Director, Employment & Income Support

Lead with purpose. Champion dignity, opportunity, and stability

At the Region of Waterloo, our Employment & Income Supports Division plays a critical role in helping people build pathways toward greater stability, wellbeing, and economic security. We believe that accessing income support and employment services should be grounded in respect, partnership, and dignity, reflecting our Community Services philosophy: People First. Relationships Matter.

We are seeking a Director of Employment & Income Supports to lead this essential division with compassion, strategic insight, and strong systems leadership. This role is ideal for a leader who understands the complexity of social assistance systems, can navigate legislative and political environments, and is deeply committed to equity and community wellbeing.

Departmental Leadership and Impact

As a senior leader within Community Services, and as the Region’s designated Ontario Works Administrator, you will guide the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of employment services, income supports, and related programs across Waterloo Region.

You will lead a large, complex division operating within a provincial legislative framework, while working collaboratively across Community Services and with external partners to ensure services are integrated, responsive, and people-centred. Working closely with the Commissioner and divisional peers, you will help shape strategy, respond to emerging needs, and steward system change that improves outcomes for residents.

You will also bring curiosity and openness — taking time to learn what is working well today, listening to staff and community partners, and helping guide the next evolution of Employment & Income Supports in a changing and increasingly complex social and economic landscape.

What You’ll Lead

• Division leadership & operations: Provide strategic and operational leadership for all Employment & Income Supports programs, services, and resources, ensuring effective service delivery and stewardship of public funds.
• People leadership: Lead, support, and develop managers and staff; foster strong relationships with unions; and promote healthy, safe, and supportive workplaces.
• Legislative stewardship: Fulfill the role of Ontario Works Administrator, ensuring compliance with the Ontario Works Act, ODSP Act, Employment Ontario requirements, and related legislation and directives.
• Service integration: Strengthen connections with Housing & Homelessness, Children’s Services, Seniors’ Services, and external partners to support integrated, whole-person and whole-family pathways.
• Partnerships & advocacy: Build and maintain strong relationships with provincial Ministries, municipalities, post-secondary institutions, research bodies, and community agencies to coordinate services and advocate for system improvements.
• Modernization & innovation: Guide program and service modernization, including digital tools, automation, and evolving service delivery models.
• Compliance & accountability: Oversee internal appeals processes, risk management, and quality assurance, providing guidance on complex cases and policy interpretation.
• Financial stewardship: Manage the division’s operating budget (approximately $120M), including submissions to Council and Ministries, ensuring accountability and effective resource allocation.

Who You Are

Ideally, you are a leader with experience in employment services, social assistance, or related human services and is willing to engage in this opportunity with a leader who brings relevant experience in a different sector. You know how to combine technical expertise with empathy, strong judgment, and the ability to lead through complexity and change.

An ideal candidate brings:

• A degree in social sciences or a related field, with significant progressive leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario Works, ODSP, Employment Ontario, and related legislation, policy frameworks, and accountability requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex service systems within unionized environments.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust across staff, unions, Council, Ministries, and community partners.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills, including experience using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Political acuity and comfort navigating public accountability, stakeholder expectations, and evolving provincial directions.
• A demonstrated commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including experience applying anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonizing approaches to service design and delivery.
• Ability to work flexible hours, participate in on-call rotations, and travel within and beyond Waterloo Region.

Our Service Philosophy: People First. Relationships Matter.

Everything we do in Community Services is grounded in people and relationships. We:

1. Create trusting relationships through transparent and open communication.
2. Cultivate belonging through equity, inclusivity, and meaningful connections.
3. Support health and wellbeing for everyone.
4. Foster opportunities for learning, development, and practice.
5. Recognize individual and collective strengths and contributions.

As Director, you will bring this philosophy to life through servant leadership, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep respect for the people and communities we serve.