Manager, Black Achiever's

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team of Employment Community team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The Manager, Black Achiever’s is responsible for planning and delivering the Black Achiever’s Program which pairs mentors from the community with high school students to help them reach their goals. They will oversee the recruitment and training of staff, mentors, and the delivery of the post-secondary /career readiness curriculum and the character/leadership development curriculum to youth, as well as build awareness in the community of the program through strategic partnerships and presentations. They will oversee a team of Case Managers and Facilitators responsible for delivering the program. The successful candidate will report to the Senior General Manager and will receive ongoing support from the Y-GTA Black Experience Staff Advisory Committee (BESAC). The overall purpose of the program is to provide black youth the opportunity to develop academically, socially and mentally with the support of adult black role models and mentors. They will also oversee a team that will help achieve overall program goals.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the recruitment, training, and supervision of staff and mentors (adult Black Professionals/role models) providing leadership and coaching to help them become effective mentors to black youth in individual and group mentoring settings 


• Recruit and increase program participation by presenting to school boards across the GTA and other key stakeholders, especially youth


• Promote, advocate and champion programs, policies and practices that seek to produce equitable access/outcomes for all young people


• Collaborate with senior-level internal programs such as fundraising and research to help bring awareness to the program.


• Evaluate program outcomes in relation to the program purpose and specific goals. Complete all statistical reports.


• Develop Black Achievers programming in consultation with the Senior General Manager and Black Experience Staff Advisory Committee; oversee the team responsible for the daily scheduling, lesson plans, and general program operations; and deliver special programming activities and events. 


• Plan, promote and administer the general operations of the Black Achievers program, including academic enrichment, career explorations and post-secondary readiness initiatives


• Ensure program quality and delivery. Develop and implement curriculum across the GTA, seek enrichment opportunities and leverage community networks and partnerships to strengthen the program model


• Engage new and existing partners. Develop and maintain key strategic alliances with community leaders and delivery service agencies to develop the Black Achievers program 


• Market, promote, and engage in outreach initiatives to bring awareness to the program and help achieve program outcomes 


• Monitor and administer annual budget, program statistics, and service plan; communicate regularly with the BESAC Steering Committee 


• Maintain, prepare and submit accurate financial, statically and program reports including monthly and quarterly reports, to the Steering Committee 


• Perform other duties as assigned

You bring:

• Bachelor of Social Work is preferred, or degree in Social Science from an accredited University, or a diploma in Social Services in combination with a minimum of 3 years experience in participatory research, community development, or child and youth work in a community-based practice is an asset or equivalent experience 


• Sound knowledge of and sensitivity to the experiences of Black young people in the GTA and the impact of anti-Black racism, including particular experiences of Black female-identified youth 


• Ability to encourage, engage with, assess and support the needs of Black young people living in GTA. This includes encouraging participants to express themselves and co-build activities and initiatives, as well as supporting their social and leadership development 


• Thorough understanding of and ability to practice a strength-based and culturally sensitive approach 


• Effective interpersonal skills including the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all project stakeholders 


• Proven ability to build genuine, reciprocal relationships with various community stakeholders


• Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills, including group facilitation and presentation skills 


• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications 


• Flexibility in hours including some evenings and weekends required 


• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle an asset 


• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers 


• Excellent written communication skills 


• Excellent understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity including the ability to identify and address barriers, work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and integrate equity into program design

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values


• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services


• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2020–2025 strategic plan, Ignite the Light, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here. 

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.