CharityVillage

Senior Manager, Business Development - Workforce Solutions (2025-190-CP)
Employment Type: Contract Salary (1-year), Non-Bargaining Unit 
Work Hours: 35 hours/week
Work Setting: Hybrid - Opportunity to work remotely after orientation & training period
Salary: $77,143 and $89,858

Program Overview (1533 Victoria Park Ave.)
The Senior Manager, Business Development – Workforce Solutions is responsible for developing and executing employer engagement strategies that directly impact job placements, workforce retention, and hiring outcomes across all WoodGreen Employment & Workforce Development programs.

This role will focus on business development, employer partnerships, and industry-driven hiring solutions by securing key employer relationships, launching mass hiring initiatives, and creating career pathways in high-demand industries. Working across multiple employment programs, this position does not manage job development staff directly but plays a critical role in setting them up for success by securing employer commitments, identifying workforce needs, and developing large-scale recruitment initiatives.

What You Will Do

• Lead business development efforts to secure key employer partnerships, industry collaborations, and workforce initiatives that result in job placements and retention, sharing in employed targets for WoodGreen programs and services.
• Own responsibility for the growth and quality of WoodGreen’s employer relationships, strategic messaging to industry concerning hiring and retaining our jobseekers, and WoodGreen’s impact as a strategic partner to industry in hiring.
• Create and sustain a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with WoodGreen’s staff engaged in job development, providing strategies and tools to help with employer engagement and to drive employment outcomes for clients.
• In conjunction with program operations leadership, develop sector-based hiring strategies for high-demand industries and entry point occupations with strong career laddering prospects.
• Design customized hiring solutions for large employers, focusing on mass recruitment, workforce retention, and career growth.
• Work closely with corporate hiring managers, industry leaders, and workforce stakeholders to align employment opportunities with job seeker talent pipelines.
• Establish strategic employer agreements, ensuring long-term commitments to hiring and workforce development initiatives.
• In conjunction with program operations leaderships, develop and execute industry-driven workforce solutions, integrating employer needs with job readiness, onboarding, and retention strategies.
• Lead the design of structured career pathways, including:
  • Job trials and on-the-job training programs
  • Paid and unpaid internships
  • Apprenticeships and work placements
  • Job shadowing and mentorship programs
  • Volunteering as a bridge to employment
• Ensure workforce solutions align with current labor market trends, employer hiring needs, and funding objectives.
• Actively collaborate with internal teams to support the success of WoodGreen’s Job Developers, Employment Consultants, and other program staff in securing employment opportunities.
• Partner with employers to implement retention best practices, such as structured onboarding, career development supports, and workplace accommodations.
• Monitor employment retention data, analyzing trends to improve hiring solutions and employer engagement strategies.
• Leverage and deliver employer training and coaching strategies to ensure workplaces are inclusive, supportive, and aligned with the needs of diverse job seekers.
• Utilize WCG’s existing employer marketing materials, adapting them as needed for industry-specific hiring campaigns and employer outreach.
• Design and execute employer engagement events, including:
  • Industry hiring fairs and networking events
  • Corporate roundtables and workforce summits
  • Targeted outreach campaigns for high-growth industries
• Represent WoodGreen at business forums, workforce conferences, and industry networking events, positioning the organization as a leader in employer-driven workforce solutions.
• Work closely with WoodGreen’s Foundation, employment programs leadership, Newcomer Services, and Financial Empowerment teams to align employer engagement with broader workforce initiatives.
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government agencies, and corporate stakeholders to enhance workforce innovation and expand employer-driven programming.
• Provide data insights and employer perspectives to support funding proposals, program development, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Ensure the anti-racism objectives and community development principles of the organization are achieved within the programs.
• Work with other staff to ensure on-going collaboration and co-ordination within the unit and the organization.
• Contribute to the achievement of WoodGreen Community Programs Unit’s wider objectives through collaboration with the management team.
• Adhere to policies and procedures such as service standards, Collective Agreement, Privacy Bill 168, AODA standards and other related legislations.
• Work with partner organizations to enhance service capacity and client benefits.

What You Bring to the Team

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Human Resources, Marketing and/or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in business development, employer engagement, workforce solutions, staffing, recruitment, or corporate partnerships.
• Proven success in developing employer relationships that lead to measurable employment outcomes, hiring volume, and retention improvements.
• Experience designing and implementing sector-based hiring strategies and large-scale recruitment initiatives.

What Will Set You Apart

• Strong understanding of labor market trends, employer hiring needs, and industry-driven workforce development.
• Familiarity with performance-based employment funding models is an asset.
• Exceptional business development, negotiation, and strategic partnership skills.
• Ability to analyze labor market data and translate insights into employer engagement strategies.
• Strong project management and leadership experience.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments and external partners.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office suite and database application, online learning, online job search, online research, building an online presence (e.g. with LinkedIn), networking and community building online.
• Ability to meet potential requirement to occasionally work evenings and weekends
• Ability to report to work at various WoodGreen locations throughout Toronto.