s Health & Safety policies and procedures
Shelter Program Development, Delivery and Evaluation
- Development and management of a program evaluation system (qualitative and quantitative), to ensure consistent, client-focused quality service
- Provide leadership in the identification, development and recommendation of changes for improved service delivery
- Identification and development of recommended policies and procedures for effective service change
- Create an annual work plan of required trainings for frontline staff, i.e. CPR and First Aid; Naloxone; training related to organizational safety standards
- Create an annual work plan of other training and professional development for program staff
- Presentations and public speaker to various audiences, as requested
- Monitors achievement of service targets on a monthly basis
- Leads shelter program reporting to funders
Administration, documentation and planning
- Document trainings received, provide completion certificates for trained staff, identify upcoming training expirations etc.
- Lead shelter program data collection
- Ensure program staff maintain appropriate records and statistical information, and actively foster staffs’ understanding of and engagement with required statistical collection
- Assist with identification and development of program funding opportunities
- Manages shelter program within budgetary constraints
- Maintain effective policy and procedures manual for all program staff in consultation with the Executive Director
- Attendance at staff meetings, and provide strategic guidance and next-steps support as meeting Chair
- If requested, assumes specified duties of the Executive Director, in her absence
- Additional duties, as assigned.
Programs Manager, Required Qualifications and Skills
Qualifications
- Foundational technology (i.e. computer and internet literacy) skills, and ability to utilize these skills to streamline, make efficient and maintain records for the role
- Advanced project management experience and skills
- Supervision and team support experience and skills
- Direct service skills, preferably in gender-based violence support services
- Clear competencies in implementing and maintaining an effective sites (i.e. shelter sites; transitional housing) record-keeping system, using both digital and paper record-keeping: records will include required, scheduled, accomplished, outstanding and emergency site tasks
- Driver’s License, reliable vehicle for use while at work, and up to date insurance required
- WHMIS certification
- Knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Position requirements
- Understanding of gender-based violence, particularly intimate partner violence
- Understanding of gender-based violence, particularly intimate partner violence, and its impacts on children and youth
- Compliance with all organizational policies, procedures, practices and philosophies
- Commitment to providing client-centred services
- Ability to work with and support team members and clients from diverse intersections of identity (e.g., race, faith, sexual orientation, and gender identities)
- A commitment to feminist, anti-colonial, anti-racist, and anti-oppression approaches to service delivery
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times within organizational policies and procedures
- Ability to work independently and as an effective transition team member
- Respect for and valuing of community diversity
- Commitment to continuing education on women’s issues, with particular emphasis on violence against women
- Ability to support organizational practices, motivate team and co-workers, and resolve problems and conflict
- Ability to liaise effectively with the general public and community resources
- Foundational technology (i.e. computer and internet literacy) skills, and ability to utilize these skills to streamline, make efficient and maintain records for the role
- Competencies in implementing and maintaining an effective statistical, reporting and record-keeping system, using both digital and paper record-keeping
- Interpersonal and strategic skills for working within a unionized setting:
o Proven ability to supervise staff within a unionized setting
o Experience in interpreting and applying collective agreements
o Experience in addressing workplace issues constructively and fairly while maintaining
productive labour-management relationships
o Bringing a collaborative approach to working and communicating with union representatives, so to support organizational objectives as well as employee needs
- Commitment to positively represents the organization at all times
- Driver’s License, reliable vehicle for use while at work, and up to date insurance required
- Knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Skills and Qualifications
- University Degree in relevant discipline (i.e. social work, community development, program management) or equivalent experience (3-5 years management)
- Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in the social services sector, with at least 2-3 years in a management role
- Experience and abilities in successful human resource management, including multi-task leadership to develop and manage program team members (includes direct supervision, group facilitation, training and team building)
- Leadership skills including strategic thinking, conflict resolution, problem solving and consensus building
- Experience in nonprofit/service-based facility management
- Proven ability to work as an effective management team member
- Experience in working with women/children of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, socio-economic and linguistic skills
- Strong knowledge of housing systems, advocacy practices, and relevant legislation, including the Residential Tenancies Act and Child & Family Services Act
- Extensive knowledge of the issues and complexities pertaining to violence against women
- Experience working in a unionized environment an asset
- Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule (some evening and weekend work may be required)
- Superior problem-solving skills
- Well-developed conflict resolution and communication skills
- Fluency in a second language an asset
- Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
Application deadline: July 22, 2026, at 5pm
Please submit a cover letter and resume to:
Lisa Peters, Administrative Assistant
Sandgate Women's Shelter of York Region Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in the selection process.
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $87,360.00-$95,680.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Jacksons Point, ON
