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 (GTA), 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.
The Career Foundation is seeking a dynamic, results-driven, and collaborative leader to join our team as Area Manager, Employment and Placement Services at our full-suite Integrated Employment Services (IES) Centre in Scarborough, Ontario.
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Employment Services, the Area Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of service delivery, site operations, and team performance to ensure exceptional client outcomes and full compliance with organizational and funder requirements.
This role provides daily, on-site management to a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on people leader who thrives in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment. You lead by example, inspire high performance, and provide your team with the clarity, coaching, and support needed to succeed.
With proven experience managing teams of 10 or more staff across diverse functions, you bring expertise in operational planning, performance management, financial oversight, and service excellence. You are passionate about advancing inclusive, client-centered employment solutions that create meaningful opportunities for individuals and employers and ultimately strengthen communities.
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 $72,500.00.
Location and Travel 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 day-to-day 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, typically on Fridays, subject to having access to a private work-from-home space with reliable, high-speed internet. Please note that the hybrid schedule is contingent on individual and team performance, as well as operational needs, and is therefore 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 Date:
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 service delivery and performance, including the daily management and monitoring of client service interventions, the quality of client files and documentation, client feedback, referral pathways, staff performance, and progress towards targets.
Provides hands-on leadership and expertise to the team in areas of customer service, client needs assessment, case management, information and referral services, job search, job matching, placement and retention, and other areas of the Integrated Employment Services (IES) service model.
Proactively monitors performance data and results to ensure the team remains on track to achieve all required targets and, when performance gaps are identified, develops and implements corrective action plans in consultation with the Senior Manager, Employment Services, and Director, Employment Services, to drive successful outcomes.
Monitors the accuracy and quality of service record documentation maintained by the team in mandatory data management systems, ensuring that case notes and all records meet funder requirements and internal quality assurance standards.
Oversees, approves, and tracks expenditures of financial supports and incentives provided to employers, ensuring that appropriate rationale and evidence are obtained and on file prior to reimbursement.
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 recorded appropriately in mandatory reporting systems.
Promptly and effectively handles customer complaints and stakeholder feedback, exhibiting 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, Coaching, and Leadership
Leads by example and provides leadership, coaching, motivation, and expertise to the team in all areas of program delivery, including client intakes and assessments, customer service, job development, employer outreach, and client employment retention.
Cultivates a positive and collaborative working environment where each team member is supported and remains accountable with clarity for their individual performance expectations.
Demonstrates patience, open-mindedness, and respect at all times when managing the team, ensuring that all team members feel heard, valued, and engaged, and are supported to operate at their highest potential.
Conducts daily performance management and provides effective coaching, constructive feedback, and direction to team members to ensure the team has clarity at all times regarding performance requirements, metrics, company policies, and protocols.
Takes ownership for completing all formal staff performance reviews at required intervals and maintains full documentation.
Provides appropriate support to staff members who are not meeting expectations and consults with senior management as appropriate.
Recognizes when disciplinary actions must be implemented and provides recommendations to HR and senior leadership, including terminations.
Takes initiative to recognize staff members who are performing well through regular one-on-one recognition conversations and public acknowledgment of achievements and contributions.
Leads regular team meetings to case conference, share progress towards goals, and supports the team in troubleshooting and brainstorming issues.
Prioritizes recruitment when there is an internal vacancy on the team, promptly scheduling and completing interviews with candidates upon receiving screened applicants from HR.
Leads and oversees all onboarding and training for new team members, and works collaboratively with senior management when updates are required to role-specific training curriculum.
Ensures that all team members adhere to organizational policies and procedures, as well as funder requirements and guidelines.
Oversees and approves staff schedules and time-off requests, including vacation days and other eligible paid time off.
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 when recommendations are made.
Disseminates correspondence and manages sign-off requirements for HR-related correspondence in a timely manner.
Coordinates the retrieval of client files for the Director of HR when a request is received, in accordance with The Career Foundation’s Privacy Policy for access to personal information.
Performs other relevant duties as needed.
Budget Management
Assumes accountability for maintaining, tracking, and administering the program’s operational and client support budgets to ensure all 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 strategic outreach strategies for the program to ensure a steady flow of client intakes and to 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:
Three or more years’ experience in a management role for a staff complement of ten or more team members, including proactive performance management in a target-driven environment, as well as effective team support and coaching. Candidates who possess this experience in the Employment Services industry will be prioritized.
Demonstrated experience under the Employment Ontario Integrated Employment Services (IES) pay-for-performance model.
Must possess a proven track record in a results-driven environment.
University degree in a related field relevant to the scope of the position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong understanding of employment services best practices, including case management, job matching, and retention strategies. Prior hands-on experience in job coaching, vocational counselling, or job development is highly preferred.
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.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook 365 applications such as Teams and SharePoint.
Must possess the aptitude and willingness to learn and work with new online systems and technologies.
Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, with experience writing high-quality reports. Bilingualism is considered an asset.
Exceptional rapport-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 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.
High ethics with a proven ability to maintain sensitive information, uphold confidentiality standards, and exercise sound judgment.
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.
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