The Program
At Taproot Community Support Services, we’re a 100 percent employee-owned organization through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Every employee is an owner from their first day, with a voice in shaping Taproot’s future and the opportunity to share in employee ownership dividends.
As a Certified B Corporation, we harness business for good. Since 1983 we’ve grown steadily, now delivering support across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario through more than 90 contracts.
Our 800-plus employee-owners live by five shared values: we are stronger together, we lead with optimism, we embrace challenges, we respect every voice, and we go above and beyond. Guided by these principles, we deliver more than 125 community-based services each year. We walk alongside about 1,600 children, youth, families, and people with diverse abilities, with revenues exceeding $70 million.
The Cove Program is designed to accommodate youth that have experienced a history of failure in other programs and group homes in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Our services support youth recovering from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and overcoming other adversity by providing them with housing and trauma-based guidance.
We accommodate and support traumatized youth in comfortable and welcoming facilities with twenty four hour staffing. Paired housemates share common areas but each child has his or her own bedroom. We offer a safe environment in a residential and friendly neighbourhood. An open door policy encourages a wandering youth to return at any time.
In Your Role You Will
Manage / oversee a number of areas that include:
Administration
- Participate in long-term planning and visioning for the program and organization, contributing to the development of goals, objectives, and strategies to achieve organizational success.
- Develop and manage the annual program budget and perform periodic cost and productivity analyses. Utilizes data to evaluate program effectiveness and make informed decisions about future planning and improvements.
- Ensures personnel administration is completed and monitored to established agency, licensing, funder, and CARF standards.
Employee Relations
- Develop highly engaged staff and ensure optimal levels of qualified staff are available through the recruitment, screening, and hiring process.
- Provides coaching, mentorship and supervision of staff in performance and conduct, assigning work, training, growth opportunities and promotions, and team building activities to motivate employees to peak performance and productivity
- Evaluates and conducts regular performance conversations with staff, ensuring feedback is clear, constructive, and aligned with organizational goals.
- Manage employee/labour relations, conflict, concerns, compliance with provincial employment standards, applicable collective agreements, policies and ensuring a positive, safe work environment. Addresses and handles disputes, policy violations, misconduct, performance management and other concerns in a timely manner. Determines disciplinary actions and participates in decisions on staff terminations ensuring appropriate processes are followed.
- Responsible for cooperative management and union relationships, this includes resolving grievances and participating in labour management meetings and union negotiations.
Service Delivery
- Promote a safe, structured, and predictable environment that reduces conflict and enhances child and adult development.
- Design, implement and evaluate programs that support the developmental needs of children and adult individuals; while incorporating family involvement and trauma-informed care practices.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment where staff are empowered to build strong, positive relationships with children and adult individuals.
- Lead the development of strategies that mitigate potential trauma triggers and create a healing environment for individual in care.
Public/Community Relations
- Represent the program and/or agency at various interagency forums, as well as to the media, government agencies, families/caregivers, funding bodies, and/or the general public/local community; network with other agencies, organizations, individuals and community groups for the benefit of the service recipients and program, including participation on community boards, committees and professional groups.
- Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as required.
- Provide on-call and emergency coverage on pager or cell.
- A complete and detailed list of key responsibilities can be available at time of interview.
The Position
The program manager provides operational and administrative direction for the development, implementation and day-to-day management of the program in this CARF-accredited agency. This position provides leadership in the delivery of person served care with a focus on individualization and integration of services. The role is responsible for administration, financial, employee and community relations and care delivery outcomes. The program manager participates in agency decision making and is the primary liaison with the contracting body.
This position requires experience supporting neurodiverse individuals with complex support needs, including non‑verbal individuals and large care teams. The Program Manager works with a Program Coordinator, Clinical Consultant, and care teams to develop and implement safety and behaviour support plans in collaboration with stakeholders.
This role oversees contracted providers who, through an agreement with Taproot, open their homes or Taproot rented Primary secondary model homes to a child. The Program Manager is responsible for recruiting, screening, and selecting new providers according to established criteria. They also support current providers with transition planning, service monitoring and supervision, and ensure quality assurance for funders, families, and the agency.
Schedule:
One (1) permanent, full-time position available, with a weekly schedule of 40 hours per week:
- Hours are typically worked Monday through Friday between 0800-1600
- Requires the full ability to perform on-call duties, which may include weekends, statutory holidays and evenings.
- Anticipated start date is June 1, 2026
- 10 hours per week dedicated to supporting the CIC homes in Nanaimo
Mandatory Pre-Employment Screenings and Checks
***Prior to confirmation of employment, all applicants must provide a copy of a current Criminal Record Check and/or Government Screening Letter. These checks vary depending on province and sector and will be communicated by the Program Hiring Team.
As An Ideal Candidate You Possess
- A degree in one of the humanities, social sciences or related field with educational preparation for the roles of manager and administrator.
- Minimum of three years in a similar facility or program, with at least one year in a supervisory or management role.
- Must have specific experience with financial and human resource management.
- Current WCB Occupational First Aid, Level 1 and CPR certificates required.
- Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Certificate and Conflict Resolution Certificate
- Experience with basic sign language and/or alternative communication strategies training or experience an asset.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and clean driver’s abstract with a reliable, safe vehicle that has appropriate insurance
Other Requirements:
- Prior experience in Trauma Informed Practices
- Prior experience in implementing Behavioural Interventions
- Successful criminal record/vulnerable sector check.
- Successful candidate must sign an oath of confidentiality, a conflict of interest statement, abuse protocols, and a code of ethics statement
What Taproot Community Support Services Does
At Taproot, your passion for helping others can truly make a difference. As an employee-owned company, we value collaboration, learning, and innovation. Our strength-based approach guides both our care and how we support each other. Join a team where your voice matters, and together, we're building a company we're proud of.
Our Employees Enjoy
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Employee ownership from day one through our EOT, with opportunity for profit-sharing dividends
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Work/life balance
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Learning and career development opportunities
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Competitive wages and salaries
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Paid vacation and benefits for eligible employees
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Defined benefit pension plan (Municipal Pension Plan) for eligible employees within British Columbia
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Matching RRSP plan for eligible employees within Alberta
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Professional development opportunities and job-related training
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Employee and Family Assistance Program
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Long Service Milestone rewards
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Employee referral bonus program
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A values-driven workplace — as a Certified B Corp, we're committed to using business as a force for good
Website reference
For more information on Taproot Community Support Services visit our website: taproot.ca
Closing Statement
No candidate will meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you! Please apply.
Equal-Opportunity Employer
Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is unwavering. We believe that varied backgrounds and experiences fuel innovation and success. As an equal-opportunity employer, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion across all operations. We're seeking candidates passionate about contributing to our multicultural teams and enriching our workplace with their unique insights and cultural sensitivity.
We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply and join us in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
No telephone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.
