Manager Systems Planning and Evaluation - Jobs in Niagara, ON

Job Description

DivisionChildrens ServicesImportant Notices & AmendmentsAs an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements including hybrid work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Where operational needs align, and while ensuring business requirements and customer service expectations are achieved, employees may have an opportunity to work within a hybrid model, combining working from home and working in the office.About UsServing a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.Job DescriptionJob SummaryReporting to the Director, Children’s Services, the Manager, Systems Planning and Evaluation is responsible for leading the strategic oversight of the early years and child care (EYCC) system in Niagara. This position will provide strategic advice in the development of programs, policies and funding models based on broad provincial guidelines and effective practices, and lead implementation to meet Regional and Provincial priorities. This position will also collaborate with internal and external partners to provide effective oversight of the EYCC system so that it is accessible and responsive to the needs of children and families, and public resources are used effectively while ensuring compliance with current provincial child care legislation, and adherence to regulations, guidelines and local needs.Education

• Post-secondary degree in Public Administration or Business Administration.
• Certificate or education courses in quality improvement, program evaluation, community engagement/development, change management and financial management

Knowledge

• Over 5 years’ experience in Service System Management
• Over 5 years’ experience managing staff in a non-union and unionized environment.
• Over 3 years’ experience working with federal or provincial funding agreements, purchasing and contract management.
• Progressive experience within a Human Services environment with experience in policy, program planning and evaluation.
• Financial management skills to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate service provider budgets.
• Highly developed analytical and business planning skills.
• Developed negotiation, conflict resolution, and problem solving and change management skills.
• Recognized Project Management training / certification an asset.
• Ability to plan and develop projects, manage multiple projects concurrently, determine objectives and program goals, and risk mitigation strategies. Ability to organize/coordinate and select staff to accomplish same.
• Strong report writing, research, risk analysis, analytical and project management skills to meet program objectives and work to tight deadlines.
• Previous experience with administration of early year’s programs, licensed child care service providers and child and family agencies processes and their current roles within the overall early years and child care system is preferred.
• Knowledge and interpretation of related Provincial legislation and guidelines (e.g. Child Care and Early Years Act 2014, Education Act 1990, Child and Family Services Act 1990, French Language Services Act, 1990, Ontario Child Care and Family Support Program Service Management Funding Guidelines.

ResponsibilitiesService system planning, evaluation and managing local licensed child care and early years services, on behalf of the provincial government (40% of time).

• Conducts policy analysis to monitor changing provincial priorities, trends and emerging issues, identifying areas of potential impact and risk to local goal achievement and delivery of services.
• Develops and implements local business processes and organizational improvements for new initiatives/ programs, including local policies, procedures, and risk mitigation strategies, in alignment with provincial legislation and regulations. Establishes corresponding goals, objectives and monitoring to measure effectiveness, and alternate actions to implement when goals/objectives not being met, while minimizing service system impact/disruption.
• Establishes, administers, and funds licensed child care and early year’s programs, evaluating and assessing the impact of public funding. Assesses the economic viability of programs and facilitates policy and financial changes to make programs more viable.
• Analysis of local data to develop options and lead the implementation of provincial funding to best meet local needs and priorities identified through planning.
• Gathers and analyses data to prepare reports, providing information, risk analysis and recommendations for senior management and Public Health and Social Services Committee of Council.
• Ensures service provider compliance with Ministry early years planning guidelines, and assesses programming to ensure aligns with provincial pedagogical framework
• Assesses the economic viability of early years programs, and negotiates with service providers to enhance and/or relocate early years programs and services to meet changing community needs
• Develops and implements appropriate measures to ensure project costs and scope are within approved funding and policy direction
• Support/provide oversight of capital projects, including consultations with service providers, the Ministry and school boards
• Collaborates with local school boards for opportunities to build/renovate space in schools as per the Ministry’s “Schools-First” approach.
• Provides oversight of Children’s Services budget and works with the Program Financial Specialist to develop options, policies and initiatives to support the viability of the sector
• Accountable for the management of the Children’s Service budget dedicated to supporting licensed child care services/ spaces

Manages the service agreements between Niagara Region, local licensed child care and early years’ service providers, and the provincial government (20% of time).

• Gathers and analyses financial and other data variables to determine local funding allocations for licensed child care and early year’s programs. Responsible for the development of options and analysis local administration and disbursement of provincial funding
• Negotiates annual service agreements and funding allocations with all local licensed child care and early years’ service providers. Ensures compliance with requirements negotiated in the service agreement, and local policies and directives established by Children’s Services.
• Implements and monitors an accountability framework for funding, funding restrictions and cancellation of service agreements, as needed
• Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates operating agreements between Niagara Region, licensed child care and other early year’s agencies.
• Monitors data and submits reports to the Ministry to ensure appropriate oversight of transfer payment activities, tracks achievement of program and policy objectives, supports provincial level analysis, and informs provincial report backs to the Government of Canada regarding federal investments

Provides strategic leadership to develop provincially mandated local child care and early years’ service system plan, with ongoing monitoring to assess impact, and alternate actions to be implemented if needed (20% of time).

• Develops, implements and communicates key performance indicators to assess the viability, capacity and financial pressures of the early years and child care system
• Reviews and analyses key performance indicators to assess current and future service gaps and opportunities; and develops and implements strategies to address gaps and opportunities
• Ensures ongoing public engagement to share recommendations and decisions with community agencies/organizations and planning tables to support local planning activities, build capacity, awareness and understanding of service system changes ensuring transparency and inclusivity.
• Develop a strategy to support the long-term planning of licensed spaces, with a focus on the operating funding and budget capacity and constraints

Manages people resource planning for the operating unit, determining ideal organizational structures, identifying desirable role and skill mix requirements and ensuring ongoing work quality and deliverability of results. (10% of time)

• Enables results with the organization’s human capital strategy to foster employee engagement.
• Directs and provides leadership for the activities and coaching of direct reports, providing work direction, setting priorities, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, ensuring results are achieved, and managing staff recruitment, performance, and skill development activities
• Ensures alignment and coordination of activity and quality of output between teams under their direction
• Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and work flow integration.
• Ensures staff has the information and resources to make successful plans and decisions.
• Ensures all people related issues, including recruitment, grievances and labour relations issues, are aligned to HR and Corporate standards and practices.
• Helps to break down barriers to employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within their division and department
• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented, and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of OH&S processes, and other OH&S concerns are responded to promptly.
• Ensures all individuals under supervision have been informed of hazards and instructed on the necessary risk control and emergency response measures;

Develops, manages, and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for the operating unit ensuring support of Council’s objectives, financial transparency and accountability, monitoring budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances, and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies (10% of time)

• Ensure goods and services are acquired in accordance with the procurement policy.
• Authorize, and administer the acquisition of goods and services for the operating unit and direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy and procedures.

Special Requirements

• In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Record Check, with vulnerable sector search, and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate
• Must maintain ability to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

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