Executive Director

YouthLink began as The Big Sister Association of Toronto in 1914. In the 1970s the organization became Huntley Youth Services and, later, YouthLink. As a resource for youth and their families in Scarborough and Toronto over 1400 new clients received services and there were over 60,000 client contacts with staff from 2023-2024.

Today, the organization provides a range of services, over several sites, which are offered free of charge. YouthLink supports youth, with 28 different programs and services, in an environment that respects race, culture, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and income. Diversity at YouthLink is reflected by the broad representation of community among staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors.

Within this context, YouthLink welcomes applications and nominations for the appointment of its Executive Director.  

Reporting to a volunteer Board of Directors, the Executive Director will ensure the continued evolution of YouthLink and provide strategic leadership to advance YouthLink’s vision – a stronger Scarborough where all youth and families thrive.

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of operations, programs and services, resource development, human resources, fiscal management, administration, and external relations, while fostering a united team committed to YouthLink’s mission to support youth and families. In partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, and the YouthLink community, the Executive Director will play a key role in the development and implementation of an impactful Strategic Plan.

The Executive Director will continue to champion YouthLink’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and belonging, and foster a safe, supportive, innovative, and inclusive environment, that promotes a culture of excellence and delivers high-quality, client centred programs. Additionally, the Executive Director will continue a culture that works in support of and collaboratively with the union, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The Executive Director will navigate the ever-complex and evolving nature of youth mental health within the province and identify opportunities to enhance YouthLink’s client-centred approach and service philosophy. The Executive Director will facilitate networks that strengthen YouthLink’s relationships with system partners and ensure YouthLink is an active member of the community helping advance community goals and objectives. Serving as a strong voice and key spokesperson, the Executive Director will foster strategic partnerships, cultivate collaborative relationships with funders and donors, and represent the organization both within the community and across the sector.

This appointment calls for an authentic leader and community builder who believes in the potential of every youth and is dedicated to providing the support, guidance and opportunities they need to make positive life choices.

Candidates must have a demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. You have progressive management experience within the not-for-profit and/or public sector, ideally in a complex unionized social service environment. You have previous experience working in support of a volunteer board and an understanding of the roles of governance and management. You are system-oriented with a strong understanding of youth mental health, and community-based programming for youth and their families. You have operational acumen, including financial acumen; knowledge of human resource management and quality improvement; and a track record of building service excellence.

Your team leadership experience and skills build unity and inspire collective impact.  You foster a safe, accessible, supportive, and inclusive environment in your organizations. You have exemplary interpersonal and communication skills and are comfortable representing and advocating for YouthLink. You can build strong relationships with both internal and external partners (government, community groups, system partners, etc.,) coupled with the skill to strengthen and expand YouthLink’s connection with funders and donors. You are solutions focused and adaptable, possess change management experience, and can drive the organization forward in a complex and shifting landscape.

To learn more about this impactful leadership opportunity with YouthLink, please submit a comprehensive resume along with a cover letter in confidence to Sam Walton (sam@griffithgroup.ca), Caroline McLean (caroline@griffithgroup.ca), and/or Noshina Choudhary (noshina@griffithgroup.ca).

YouthLink is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Research shows that women and racialized candidates often only apply to positions when they feel 100% qualified. YouthLink strongly encourages applications from women, Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of all sexual orientations and/or gender identities. Individuals are encouraged to self-identify.

YouthLink 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 this posting, recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. 

Priority will be given to individuals legally entitled to work in Canada.

The land on which YouthLink is situated has been the home of Indigenous people and Nations for tens of thousands of years and is specifically the land of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinabek, Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Haudenosaunee.

The territory of Tkaronto, or what is known today as Toronto is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum belt covenant, a centuries-old agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinabek nations for the peaceable sharing and stewardship of the land between the great lakes. The territories that encompass Toronto, as well, fall under a number of colonial Treaties including Treaty 13, and in Scarborough specifically the Williams Treaties. There have been many Indigenous names and words associated with this place, and today, Scarborough is home to a multitude of Indigenous people, languages, and cultures from across Turtle Island and around the world.

Land acknowledgment is a tradition of respect that goes back centuries for many Indigenous people, and today is an act of reconciliation that requires us to consider our relationship to the land and peoples where we live, work and learn.

We are all treaty people. Many of us have come here as settlers, immigrants, or newcomers in this generation or generations past. We also acknowledge the many people of African descent who are not settlers, but whose ancestors were forcibly displaced as part of the transatlantic slave trade against their will, and made to work on these lands.

We observe a moment of silence to honour those Afrikans who have led lives of service; those who have stood up for racial, social, and economic justice, have sacrificed to advance the well being of African Canadians and all justice loving peoples, have confronted and dismantled oppressive forces, practices and institutions and have built affirming and equitable examples to inspire us all.

Ancestors, you acted with courage and conviction. You fearlessly challenged White Supremacy and the attendant anti-Black racism, racial terrorism and genocidal violence against our people. You organized against economic exploitation, gender discrimination, religious bigotry, and other oppressive forces. You built communities and institutions. You changed the political, economic, cultural, and social landscape of this nation. Your valuable contributions to nation building do not go un-noticed. You shined a light on the beauty, strength, and genius of our people. You led by example.

We are grateful for your love, tenacity, leadership, and inspiring legacy. We are encouraged and emboldened by your character and service to community. We stand on your sturdy, courageous shoulders. We are charged up with the conviction of continuing this monumental work, this struggle for justice, this self-reliance and self determination. We thank you. We honour you. Ase. Ase. Ase!