Job Description – Manager of Indigenous Housing and Inclusion
Job Title: Manager of Indigenous Housing and Inclusion
Department: Core Services
Reports To: Director of Indigenous Housing
Location: 70 Brookfield Road
Summary
The Manager of Indigenous Housing and Inclusion leads the people, programs, and partnerships that help Indigenous community members find and maintain safe, stable, and culturally grounded housing. Reporting to the Director of Indigenous Housing, the Manager turns First Light’s strategic direction into coordinated, responsive services across a growing portfolio that includes transitional and affordable housing, outreach, navigation, stabilization, and related housing supports.
This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the effective day-to-day operation of housing programs. The Manager directly supervises designated staff, supports coordinators and frontline teams, develops and manages approved budgets and resources, strengthens consistent practices across programs, and ensures that services are trauma-informed, strengths-based, culturally safe, and responsive to the experiences and needs of Indigenous community members. The Manager also ensures that operational challenges, service pressures, and emerging risks are addressed promptly and thoughtfully.
Working closely with the Director, other First Light teams, community members, and housing partners, the Manager helps strengthen existing services while identifying opportunities to improve and expand housing options. The role calls for someone who can combine relational and supportive leadership with sound judgment, clear accountability, and strong operational management – helping First Light build sustainable, Indigenous-led housing responses that promote dignity, safety, healing, culture, belonging, and connection.
Who You Are & What You Carry
You understand that housing is connected to safety, stability, culture, belonging, and community. You recognize the systemic barriers Indigenous people may experience in accessing and maintaining housing and are committed to supporting Indigenous-led and culturally grounded housing solutions.
You are a relational and organized leader who supports people while setting clear expectations, addressing concerns directly and fairly, and managing the operational responsibilities of a growing housing portfolio.
You bring:
- A strong commitment to Indigenous values, cultural safety, and community well-being
- Relational and supportive leadership
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- The ability to balance day-to-day operations with longer-term program goals
- An understanding of housing insecurity, homelessness, and barriers within housing systems
- A collaborative approach to working with staff, community, government, funders, and housing partners
What You’ll Do
Housing Portfolio & Program Oversight
- Lead the day-to-day operation, coordination, and performance of First Light’s housing programs within the strategic direction established by the Director
- Oversee housing programs, including transitional and affordable housing, housing outreach, navigation, stabilization, and related housing supports
- Ensure housing programs are culturally safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and responsive to community needs
- Ensure programs operate in accordance with organizational policies, funding agreements, program requirements, and applicable legal and regulatory obligations
- Monitor program operations, occupancy, service demands, emerging pressures, and risks across the housing portfolio, taking corrective action within delegated authority and escalating material issues promptly
- Work with the Director of Indigenous Housing to identify housing gaps, priorities, and opportunities for program development
- Establish, implement, and maintain consistent policies, procedures, documentation, and practices across housing programs
- Ensure housing programs are coordinated, effective, accountable, and positioned for long-term sustainability
Residential Operations, Safety & Risk
- Ensure appropriate procedures are maintained for emergencies, critical incidents, service continuity, and after-hours escalation
- Ensure incidents, complaints, and significant service concerns are documented, addressed, and reported by the Housing Team using established organizational processes
- Identify and manage operational, safety, legal, financial, and reputational risks, escalating matters to Senior Leadership as appropriate
- Ensure housing services protect the privacy, confidentiality, rights, dignity, and safety of tenants, residents, clients, staff, and community members
Team Leadership
- Directly supervise designated housing staff and provide regular guidance, feedback, mentorship, and performance management
- Ensure coordinators provide consistent supervision, direction, and development to frontline housing teams
- Establish clear responsibilities, work plans, deliverables, deadlines, and standards of accountability within housing programs
- Lead regular team and one-on-one supervisory meetings with direct reports, monitor follow-through on decisions, and support collaborative problem-solving
- Guide staff in responding safely, respectfully, and effectively to complex housing, workplace, and community situations
- Address performance, conduct, and workplace concerns in a timely, fair, and well-documented manner, in collaboration with the Director and People and Culture
- Promote professional development, staff wellness, and a positive team environment
- Work with the Director and People and Culture to recruit, orient, onboard, develop, and retain housing staff
Community & Housing Partnerships
- Build and maintain relationships with housing providers, landlords, community organizations, government departments, and other housing partners
- Work with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community members, and people with lived and living experience to ensure housing programs remain responsive to community
- Represent First Light at housing tables, committees, networks, and community meetings
- Advocate for culturally safe and Indigenous-led approaches to housing and homelessness
- Identify partnership opportunities that increase or strengthen housing options for Indigenous community members
- Maintain operational partnerships and support the Director of Indigenous Housing in advancing strategic relationships and housing opportunities
Program Monitoring & Reporting
- Monitor housing program outcomes, service demands, occupancy, and emerging needs
- Ensure program records and required organizational and funder reports are accurate, complete, and submitted on time
- Ensure program, occupancy, incident, personnel, and financial records are current, secure, and maintained in approved organizational systems
- Ensure appropriate privacy, consent, information-sharing, and records-retention practices are followed across housing programs
- Use program data, community feedback, and staff experience to identify opportunities for improvement
- Lead operational evaluation and continuous improvement across the housing portfolio
- Ensure programs remain aligned with First Light’s values, strategic priorities, and Strategy Wheel
Budget & Resource Management
- Manage approved housing program budgets within delegated authority, in collaboration with the Director of Indigenous Housing and the Finance Team
- Monitor expenditures, staffing requirements, operational costs, commitments, and available resources, and maintain current forecasts
- Identify variances, budget pressures, and resource needs early and communicate them to the Director and Finance
- Ensure expenditures are authorized, supported by appropriate documentation, correctly allocated, and consistent with funding agreements and organizational policies
- Contribute to housing funding applications, proposals, reports, and funding renewals
- Provide reliable operational information and analysis to support the continued sustainability and responsible growth of First Light’s housing portfolio
Organizational Leadership
- Participate as an active member of First Light’s Management Team
- Work collaboratively with other First Light programs and departments
- Keep the Director of Indigenous Housing informed of significant program developments, risks, challenges, and opportunities
- Contribute to organizational planning and initiatives related to Indigenous Housing
- Model First Light’s values and support a workplace culture grounded in respect, accountability, collaboration, and community
Skills, Experience & Requirements
We recognize that knowledge and strength come in many forms, including lived experience, cultural teachings, community care, professional experience, and formal education.
To be eligible for this role, you must have:
- Strong understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and contemporary realities, with a commitment to cultural safety and Indigenous-led services
- Diploma or degree in Social Work, Indigenous Studies, Community Development, Human Services, or a related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
- Experience in housing, homelessness, community services, or a related field
- Experience in program management, leadership, and staff supervision
- Understanding of housing insecurity, homelessness, and systemic barriers affecting Indigenous people
- Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills
- Experience managing budgets, program reporting, and resources
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with community and housing partners
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple programs and priorities
- Ability to respond effectively to complex and emerging situations
- Valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle
- First Aid/CPR certification; ASIST, TCI, Mental Health First Aid, harm reduction, or other relevant training is considered an asset
- Record of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means First Light’s Indigenous Housing portfolio is well-led, coordinated, culturally grounded, and sustainable.
Housing programs operate effectively, staff have clear leadership and support, resources are responsibly managed, and strong partnerships help create better housing opportunities for Indigenous community members.
The Manager works closely with the Director of Indigenous Housing to strengthen First Light’s housing portfolio and ensure Indigenous community members have access to housing supports that promote stability, dignity, culture, and belonging.
Pay: $70,000.00-$75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
