Program Manager

Job Overview
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Manager plays a key leadership role to our team and in shaping and strengthening WRRC’s programs, from design and implementation through to evaluation.

WRRC is a rural-based organization, and the Program Manager plays a vital role in supporting service delivery across geographically diverse communities through collaborative, flexible, and relationship-based approaches.

The Program Manager is responsible for the oversight, supervision, and support of the Shelter Supervisor and WRRC’s Direct Care Team, including the Integrated Support & Outreach Worker, Child & Youth Advocate, Lead Counsellor, and Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator.

The Program Manager also provides leadership oversight for WRRC’s Volunteer Program, working closely with the Administrative Coordinator, who supports the day-to-day administrative and coordination aspects of volunteer involvement. Together, they ensure that volunteers are meaningfully integrated into the organization in ways that are safe, supportive, and aligned with WRRC’s service model and values.

Across all areas of responsibility, the Program Manager ensures services are delivered through a feminist, trauma-informed, strength-based, holistic, anti-oppressive, and culturally safe framework.

As a member of the leadership team, the Program Manager contributes to strategic and program planning, program data and reporting, and organizational decision-making. The Program Manager works within WRRC’s policies, vision, values, and strategic goals, and provides leadership, mentorship and support to program leadership and team members in ways that strengthen collaboration, service quality, and staff well-being.

The Program Manager is also responsible for leading specific projects and organizational initiatives as assigned.

Scope and Responsibilities
In a manner consistent with the agency’s policies and values and aligned with the agency’s vision and purposes, the Program Manager performs a wide range of duties including the following:

1. Supervision & Staffing

• Provide management and oversight to WRRC’s Direct Care Team and Shelter Supervisor. In consultation with the Senior Manager of Operations, recruit, interview, and select program staff.
• Working closely and in coordination with the Shelter Supervisor, provide effective supervision, direction, evaluation, feedback, and learning support to ensure effective supervision structures are in place for frontline staff.
• Ensure that all program staff receive an appropriate orientation to the organization and programs.
• Promote collaboration and shared accountability through case management oversight, working alongside the Lead Counsellor and Shelter Supervisor.
• Lead group clinical supervision.
• Support reflective supervision practices that strengthen ethical decision-making, address vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, support staff wellness and sustainability.
• Promote a safe, kind, respectful, accountable, and collaborative workplace culture.
• Establish and maintain structured supervision and accountability processes, including regular, scheduled, (and as-needed) check-ins with direct reports to review performance, service delivery, workload, risk, and professional development needs.
• Provides structured supervision, coaching, and accountability for the Shelter Supervisor, including monitoring workload, decision-making pressures, and sustainability of the supervisory role.
• Provide practice-level oversight for volunteer involvement across WRRC programs, ensuring volunteer roles are safely and meaningfully integrated and aligned with organizational values, policies, and service delivery frameworks.

• Work collaboratively with the Administrative Coordinator to support volunteer orientation, role clarity, and ongoing coordination across program areas.

  2. Program Planning & Management

• Ensure program action plans and service delivery are aligned with program objectives, WRRC’s strategic direction, and organizational mission.
• Develop new initiatives and expand programs in response to emergent community needs and to support WRRC’s strategic goals, including within a rural service delivery context.
• Complete program reports for funders and support internal reporting, monitoring, and evaluation requirements.
• Provide review of Serious Occurrence Reports and critical incident documentation completed by the Shelter Supervisor, ensuring appropriate follow-up and organizational learning.
• Monitor client database and ensure accurate, timely, and ethical record-keeping in accordance with confidentiality, privacy, and legal requirements.
• Identify trends, risks, opportunities, and service gaps in program and service delivery, bringing relevant information forward to the leadership team to support informed decision-making.
• Ensure program activities operate within WRRC’s policies, procedures, and approved service mandates.
• Develop annual budgets for programs in coordination with the Senior Manager of Operations.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure each program operates within approved budgets.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director or designate, support the development of funding proposals to ensure the continuous delivery and sustainability of services.
• In collaboration with the Senior Manager of Operations, ensure program activities comply with all relevant legislation, funder requirements, and applicable professional and sector standards.
• Ensure program and service delivery reflect trauma-informed, survivor-centered, feminist, anti-oppressive, and culturally safe practice consistent with WRRC’s values and service model.
• Support ethical data collection, analysis, and program evaluation to strengthen service quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure regular monitoring of the Direct Care Team and Shelter Supervisor’s program performance through check-ins, data review, and ongoing evaluation of service delivery.

  3. Community Collaboration

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with key service partners, local organizations, and community members.
• Develop, implement, and manage inter-agency protocols and agreements when required.
• Initiate and participate in meetings to support shared service delivery and coordinated care.
• Act as WRRC lead for collaborative projects and partnerships, as assigned.
• Represent WRRC on designated committees, tables, and working groups, including participation as organizational delegate on system-level tables as assigned.
• Support relationship-building and coordination with Indigenous partners, Indigenous programs, and community members in a respectful, accountable, and culturally safe manner.
• Contribute to community-based and cross-sector responses that strengthen safety, access, and continuity of care for women and children impacted by gender-based violence.
• Navigate and respond to the realities of rural service delivery, including limited local resources, transportation barriers, and the need for creative, cross-sector collaboration.

         4. Risk, Safety & Ethical Practice

• Support a safe and healthy workplace in alignment with WRRC’s organizational policies, procedures, and applicable legislation.
• Identify, assess, and respond to program, staffing, and service-related risks in collaboration with the leadership team.
• Participate in high-risk case consultation, critical incident response, and service review processes, as required.
• Act as the second-level escalation and support for shelter-based risk, safety concerns, and on-call issues, in coordination with the Shelter Supervisor.
• Support staff safety planning and promote psychological safety within trauma-exposed work environments.
• Promote ethical practice, accountability, and consistency in decision-making across all programs, in alignment with WRRC’s values and service delivery frameworks.
• Demonstrate ongoing learning, reflection, and accountability in relation to anti-Indigenous racism, systemic inequities, and the impacts of colonial systems, recognizing WRRC’s role as a non-Indigenous organization operating on Treaty land, while supporting respectful relationships with Indigenous leadership, communities, and partners.
• Support culturally safe, trauma-informed, and equity-informed approaches in program planning and service delivery, guided by community relationships and WRRC’s organizational responsibilities.
• Contribute to program practices and organizational policies that reflect anti-racist, intersectional, and decolonizing approaches, while respecting indigenous self-determination and leadership.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• A solid understanding of feminism, the women’s movement, anti-racism and anti-oppressive practice, trauma-informed approaches, and gender-based violence and violence against women services.
• Demonstrated mentorship and leadership ability that supports WRRC’s philosophy of collaborative leadership and the growth and well-being of staff and programs.
• Experience working in rural or small-community settings, including relationship-based service delivery and cross-community collaboration, is an asset.
• Excellent conflict resolution and problem-solving skills with the ability to facilitate difficult conversations in a respectful and diplomatic manner.
• Demonstrated women’s advocacy skills, strong case planning skills, and effective women- and child-centered practice delivery.
• Sound knowledge of shelter services, the non-profit and community-based sector, government-funded services and relevant community resources.
• Strong understanding of crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and high-risk case oversight.
• Superior communication, listening, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound working knowledge of common office technology and applications.
• Strong time-management skills and a high level of organization.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to monitor data, trends, and service outcomes.
• Clear and current Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC).
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team with minimal supervision.
• CPR / First Aid – Level C
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, Indigenous partners, or Indigenous programs is an asset.
• Knowledge of privacy, confidentiality, and ethical data practices is an asset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Social Work, Women’s Studies, Business, Public Administration, Human Services, or a related field; graduate degree is preferred.
• Three to five years management experience and/or experience in a leadership role within direct services or a related field.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and multiple programs is preferred.
• Experience in the gender-based violence, violence against women sector, including shelter services, counselling, transitional and housing supports, children’s programming, or anti-human trafficking services, is preferred.
• Experience with program development, evaluation, reporting, and staff supervision is preferred.

Physical Requirements

This position involves routine supervisory and administrative duties including office work, attending on-site and off-site meetings, and engagement across program areas. The role may involve periods of sitting, standing, walking, and working in environments that carry a high level of emotional demand.

Working Conditions
The Program Manager typically works in an office environment; however, the position may require working in non-standard workplaces.  Flexibility may be required in a crisis-responsive and high-demand service environment. As a rural-based organization, the role may involve travel within the service area and participation in regional partnerships and meetings.

Salary Range: $35.00 hourly, plus a comprehensive benefits package and health spending account.