Director, Community Services (Strides Toronto)

Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency providing services to young people from birth to age 29 and their families in Toronto.  Formed in January 2020 through the amalgamation of Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre and East Metro Youth Services, Strides Toronto provides a range of community, residential and treatment services to improve the mental, social, and physical health of infants, children, youth and families.  We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support.  As the Lead Agency for infant, child and youth mental health in Toronto, Strides Toronto works with 25 core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that transform access to services, experience of services, and the mental health outcomes for Toronto’s diverse communities.  Strides Toronto has a budget of more than $30 million and more than 325 employees providing services out of 19 locations across East Toronto.  The organization is accredited by the Centre for Accreditation and the predecessor organizations have a long history of providing high-quality services in Toronto.  For more information, visit:  https://stridestoronto.ca/about-us/.
 
Strides Toronto is in an exciting period of change and continues to be committed to ensuring that health equity is embedded in our strategic plan and remains a core part of service provision.  Our agency’s mission is to build strength and resilience with children, youth and families through equitable, accessible, client-driven services, system leadership, and advocacy. At this important juncture in our evolution, we welcome nominations and applications from energetic and forward-thinking leaders for our inaugural role of Director, Community Services.
 
Reporting to the Senior Director of Service Excellence, the Director, Community Services, will be an influential member of the Senior Management Team.  To realize success in this role, the ideal candidate will bring both an understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and several years’ experience in leadership roles where they have a track record of leading change and investing in partnership development.  The incumbent will be a leader who has influenced organizational culture for the better and can balance this with proven success developing quality programming that is responsive to the needs of underserved communities. 
 
 
As the Director of Community Services will be responsible for managing two senior managers, several indirect reports, and a complex portfolio of community-based services for infants, children, youth and their families, the applicant must have demonstrated experience maintaining collaborative working relationships with clients/families, teams of professionals, government funders and community partners.   The incumbent will also possess:  a thorough knowledge of the child and youth service delivery system including related legislation, government directions and guidelines; an understanding of clinical theories/frameworks relevant to child and youth services; community development skills specific to culturally and racially diverse communities; and a solid framework for community outreach and engagement.  Ideal applicants will also have:
 

• progressively responsible management positions within the health care sector and/or social service system.
• a completed graduate degree in social work, community development, social science, psychology, nursing, or a related field.
• eligibility for registration as a regulated healthcare professional would be considered an asset. 

 
Strides Toronto is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that has greater representation from Indigenous and racialized communities, thereby reflecting Canada’s diverse population. All interested applicants can send their resume to Candice Frederick at cfrederick@bipocsearch.com by October 10, 2021. Alternatively, apply through the “BIPOC Executive Search” app. Download the app through the Apple Store or Google Play.
 
Strides Toronto is committed to access to services for Toronto’s diverse communities and adheres to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).  If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, please notify Candice Frederick at the e-mail address above. 
 
We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.