Job Description

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!



Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? It is!



A shelter program that is following the ShelterCare model of providing a place to stay and staff support 24/7. ShelterCare creates opportunities where individuals experiencing homelessness have access to on-site, integrated housing and health supports so they can become healthier and housed - exiting the cycle of homelessness for good. The Supervisor, Health Initiatives will utilize their passion for coaching and developing people and teams. They will provide leadership and support for the ongoing operations of the program including the development and implementation of health initiatives and a team of Care Coordinators and Addictions counsellors. This role uses their strength in partnerships to build and leverage relationships with community health partners. They will provide leadership and support for the ongoing operations of the program and the integration of health services at ShelterCare.

This is a full-time contract from November 10, 2025 to February 1, 2027, (37.5 hours per week) with personal days and vacation time.

Schedule generally Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm with flexibility for participation in on-call supervisory rotation and a weekend schedule rotation every six weeks to support the needs of the program.

Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) is required.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead, develop and support the staff, volunteers and students working within assigned programs, including coaching and development, team dynamics, conflict management etc. Responsible for all aspects of leading an interdisciplinary team (Care Coordinators and Addictions Counsellors) including recruitment, retention, training and onboarding, supervision and performance assessment, development and management Supervisory responsibilities for health and safety within each program; ensuring a physically and psychologically healthy work environment for all team members Responsible for scheduling and the allocation of staff, students and volunteers based on the needs of each program and/or site Maintain communication with staff team, perform regular check-ins and reviews, and supporting staff professional development Attend and provide clinical supervision and case consultations for assigned staff Responsible for, with guidance from the program managers, program design and delivery ensuring timely and appropriate community-based programming to meet the needs of those in the community experiencing housing loss and the social impacts of homelessness (i.e low income, food insecurity, etc.) Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the assigned programs including day to day operational budget and financial functions, coordination of data collection, database management (i.e. HIFIS) staff and participant safety, time sheets, and other applicable administrative duties Maintain high level of proficiency with respect to confidentiality in compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) Work with program manager and other addiction/housing services management to evaluate programs and overall approach for addiction treatment and housing outcomes Includes collecting and providing feedback about program development, service changes, creation of new services based on participant and staff identified need Support the manager with creating reports and proposals to support or source funding by sharing program insights, collecting registration and financial records, and coordinating program data collection Responsible for property management functions Provide timely and appropriate housing and sheltering programming to meet the needs of those in our community who are experiencing homelessness Intentional performance development centered on an anti-oppressive, trauma informed approach in supporting people experiencing homelessness Complete documentation and data entry in accordance with agency and legislative requirements, including fulfillment of documentation requests from participants or other professionals Support staff in assessing complex situations and making appropriate decisions Review Assessments/Treatment Plans Establish strong rapport and maintain appropriate professional relationships Designing and providing consistent quality programs through the lens of justice, diversity and equity, supervisors will design and provide consistent quality programs that will foster community while addressing the adverse impacts of experiencing homelessness With the program manager, build and maintain solid and fruitful relationships with health care partners and agencies to increase opportunities for innovation and positively impact outcomes Participate in working with partners in community consultation and community leadership development initiatives, taking a lead role when appropriate Identify and collaborate with partners to ensure their presence at ShelterCare aligns with our shared goals and priorities Build and maintain strong relationships with partners by establishing open and ongoing communication channels Gather feedback and data from community partners, monitor progress towards shared goals, and assess the impact Collaborate with partners to coordinate support and promote overall well-being for participants.

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

Knowledge of and experience serving in the area of housing and homelessness with a passion to support those experiencing low income and/or poverty and enthusiasm for preventing and reducing the related effects Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and all marginalized populations Very strong leadership, team building and decision-making skills required including demonstrated strength in coaching and developing people and teams Ability to support the team to work with participants presenting with concurrent disorder challenges, mental and physical health complexities, withdrawal symptoms, and substance use challenges Strong desire to support men experiencing homelessness and enthusiasm for assisting them to improve their circumstances Experience with coaching and mentoring for personal growth and development, including the ability to coach others through conflict Commitment to work with and support training of students, volunteers and new employees as required Demonstrated ability to calmly problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment Knowledge of local community agencies and resources is an asset Experience keeping financial records is an asset Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry Experience working within a non-profit and/or social services environment may be an asset Experience working with student and volunteers considered an asset Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative Commitment to ongoing professional development and training Highly organized, with ability to develop, implement and streamline administrative processes. Experience navigating team discussion and disagreement in high crisis situation with confidence and able to make decision with confidence when there are disagreement on best next steps; while balancing a trauma informed lens with the safety of the program

Education/Experience:

University degree in Social Work, Counselling or a related field of study Professional registration, in good standing, as either a Social Worker or Social Service Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) At least 3 years of experience in a counselling role required, ideally within a team environment in a social service setting At least 1 year of leadership experience required (ie. Leading people, projects, teams, volunteers, students) Clinical Supervision experience and training preferred Demonstrated innovative approach to providing supports and programming in a residential setting or services for persons experiencing homelessness is required Experience working with people who have a history of: trauma, mental health, addiction, poor health, poverty and/or homelessness is preferred

Critical Skills:

Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members Build solid and fruitful relationships with community partners and agencies to increase opportunities for innovation and positively impact outcomes Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a positive work environment including the ability to navigate change in a positive and productive manner Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural background, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs Strong intercultural competency, with the ability to recognize and respect cultural diversity, able to be diplomatic and sensitive to the dynamics of a culturally diverse workplace Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach in consultation, program design, evaluation processes and service delivery Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental health and other life challenges Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics and planning and detailed record keeping Able to model effective problem solving by recognizing the human, interpersonal and technical sides of a problem, show flexibility and explore possible solutions in an innovative and creative way Act as a change agent; contributing to continuous improvement and the successful implementation of change initiatives

Compensation:

At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.



House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.



We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

Time off includes four (4) weeks of vacation, 5 personal days and sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year Full-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (ADD), Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Account and Employee Family Assistance Program We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members, including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, $2,000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of "grades" and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate's past related experience will be taken into consideration.



Grade: 5 (Supervisor II)


Min: $30.04


Mid: $34.47


Max: $38.91

Working Conditions:

37.5 hours per week; daytime hours, flexibility as required to meet program needs Rotating on-site supervisory responsibilities for the ShelterCare and Safer Use program on the weekend Required to assess situations and make decisions under pressure with minimal supervision or working alone Travel throughout the Region of Waterloo for required meetings and community engagement Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected Observation of safe consumption takes place at this location


House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.



We strive to remove barriers that may prevent qualified applicants from fully participating in the recruitment and selection process. Accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and other applicable legislation is available throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Accommodations will be provided upon request.



If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let's talk.



To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:


By end of day

September 30, 2025.