YMCA of Niagara | Niagara Region, Ontario
Shape what’s next. Build partnerships. Mobilize people and resources. Create measurable social impact.
YMCA of Niagara is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking General Manager, Social Impact to provide strategic leadership for a dynamic portfolio of programs and initiatives that strengthen well-being, social connection, life stability and participation in community life.
Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the General Manager will identify opportunities where the YMCA can create meaningful community impact and lead the development, planning and execution of sustainable, funded and measurable programs and services.
A defining responsibility of this role is the ability to move from opportunity to execution. This means establishing new programs within compressed timelines, assembling highly competent teams, activating partnerships, and putting the infrastructure and systems in place to meet funding, contractual, financial and service-delivery commitments from the outset.
The Opportunity
As General Manager, Social Impact, you will provide strategic leadership for an evolving portfolio while working collaboratively across YMCA of Niagara and with partners throughout the Niagara Region.
You will:
- Identify emerging needs and opportunities where YMCA of Niagara is positioned to create meaningful and measurable impact.
- Lead the development, launch, implementation and evolution of responsive programs and services.
- Proactively identify and pursue government, foundation, philanthropic, corporate and other funding opportunities aligned with YMCA strategic priorities.
- Lead the development of funding applications, proposals, service models and implementation plans.
- Rapidly mobilize successful funding opportunities, moving from approval to operational delivery within required timelines.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments, funders, educational institutions, public agencies and community organizations.
- Develop strategic partnerships and coordinated service pathways that connect people to greater opportunity.
- Provide leadership and oversight for programs, leaders and teams, ensuring contractual obligations, service targets, financial parameters, quality standards and participant outcomes are achieved.
- Lead divisional budgets, forecasts and financial planning while ensuring strong stewardship and funder accountability.
- Build, develop and mobilize highly competent teams and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, urgency and continuous improvement.
- Use evidence, community trends, participant experience and program performance to determine when programs should be strengthened, scaled, redesigned, transitioned or concluded.
What You Bring
You are a strategic leader who can see the bigger picture while also having the ability to build and execute. You are comfortable working in an environment where priorities, funding opportunities and community needs continue to evolve.
You bring:
- A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in community services, human services, social services, education, community development, public administration or a related sector.
- Demonstrated responsibility for people, programs, funding and organizational results.
- Demonstrated success identifying, securing and stewarding government, foundation, philanthropic and other program funding.
- Experience developing successful funding proposals, service models and implementation plans.
- Demonstrated experience launching new programs and services and moving from funding approval to operational delivery within compressed timelines.
- Significant experience leading funded programs with defined contractual deliverables, financial parameters, service targets and measurable outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to build and mobilize highly competent teams and hold leaders accountable for results.
- Strong experience developing collaborative relationships with governments, funders, educational institutions, community organizations and other stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, financial, strategic planning and decision-making abilities.
- Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-management skills.
- The ability to lead effectively and make sound, practical decisions in environments characterized by change, ambiguity, competing priorities and evolving funding requirements.
Post-secondary education in Social Sciences, Human Services, Community Development, Public Administration, Education, Business or a related discipline is required. A combination of relevant education, professional development and significant directly related experience will also be considered.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $82,500 – $95,000 annually
YMCA of Niagara offers:
- 3 weeks paid vacation to start
- Comprehensive employer-paid benefits after the qualifying period, including Extended Health, Dental, Long-Term Disability, Group Life and AD&D
- Complimentary YMCA of Niagara membership
- Eligibility to join the YMCA of Niagara pension plan after one year of service
- Professional development and leadership opportunities
- Meaningful work with the opportunity to influence and grow social impact across the Niagara Region
Position Details
Employment Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Vacancies: 1
Placement Date: November 2026
The position works across YMCA, community, government and partner locations throughout the Niagara Region. Regular travel throughout Niagara is required, with occasional early morning, evening and weekend commitments. Out-of-town travel may also be required from time to time.
Interested in Joining Us?
For the full job description, including detailed responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions, please visit www.ymcaofniagara.org.
Interested applicants are invited to submit an application by Monday, October 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Only applications submitted through our online Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will be reviewed.
- Applications will be reviewed as they are received. YMCA of Niagara reserves the right to close the posting and proceed with a successful candidate at any time during the recruitment process.
