Manager, Pathways to Opportunity (2025-503-CP)

Competition # 2025-503-CPManager, Pathways to Opportunity (2025-503-CP)Employment Type:Contract Hourly (Until September 30, 2026), Non-Bargaining Unit Work Hours:35 hours/week (M-F 9am-5pm)Work Setting:Hybrid – Opportunity to work remotely after orientation & training periodSalary:$31.75 - $41.20 per hourApplication Deadline:November 27, 2025, by 11:59 pm
Who We Are
WoodGreen is a team of diverse and innovative change makers working together to make a difference in our communities. A United Way Anchor Agency with a proven track record and an entrepreneurial mindset, we continuously seek to develop solutions to critical social needs while striving to become a Centre for Equity.
Visit www.woodgreen.org to learn more about who we are and to review our Equity Statement.
We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce, representative of the communities we serve. We encourage, and are pleased to consider, applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/persons of colour, women/women identifying, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who contribute towards promoting innovative ideas and solutions.
Program Overview – Community Programs, Financial Empowerment
Be a part of something transformative! The Pathways to Opportunities Research project (PtO) is an innovative service delivery and research project designed to help people receiving social assistance move toward long-term employment and financial stability. This project integrates one-on-one employment coaching, financial counselling and participant financial incentives to support clients on their journey to meaningful work. The research design is being led by Blueprint ADE.
The Manager of the Pathways to Opportunities Research Project (PtO) leads the implementation, coordination, and administration of the PtO research initiative at WoodGreen. This role ensures the smooth functioning of all project activities, manages staff and partner relationships, oversees data collection and reporting processes, and supports collaboration with the research and evaluation teams.
The PtO Manager oversees the coordinated work of two teams of front-line staff—Financial Empowerment Social Workers and Employment Services Employment Consultants—who are assigned duties related to the research project. Although these staff report to their respective departmental managers, the PtO Manager ensures they complete all project-related responsibilities accurately and on time. The Manager provides instruction, guidance, and coaching to staff to ensure tasks are completed as required and collaborates closely with the relevant departmental managers to address any performance issues that cannot be resolved through direct support.
What You Will Do
Pathways to Opportunities Project Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the operational management of the PtO Research Project, ensuring all deliverables, timelines, and data requirements are met.
• Oversee and coordinate the activities of the Financial Empowerment and Employment Services teams contributing to the research project.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, troubleshooting, and coaching to staff to ensure accurate completion of project tasks (e.g., client tracking, survey administration, documentation).
• Collaborate with the respective departmental managers to address performance issues or training needs when necessary.
• Supervise the flow of clients between Financial Empowerment and Employment Services, ensuring all client referrals, hand-offs, and transitions are completed consistently with the PtO program model and protocols.
• Ensure an excellent service delivery experience for all PtO clients, maintaining high standards of client engagement, responsiveness, and support throughout their participation.
• Facilitate regular operational meetings and check-ins with the frontline Financial Empowerment and Employment Services teams to review project progress, address administrative or procedural issues, and ensure alignment across all operational activities.
• Maintain and continuously update project tracking systems and spreadsheets to ensure all participant data, consent forms, surveys, and outcomes are accurate and up to date.
• Proactively monitor project progress and immediately identify gaps, delays, or data quality issues, addressing them directly with staff or escalating to managers as needed.
• Coordinate logistics for participant activities, follow-up assessments, and communication with research partners.
• Processing payment requests, track expenditures, and distributing research stipends and gift cards to participants in accordance with finance procedures.
• Keep meticulous records of all disbursements and ensure full accountability and reconciliation of project funds.
• Prepare and submit timely progress reports, data summaries, and updates to internal leadership, research partners, and funders.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of all project data entry, both for the Manager's own work and for data entered by other team members participating in the PtO project.
• Provide support to research partners as required to ensure evaluation tools and activities (e.g., surveys, focus groups, and interviews) are completed efficiently and on time.
• Support the secure sharing of administrative data from WoodGreen to research partners, ensuring compliance with all privacy standards and ethical requirements. Ensure that identifying client information is shared only when officially permitted, in the appropriate format, and strictly in accordance with client consent and WoodGreen's data protection protocols.

Stakeholder and Partnership Coordination (External Partners and Funders)

• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with research partner, funder, and internal departments.
• Liaise regularly with the research team to ensure data collection, participant engagement, and reporting meet project requirements.
• Facilitate coordination meetings among project staff, managers, and research partners where needed to support ongoing alignment and communication.
• Represent the PtO project in internal and external meetings where required, contributing to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Team and Administrative Responsibilities

• Manage project budget tracking, expense reconciliation, and financial reporting in collaboration with the Finance team.
• Process and record all client incentive payments and maintain secure tracking systems for gift card and stipend distribution.
• Participate in management and cross-departmental meetings to ensure effective coordination with other WoodGreen initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with WoodGreen's operational policies, data protection standards, and ethical research requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Manager, Financial Empowerment.

What You Bring to the Team

• Degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Project management certification or equivalent experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in program or project management, preferably within a social service, research, financial or employment services environment.
• Experience leading multi-stakeholder or cross-departmental initiatives.
• Strong ability to coordinate multiple teams (e.g., Financial Empowerment and Employment Services) and manage interdepartmental workflows.
• Knowledge of provincially funded Integrated Employment Services (IES), particularly regarding the employment of people living on social assistance (OW/ODSP) income.

What Will Set You Apart

• Strong understanding of the intersectionality of race, age, sexuality, gender, and ability, and the associated challenges individuals face in finding and maintaining stable employment; demonstrated ability to apply this lens in program oversight and staff support.
• Proven track record of ensuring excellent client service delivery and program quality.
• Experience participating in or supporting research and evaluation initiatives, including data collection and analysis.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills; ability to maintain complex tracking systems and databases accurately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and data management systems.
• Experience managing budgets, processing payments, and maintaining financial accountability.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and with external partners.
• Knowledge of ethical standards in research and privacy, including experience managing client consent and data-sharing protocols.
• Skilled at facilitating team meetings, providing coaching, and resolving workflow or performance issues collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles and to applying them in project and team management.
• Highly ethical, compassionate, and client-centered, with an overarching desire to support staff and client success.
• Ability to occasionally work evenings or weekends, and to attend meetings or site visits at various WoodGreen locations throughout Toronto.

Why You'll Want to Work With Us
At WoodGreen you will be part of an incredible team that does amazing things for our community.
We offer:

• Benefits: Health/dental/wellness benefits and group RRSP/Pension programs, for eligible employees
• Growth: In-house training & development programs and professional development opportunities
• Rewards: Peer and organizational recognition and awards
• Flexibility: Hybrid working models, where applicable
• Diversity: Commitment to creating an inclusive organization that embraces diversity and belonging
• Community: Meaningful work in support of our communities

WoodGreen is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free selection process and work environment. If contacted in relation to an employment opportunity, please advise our People & Culture representatives at [email protected] of the accommodation measures required. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

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