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BIST CAREERS

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Community Programs Lead

Organization: Brain Injury Society of Toronto
Position Type: Full-Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary Range: $61,000–$68,000 per year, commensurate with experience
Reports To: Executive Director

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About BIST

The Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) is a community non-profit organization supporting people living with the effects of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for people in the City of Toronto living with the effects of ABI through education, awareness, support, advocacy, and community connection.

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BIST provides programs, events, information, and community-based supports that help members build connection, reduce isolation, access resources, and participate more fully in their communities.

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Position Summary

The Community Programs Lead helps bring BIST’s community programs and member activities to life.

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This role is responsible for supporting the planning, coordination, delivery, and continuous improvement of BIST’s community programs, workshops, events, student-supported resource navigation, and member engagement activities.

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The Community Programs Lead works closely with the Executive Director, Programs Coordinator, students, volunteers, facilitators, and community partners to ensure BIST’s programs are welcoming, accessible, organized, and responsive to member needs.

This position is well suited to someone who enjoys building relationships, supporting community connection, working with volunteers and students, strengthening partnerships, and creating spaces where people living with ABI feel seen, included, and supported.

This is a community development and program coordination role. The position includes oversight of student-led functional support and resource navigation activities, but BIST does not provide clinical case management, counselling, legal advice, financial advice, crisis intervention, or long-term individualized service planning.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Program Coordination and Community Development

  • Coordinate and support the delivery of BIST programs, workshops, groups, events, and member activities for individuals living with ABI.

  • Foster safe, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environments that promote engagement, connection, and community participation.

  • Coordinate facilitators and guest speakers, including scheduling, onboarding, communication, and coverage to ensure smooth program delivery.

  • Monitor program quality and participant feedback, recommending and implementing improvements as needed.

  • Collaborate with the Executive Director, staff, and community partners to develop new programs, strengthen community connections, and advance BIST’s mission and awareness.

  • Provide light communications support by sharing program information, member updates, and event announcements while ensuring content is clear, accessible, and aligned with BIST’s mission, tone, and brand.

 

2. Student, Volunteer, and Facilitator Support

  • Provide day-to-day operational guidance and support to placement students, volunteers, and contract facilitators involved in BIST programs and member-support activities.

  • Recruit, onboard, schedule, mentor, and provide ongoing support to volunteers, placement students, and contract facilitators involved in BIST programs.

  • Ensure volunteers and students understand BIST’s role, service boundaries, confidentiality requirements, documentation practices, and escalation procedures.

  • Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative environment that supports effective program delivery and member engagement.

  • Partner with the Programs Coordinator to ensure volunteers, students, and facilitators have the tools, information, and guidance needed to carry out their roles successfully.

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3. Member Functional Support and Resource Navigation

  • Oversee student-led member support activities, including assistance with forms, applications, correspondence, basic administrative needs, and access to community resources.

  • Ensure support remains practical, time-limited, and aligned with BIST’s service model while maintaining appropriate role boundaries.

  • Support students in responding to member inquiries, providing information, referrals, and short-term follow-up as appropriate.

  • Facilitate connections to relevant community, health, housing, income-support, legal, and other external resources, escalating complex needs to the Executive Director when required.

  • Ensure member support activities do not extend into counselling, crisis intervention, legal or financial advice, or ongoing case management.

 

4. Program Administration

  • Maintain accurate program, participant, volunteer, and student records to support program delivery, continuity, reporting, and evaluation.

  • Monitor program budgets, process facilitator invoices, and maintain accurate expense tracking.

  • Ensure compliance with BIST policies, procedures, confidentiality standards, and safety practices.

  • Support and improve operational systems and processes to ensure efficient and consistent program delivery.

 

5. Reporting and Evaluation

  • Collect and maintain program participation data, member feedback, outcomes, and success stories to support evaluation and planning.

  • Prepare program reports, statistics, and summaries to support grant reporting, funder requirements, board updates, and organizational planning.

  • Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities to enhance program delivery, member engagement, and community impact.

  • Support the Executive Director by providing program-related data and insights to support grant applications, reporting, and organizational decision-making.

 

6. Events and Community Engagement

  • Coordinate BIST special events and member activities, including the Annual Expressive Art Show.

  • Recruit, coordinate, and support event volunteers to ensure successful event delivery.

  • Build and maintain relationships with community partners, facilitators, service providers, and member-serving organizations.

  • Support outreach and community engagement initiatives that increase awareness of BIST programs and strengthen community connections.

  • Promote accessible, welcoming, and inclusive participation in BIST events and activities.

 

Qualifications

  • Three or more years of experience coordinating or supporting community-based programs, preferably in the nonprofit, disability, health, recreation, or social services sector.

  • Experience working with volunteers, placement students, facilitators, community partners, and member-focused programs; experience with community development, outreach, member engagement, or resource navigation is considered an asset.

  • Experience supporting inclusive programs for individuals with disabilities, complex needs, or lived experience of health-related challenges is considered an asset.

  • Experience maintaining program records, tracking participation, collecting feedback, preparing reports, and supporting program budgets or expense monitoring.

  • Strong organizational, coordination, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and maintain accurate records.

  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to create welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environments.

  • Sound judgment, strong professional boundaries, and the ability to provide compassionate support while recognizing when to escalate or refer to appropriate services.

  • Comfortable supporting and collaborating with students, volunteers, facilitators, community partners, and members.

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, spreadsheets, databases, and virtual meeting platforms.

  • Flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends based on program and event schedules.

  • Degree or diploma in Community Development, Recreation and Leisure, Therapeutic Recreation, Social Service Work, Health Promotion, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

  • Knowledge of Acquired Brain Injury and Toronto community services is considered an asset but is not required.

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Service Scope

BIST provides community-based programs, functional support, information, and resource navigation. BIST does not provide clinical case management, counselling, legal advice, financial advice, crisis intervention, or long-term individualized service planning.

Staff, students, volunteers, and contractors are expected to work within this scope and escalate or refer members to appropriate external services when needs fall outside BIST’s role.

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Compensation and Work Environment

The salary range for this role is $61,000–$68,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

BIST also offers paid vacation, workplace flexibility, and professional development support. 

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This is a full-time hybrid role of 37.5 hours per week, with a combination of in-office, community-based, and remote work. Some evening and occasional weekend availability may be required based on program and event schedules.

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Why Join BIST?

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At BIST, you will join a small, passionate, and collaborative team committed to improving the lives of people living with Acquired Brain Injury. This role offers the opportunity to build community, support meaningful programs, work directly with members and partners, and contribute to a more connected and inclusive Toronto for people living with ABI.

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How to Apply

BIST values the knowledge that comes from lived experience and encourages applications from people with disabilities, caregivers, and others with personal experience navigating community and social service systems.

 

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role to work@bist.ca.

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Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

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