Regional Director - Ontario

at  NPower Canada

ABOUT NPOWER CANADA

NPower Canada is a charitable organization that launches underserved young adults into meaningful and sustainable digital careers. The program provides participants with free digital and professional skills training and connects them to new and rewarding career opportunities with some of Canada’s largest employers.
Through consultation with a wide range of employers, NPower Canada’s comprehensive curriculum ensures participants are equipped with the in-demand technical and professional skills most sought after by industry.
NPower Canada provides employers with access to a pipeline of eager, diverse, and job-ready talent with in demand digital skills who are primed to succeed in the workplace. Graduates receive ongoing support and coaching to ensure continued success in their careers.
NPower Canada is a certified Great Place to Work® in 2023 and named a 2023 Best Workplace™ for Giving Back.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the VP, Programs and Partnerships we are seeking a Regional Director, to spearhead the successful day-to-day running and expansion of our Ontario operations. The successful incumbent resides within the province of Ontario.
You will lead a dynamic cross-functional team of front-line program staff and community engagement staff on the successful end-to-end operations of our program including hiring and training staff; participant recruitment and case management, employer and community partner relationship development, as well as stakeholder engagement. The position also is involved as a collaborator with our business development and development teams as both engage with employers and funders alike to align and produce valuable outcomes.
You are a well-rounded Regional Director with direct experience in new Business Development, building NPower Canada brand awareness, and establishing meaningful trusting relationships to build a progressive pipeline of qualified candidates. Stakeholder engagement includes community partners, employers, and potential funders and you have a strong professional network of contacts at allied organizations serving low-income job-seekers in Ontario. You know how to manage end-to-end program delivery successfully. You are comfortable presenting findings and analysis to stakeholders. You can dig in and get your hands dirty as well as implement highly effective oversight. You are passionate about creating employment opportunities for job seekers through targeted, holistic education. You believe in fostering a partnership with your teams and participants, engaging and empowering them thoughtfully and creatively, and 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 our pre-graduation goals are met, and at least 80% of program graduates secure meaningful employment. You will perform the following accountabilities:

Stakeholder Engagement - You will cultivate, grow, and steward key employer and stakeholder relationships, including Indigenous Communities. Leveraging support from direct-report Community Engagement Manager, and collaborating with teams across the organization, including Marketing & Communications, Innovation and Quality and Development, you will:

• 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.
• 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.
• Support employer engagement and business development opportunities for corporate partners
• Support marketing efforts with case study identification and other content development.
• Participate and represent NPower Canada in collaborative planning and partnership-building activities as required

Regional Operations Management

• Collaborate with your team, the teams in other regions, and the leadership team to successfully deliver a standardized program where participants achieve certification, market themselves professionally, and meet job requirements to obtain employment in their targeted area.
• Apply the principles of outcome-based program management
• 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
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions and produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally with Senior Leaders to align with our programs across other regions while customizing the framework to meet the needs of local community members.
• Plan and roll out the successful delivery of the program, flagging notable challenges and presenting possible solutions to leadership.
• Manage participant recruitment by partnering with internal staff, and community partners, to fill programs with new participants looking to start a technical career.
• Oversee the day-to-day program operations, measuring targets weekly, acting as a point of escalation for relationship issues, and ensuring high quality in methodology through evaluations, assessments, and feedback.

People Leadership - You will recruit, hire, and train a complete front-end team of Program staff. You will:

• Provide leadership guidance and training, supporting your team to ensure they understand employment outcomes goals.
• Develop and implement strategies to identify and recruit staff, maximize employee performance, and foster high ethical standards in meeting our organization’s vision, mission, and goals.
• Inspire, motivate, and guide others toward accomplishing the organization’s 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.
• Champion cultural diversity in the workforce and instill mutual trust and confidence among team members.
• Attend to the morale and organizational-climate issues by identifying and preventing potential negative confrontations or crises.

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

• Conduct monthly data reviews, ensuring completeness and accuracy of data entered regarding key metrics (enrollment, certification, referrals, employment, and graduation outcomes).
• Prepare weekly reports regarding program activities and participant employment readiness outcomes, providing feedback to front-line staff regarding case notes and documentation to ensure adherence to best practices.
• Provide the Development team with monthly reports that capture successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth to ensure an accurate line of sight and report back to our funders.
• Facilitate team reflection on best practices, lessons learned, and outcomes achieved to inform future cohort delivery.
• Enter, update, and maintain data in our corporate CRM and ensure completion by reporting teams (Salesforce).

Budget and Financial Management

• Assist in the compilation of the annual budget by providing insight on regional expenditures
• Maintain knowledge to support the region’s internal and external audit processes and production of the annual audited reports, as necessary
• Ensure that all applicable internal financial controls are followed, as directed by finance leadership, i.e. Director of Finance and Operations

Please refer the Job description for details