Executive Director

Sojourn House acknowledges the land we work on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississauga’s of the Credit River, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat peoples and is home to many Indigenous Nations from across Turtle Island including Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge that Toronto is covered by the One Dish with One Spoon Treaty and that we are all Treaty people in the spirit of respect, peace and friendship.

As settlers both recent and in the past we also acknowledge those who came forcibly as a result of the Trans Atlantic Slave trade; we honour and pay tribute to the ancestors of African origin and descent.

With the upcoming retirement of its long-serving Executive Director, Sojourn House, an award-winning agency serving the needs of newly arrived refugees since 1987, welcomes applications and nominations for a new Executive Director to continue the outstanding work of the agency.

Known and respected for its leadership in refugee care, Sojourn House has been an active partner of the City of Toronto in the provision of emergency shelter and transitional supportive housing for refugees; building the first integrated model of refugee specific emergency shelter and supportive housing in Canada.

Sojourn House has assisted thousands of refugees to become active and engaged Canadians over the years.

In addition to providing emergency and transitional housing Sojourn House also provides trauma-informed programs and services, which are integral to supporting newly arrived refugees, facing the challenges of settling in a new country. Sojourn House strongly believes that providing temporary shelter along with support services  is what truly makes a difference in the lives of refugees embarking on their new life journey in Canada.

The mission of Sojourn House is to provide a safe place and inclusive environment where refugees are supported and empowered to pursue a new life in Canada. Sojourn House is dedicated to providing shelter along with the best possible settlement services and programs that help its residents’ transition and successfully move into their new community.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (“ED”) is responsible for advancing Sojourn House’s visionary leadership and impact in refugee care, and its exceptional reputational profile in the shelter and refugee serving sectors.

The ED provides successful leadership and management of the organization according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors from an integrated anti-racist, access and equity framework. The ED oversees agency operations, including programs and services, human resource management, including labour and management relations, finance and fundraising, and ensuring compliance of the agency operations with the agency framework and other legislation governing the non-profit sector.

The ED will have the opportunity to lead and collaborate with a high performing team; direct reports include: Senior Director of Shelter and Housing, Director of Finance and Administration, Director of People Services, Director of Facilities and Maintenance, and Director of Food and Service Programs. Additionally, the ED will continue to foster a culture that works in support of and collaboratively with the union (Canadian Union of Public Employees).

The Executive Director also maintains a high agency profile by fostering effective and strategic relations with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to representatives of funding bodies, refugee rights networks, and shelter support networks. The ED will keep abreast of social justice issues especially as they affect refugees and ensure the advancement of issues from an anti-racism, access and equity framework both in the internal and external community of the organization.

This appointment calls for a transformative, creative, inspired and supportive leader to take Sojourn House to its next level of achievement in providing a safe place and inclusive environment where refugees are supported and empowered to pursue a new life in Canada. Sojourn House provides both Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing services, and refugee specific services with a settlement focus. Your experiences, lived and/or professional, will position you for success in progressing in the unique nature of this ED position – being an active and respected member of the shelter, support and housing network, and the immigrant and refugee settlement network.

As the successful candidate, you are an accessible, responsive, and approachable leader with the passion and skill to support a 24/7 operational environment coupled with and a clear commitment to Sojourn House’s mission. Like Sojourn House, you value: social justice; diversity; compassion; mutual respect; client centered  approach; collaboration; integrity/transparency; and  entrepreneurial spirit.

You have progressive management experience gained within a not-for-profit organization, ideally, in a social service environment focused on marginalized, high-needs and/or underserved populations. You have experience with financial oversight and planning, fundraising, human resources, project management, and you understand the dynamics of working with, and in support of, a Board of Directors. You have demonstrated experience in labour relations in a unionized environment.

You are collaborative yet decisive, and an articulate communicator, community builder, and networker with the ability to develop strong relationships both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organization. You have demonstrated understanding of anti-racism, access, equity, community development and systemic legal advocacy. Familiarity with the refugee determination process, settlement issues and related legislation is an asset, as is knowledge of social work practices and ethics, crisis intervention, case management and counselling. A university Bachelor’s degree is required. A Master’s degree would be an asset.

To apply for or explore this impactful leadership opportunity with Sojourn House, please submit a comprehensive resume along with a cover letter in confidence to Sam Walton (sam@griffithgroup.ca) and Nicole Arnold (nicole@griffithgroup.ca ).

Sojourn House welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, and strongly encourages applications from women, members of Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities; Two-Spirit, non-binary, trans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity-deserving groups.

Sojourn House and Griffith Group are committed to an inclusive, accessible and welcoming hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants. Please advise Sam Walton (sam@griffithgroup.ca) should you require any accommodation to participate in the recruitment and assessment processes. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.