Job Description: InterimAdoptOntario/ARE Program Manager
The position start date is January 4th, 2027, this is a one-year contract covering parental leave and may be renewed thereafter on a monthly basis based on organization staffing needs.

Program Responsibilities:

Plan the delivery of the overall program and its activities in accordance with the mission and the goals of the organization

Work with ARE Coordinator, to oversee and execute Regional and Provincial AREs

Develop communications programs that effectively describe and promote the organization and its products

provides leadership to the design and development of system platforms and oversees the full design and integration to ensure that the platforms deliver the program capability they are designed for, in order to fully support our programs and priorities.

Ensure that program activities operate within the policies and procedures of the organization

Ensure that program activities comply with all relevant legislation and professional standards

Develop forms and records to document program activities

Oversee the collection and maintenance of records on the clients of the program for statistical purposes according to the confidentiality/privacy policy of the organization

In consultation with the Executive Director, recruit, interview and select well-qualified program staff

Ensure that all program staff receive an appropriate orientation to the program

Plan and coordinate meetings on project timing, goals, and budget to ensure fulfillment of internal and customer expectations and compliance with policies and contractual requirements

Manage program staff by providing direction, input and feedback

Liaise with other managers to ensure the effective and efficient program delivery

Manage the collection and review of reports. Prepare assessment reports from archival and operational data

Collaborate with others in conducting and responding to audits

Ensure that the program operates within the approved budget

Monitor all budgeted program expenditures

Provide advanced subject matter expertise to agencies to ensure the effective use of AdoptOntario systems; such as navigating the system, using applications and sustaining system integrity





Advise on and develop presentations along with other communication tools to disseminate information to and receive feedback from the field.

Proactively engage with users to identify unresolved issues and route to appropriate team members for further investigation and resolution

Where issues are identified, escalately support and route to appropriate resources

Review customer feedback and concerns and provide suggestions to developers to continuously optimize and improve the experience for users

Ensuring best practices of information management within the Ontario Child Welfare Sector

Provide child welfare business guidance and service intelligence as required

Gatekeep for CAS users’ access to Personally Identifiable data as this role proactively performs quality control checks on work performed

Liaise with stakeholders, advisory groups and/or steering committees to ensure effective and consistent application of business decisions are aligned with sector developed leading practices

Support, through a coordinated approach, alignment of the child welfare field across multiple governance and operational tables

Gather knowledge from sector knowledge leaders and transform this knowledge base into best practices case studies, thereby improving the consistent practices for all agencies

Facilitate the collaboration of knowledge transfer, training and change management between agencies that have either adopted within all agencies

Act as a resource to agencies and liaise with the CWS for information and issues resolution

Facilitate the coordination, harmonization, field inputs and implementation of business processes through governance and field operational tables

Support local training, change management and user acceptance

Participate in meetings of the Steering Committee and other governance tables, operational committees and working groups as assigned.

Interim and Final reports to be finalized and submitted to the MCCSS

New fiscal budget and program proposals to be submitted to the MCCSS





Attend weekly leadership meetings

Information Technology Management Responsibilities:

Lead the design and maintenance of the AdoptOntario Professional Databank, monitoring its development, application, performance, testing, and security.

Coordinate services provided by external IT contractors to align with AdoptOntario objectives.

Work with Manager overseeing IT on IT issues

User Engagement and Experience:

Proactively engage with users to identify unresolved issues and route them to the appropriate team members for resolution

Maintain a positive working relationship with Avocette Industries, our technology partner, who is responsible for maintaining and monitoring AdoptOntario Databank, Centralized Adoption Intake Admin System, and ARE Online platform

Review customer feedback and concerns to provide suggestions for continuous optimization and improvement of user experience

Website Management and Stakeholder Liaison:

In collaboration with Communications, ensure the website is accurate, timely, and user-friendly

Liaise with stakeholders, advisory groups, and steering committees to align practices and policies with best practices

Apply feedback from stakeholders to ensure the user experience meets the stated goals of AdoptOntario

Other duties as assigned

Reporting Relationship:

Supervised by Executive Director

Working conditions:

Primarily office work

37.5-hourwork week, occasional evening and weekend work

Hybrid Position - Minimal travelOccasional travel to program events, quarterly team and staff events

This is a 1-year contract that may be extended longer based on department staffing needs

Salary $70K - $74K/annum dependent upon experience

Vacation 3 weeks

Competitive Advantages package after 3 months with Empire Life

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or equivalent education and experience

Previous supervisory/management experience

Previous experience working in public adoption or related fields

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage the community in meaningful discussions related to permanency for children and youth

Strong ability to use and apply technology in program management and coordination

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📌 Interim AdoptOntario/ARE Program Manager (Ontario)
🏢 Adoption Council of Ontario
📍 Ontario