At Karis Disability Services what you do matters. Since 1965, our team has come alongside people with developmental disabilities, and their families, to celebrate each person’s unique gifts as we promote communities where everybody belongs. Driven by our values which are firmly rooted in the Christian faith, together we serve more than 1,500 people each year across Ontario and Saskatchewan, supporting them wholistically - body, mind, soul and spirit.

Believing each person is made in the image of God, we welcome everybody to find the personalized supports they need to thrive.

Beyond

Canada, our global work impacts over 300,000 people across 70 communities in six countries. Learn more about Karis Disability Services at www.karis.org.

Full Time / Temporary (7 months)

Strategic Project Specialist (Person Directed Services and Housing Project)

40 hours/week

Waterloo Office

Karis Disability Services is seeking a dedicated and analytical Strategic Projects Specialist to support a significant organizational initiative focused on Person Directed Services and housing. This role offers an exciting prospect to contribute to projects that enhance the quality of life, independence, and housing outcomes for people supported by Karis.

Working closely with operational leaders, project stakeholders, and subject matter experts, you will provide project coordination, research, analysis, and implementation support for strategic initiatives that align with our Values, Vision, and Mission.

The Strategic Projects Specialist provides project management support and coordination for strategic organizational projects. This role partners with project leads to develop project plans, coordinate resources, conduct research and analysis, and support change management initiatives that advance organizational priorities.

The successful candidate will play a key role in reviewing housing arrangements, analyzing support models, evaluating assistive technology opportunities, and contributing to the development of standardized approaches that support Person Directed Services.

Key Responsibilities:

Housing Review and Analysis





- Lead a comprehensive review of housing arrangements across Ontario and Saskatchewan.
- Gather, validate, and analyze housing-related information, including:
- Ownership and rental arrangements
- Leaseholder responsibilities
- Housing agreements between Karis and people supported

- Collaborate with Community Resource Coordinators, Program Managers, Service Standards Managers, and operational leaders to verify and complete housing data.
- Maintain accurate information within organizational systems, including Service Location Database (SLDB), AlayaCare, and other relevant databases.
- Identify trends, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to support person-directed housing options.

Supported Independent Living and Assistive Technology Review

- Collect and analyze information related to:
- Support hours and staffing structures
- Transportation arrangements
- Housing subsidies
- Assistive technology utilization
- Individualized supports

- Partner with the Digital Technology and Innovation (DTI) team to assess current and emerging assistive technology solutions.
- Identify innovative opportunities that increase independence and improve service outcomes.
- Analyze information to support planning, resource allocation, and Person Directed Services implementation.
- Ensure collected data is accurate, complete, and actionable.

Support Standardization and Organizational Improvement

- Contribute to the development of recommendations that clarify housing and service relationships.
- Support greater consistency in documenting and categorizing housing-related supports.
- Identify operational, financial, and compliance risks associated with existing practices.




- Assist in developing solutions that strengthen organizational accountability and standardization.

Requirements:

- College Diploma in a related field required.
- Business Administration, Project Management, or a related discipline preferred.
- Minimum 2 years of related experience, preferably in project management, strategic initiatives, research, or program analysis.
- Strong project management and project coordination skills.
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Research and data analysis experience, including surveys, literature reviews, and reporting.
- Knowledge of change management principles and business strategy.

Why Should You Apply?

- Live out our shared values, help others, and find purpose in your work every day.
- Receive competitive wages.
- Find support through an Employee and Family Assistance Plan.
- Grow your leadership with mentorship, training, career development, and tuition reimbursement.
- Collaboration and Teamwork—Working together on a team, we tackle challenges, share insights, and support one another in fostering a thriving workplace culture.

Application Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026 at 4:00 pm

Apply with a cover letter and résumé by 4:00 pm on Friday, August 21, 2026, to the attention of the Senior Manager of Financial Initiatives via the Apply Now feature.

Start Date: Mid-September, 2026

Hourly Range: $30.07- $33.97

At Karis Disability Services we strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We remain dedicated to meeting all provincial human rights, accessibility, and employment standards. We seek to provide accessibility through all stages of the hiring process for all applicants with disabilities, consistent with our Accessibility Policies and the AODA.

Please let us know if you require accommodation, and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

📌 Temporary Strategic Project Specialist (Person Directed Services and Housing Project) (Waterloo)
🏢 Karis Disability Services
📍 Waterloo