Regional Director, Nova Scotia

Who We Need

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Programs and Partnership we are seeking a Regional Director to spearhead the successful day-to-day running of our Nova Scotia operations.

You will lead a dynamic cross-functional team of front-line program staff to successful and high-quality programs including securing facilities, hiring and training staff; participant recruitment and case management, employer and community partner relationship development, and stakeholder management. You will collaborate closely with the Senior Director, Education Strategy and Operations to create a resilient education framework and learning environment addressing the needs of job seekers 18+, leading to adoption and expansion of offerings.

You are a well-rounded Regional Director with direct experience in training and education and you have a strong professional network of contacts at allied organizations serving low-income young adults in Nova Scotia. You know how to manage end-to-end program delivery successfully. You are comfortable presenting findings and analysis to stakeholders and equally at home, sitting with diverse students to address barriers to learning. You can dig in and get hands dirty as well as implement highly effective oversight. You are passionate about creating employment opportunities for youth through targeted, holistic education. You believe in fostering a partnership with your teams and participants, engaging and empowering them in thoughtful and creative ways, motivating them to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

Accountabilities And Deliverables

Deliver results-focused workforce development programs. You will focus on a primary goal of achieving program enrollment, graduation and job placement outcomes, ensuring that at least 80% of program graduates secure meaningful employment. You will:

• Oversee the day-to-day, measuring targets at the beginning, midway, and year-end points, acting as a point of escalation for relationship issues, ensuring high quality in methodology through evaluations, assessments, and feedback.
• Be hands-on managing the physical site from securing facilities to creating learning spaces and meeting areas.
• Collaborate closely with the Sr. Director, Program Strategy and National Director, Program Operations, to align this new initiative with our existing programs in Ontario and Alberta while customizing the framework to meet the needs of local community members.
• Manage participant recruitment and admissions by partnering with internal staff, and community partners, to fill programs to capacity with new participants looking to start a technical career.
• Plan and roll out the successful delivery of the program, flagging notable obstacles and presenting possible solutions to leadership.
• Collaborate with your team, the teams in Ontario, Alberta, and the leadership team to successfully create and deliver a program where participants achieve certification, can market themselves professionally, and meet job requirements to obtain employment in their targeted area.
• Apply the principles of program and project management generally used in the private sector to manage an entrepreneurial non-profit operation.
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.

You Will

Build and nurture a team. You will recruit, hire, and train a complete front-end team of instructors and coordinators.

• Champion cultural diversity in the workforce and instill mutual trust and confidence among team members.
• Provide leadership guidance and training, supporting your team to ensure they understand our education model, our program delivery model, and what they are working towards.
• Mentor front-line staff in core elements of program delivery such as issue resolution, crisis intervention, facilitation, lesson planning, teaching, and providing warm and appropriate referrals.
• Effective and efficient decision-making evident with the use of excellence as a standard to lead a competent workforce, the selection of the right people for the job, and prudent risk taking
• Inspire, motivate and guide others toward accomplishment of the organizations goals; encourage and facilitate cooperation within the organization to develop a common focus; and develop leadership skills in others through coaching, mentoring, rewarding and guiding employees.
• Mentor front-line staff in core elements of program delivery such as issue resolution, crisis intervention, facilitation, lesson planning, teaching, and providing warm and appropriate referrals.

Program Evaluation. You will assist the leadership team in collecting data and analyzing qualitative and quantitative program outcomes. You will:

• Prepare weekly reports regarding program activities and outcomes, providing feedback to front-line staff regarding case notes and documentation to ensure adherence to best practices.
• Prepare end-of-cohort reports to facilitate reflection on best practices, lessons learned, and outcomes achieved to inform future cohort delivery.
• Conduct quarterly data review, ensuring completeness and accuracy of data entered regarding key metrics (enrollment, certification, referrals, employment, and graduation outcomes).

Stakeholder Engagement. You will cultivate, grow, and steward key employer and stakeholder relationships. You will:

• Participate and represent NPower Canada in collaborative planning and partnership building activities as required
• Build and nurture strong relationships with community and employer partners
• Organize employer engagement opportunities for corporate partners, such as classroom visits and site tours.
• Support marketing efforts with case study identification and other content development.
• Develop and nurture a network with relevant organizations and individuals who can identify and contribute to the resolution of issues, as well as identify the internal and external forces that impact the work of the organization.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organization on relevant issues impacting the stakeholders and explain and advocate facts and ideas in a convincing manner while communicating and negotiating with individuals and groups.

You Will

Participant Supports. You will lead case conferencing and provide case supervision to the program team, assisting front-line staff with successfully navigating and resolving challenging participant service situations.

• Serve as the first point of escalation to address participant complaints; work with staff to document, respond to, and resolve complaints.
• Oversee program staff coordination of participant resources (professional clothing, transportation vouchers, exam vouchers, housing, etc.).
• Oversee participant disciplinary process and lead sensitive meetings with participants, especially when addressing final warnings and dismissals.

Financial Management and Property Management

• Regional responsibility for Property Management and facility issues
• Oversee the forecasting and compilation of the annual budget, and management and monitor the budget and resources. Coordinate with Director of Finance and Operations the generation of periodic and year-end financial statement and reports for both internal and external requirements
• Ensure that all applicable internal financial controls are followed, as directed by finance leadership, i.e. Director of Finance and Operations
• Managing company assets and optimizing regional operations
• Maintain knowledge in order to support the region’s internal and external audit processes and production of the annual audited reports, as necessary

What You Bring To The Team

• Flexibility to work after hours to attend community events, board meetings, or property management issues.
• The experience. You have a minimum of 5 years of experience in non-profit sector program and project management, preferably in the employment services field and ideally targeting participants 16+. You have demonstrable strengths in program planning, development, evaluation, and reporting.
• The technical skills. You are proficient with educational software including, but not limited to, Google Drive and Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Schoology, an LMS, and a CRM. You have exposure to a blended learning approach and can lead the implementation of best practices.
• The commitment to inclusion. You exhibit a high level of sensitivity, relatability, and emotional intelligence. You have an understanding of the socio-economic and mental health barriers faced by the youth of all backgrounds, and you have experience working with diverse community members, including new Canadians, Indigenous youth, people with disabilities, LGBTQ, low income, and racialized groups.
• The leadership. You are an exceptional people manager who can grow, coach, and develop a highly responsive front-line team stepping up to meet the needs of youth. You can foster and nurture internal and external relationships with participants, colleagues, funders, community and employer partners, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, crisis management, conflict resolution, and negotiating skills
• The education. You have post-secondary education in human services, employment counseling, non-profit sector management, or a related discipline.

This position is posted internally only

Deadline for internal applications: Wednesday May 10, 2023 at 4:30PM EST

Early applications are encouraged.

NPower Canada is an Equal Opportunity Employer

NPower Canada will make every effort to accommodate any needs of candidates through the hiring process, under the Human Rights Code. Please inform us if you require any accommodation through the hiring process.