Senior Manager, IT Operations & Governance

Who we are

Children are at the front and centre of what we do; they are the foundation of our purpose and the basis for our evidence-driven strategy. Our mission is to transform the lives of children, youth and their families by developing and delivering innovative, research-based mental health and early learning programs. At the Child Development Institute (CDI), we are passionate about helping our communities’ most vulnerable members and their caregivers. It motivates each of us to face what can be difficult situations while continuously finding the purest joy in play, in silence, in advice, and in the unbelievable strength and resilience of our young clients. Joining us now is a rewarding opportunity to be part of an organization that is built on a legacy of more than 100 years of helping children and families. 

Recognized as a leader and model for measurement-based impact, we are client-centred, family-centred, and data-informed. We are a place where professionals grounded in mental health, care, and well-being of infants, children and youth, come together in collaboration, learning and inclusion. As a multiservice organization delivering social, emotional, and behavioural counselling services, early childhood education, learning disabilities and mental health services, and family violence services, we address the whole person from when they begin their life. Every child and family that reaches out to us is unique, and we value and embrace their individuality. We deliver the tailored support and tools they need to build life-long skills, positive mental health, and resilience. With their trust in us, we guide children and families along a supportive journey. It is an often difficult path and simultaneously the most rewarding experience for providers, children and families.

Who we need

Reporting to the COO, we are hiring a Senior Manager, IT Operations & Governance, for a one-year contract as we undertake several high-impact, organization-wide technical transformation projects. In this highly visible and influential leadership role, you will be responsible for the integrity, governance, and strategic direction of CDI’s IT environment, with a primary focus on enterprise SaaS applications, information security, data governance, and operational risk. You will define and evolve the frameworks, standards, and controls that ensure technology is secure, reliable, and aligned with organizational priorities. You will also play a key leadership role in embedding inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility (IDEA), and ethical practice into how technology is governed, delivered, and experienced across the organization, ensuring systems and processes are equitable, accessible, and reflective of the communities we serve.

This is an opportunity to operate at the intersection of strategy, governance, and execution, with direct exposure to executive leadership and the Board, and accountability for critical organizational systems and risk domains. You will shape the technology governance, security posture, and operational model for a multi-site non-profit organization. Your leadership will define how systems are structured, secured, and scaled, strengthening organizational resilience, enabling service delivery, and positioning CDI for sustained growth and impact.

This is a full-time, hybrid role based at our Euclid location, with three days on-site and two days remote each week, with flexibility to travel across GTA sites to support operations, escalations, and key initiatives.

Who you are

You are a hands-on IT leader who brings structure to complexity. You have experience overseeing SaaS environments, vendors, and operational risk, and you know how to stabilize and strengthen systems that need clarity and consistency. You are comfortable moving between strategy and execution defining governance while also stepping in to improve workflows, unblock teams, and drive progress. You are pragmatic, autonomous, and solutions-oriented, able to balance immediate needs with longer-term direction in a resource-conscious environment.

What's in it for you 

High-impact transformation. You will partner with an external consultant to oversee a major IT modernization initiative, alongside a site consolidation and multiple concurrent projects launching this summer. From standing up infrastructure for a new early learning centre to supporting technology across clinical services, Youth Justice, school-based programs, and community-based sites, you will play a central role in shaping how technology enables service delivery across the organization.

Ownership, complexity, and innovation. You will lead the integration and centralization of data across multiple systems, improving security, accessibility, and decision-making. You will also oversee internally developed applications that support service delivery, bringing structure to development and change management. As part of this, you will contribute to the evaluation and governance of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, ensuring thoughtful, secure, and practical adoption.

Purpose-driven impact. Your work will directly support teams delivering critical services across diverse programs and communities. By strengthening systems, processes, and governance, you will make day-to-day work more effective while helping the organization operate with greater clarity, stability, and long-term resilience.

As our new Senior Manager, IT Operations & Governance, you will

• Own IT governance and operating model. You will establish and evolve a clear governance framework, defining decision rights, standards, escalation pathways, and accountability across systems and services. You will design a scalable operating model that brings consistency, role clarity, and disciplined execution, while strengthening system reliability and reducing operational risk.
• Lead enterprise applications, data, and security oversight. You will oversee the SaaS ecosystem, including lifecycle management, integrations, and access governance. You will embed security, privacy, and risk practices across systems and vendors, including disaster recovery and business continuity. You will lead data governance, improving ownership, quality, and access, while bringing greater structure and control to a complex environment.
• Drive IT strategy and planning. You will translate organizational priorities into a clear, forward-looking IT strategy and operating plan. You will provide leadership with insight into risks, dependencies, and emerging technologies, supporting informed, practical decision-making.
• Strengthen IT service delivery. You will provide functional leadership to IT Services, setting expectations and outcomes while supporting the team to move work forward. You will define and monitor KPIs and SLAs, stepping in to address high-risk or cross-functional issues and restore stability when needed.
• Lead financial and vendor management. You will oversee IT budgets, forecasting, and spend, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities. You will manage vendor relationships, procurement, and contracts, ensuring performance, value, and compliance while optimizing the vendor landscape.
• Establish policies and ensure compliance. You will develop and enforce IT policies, standards, and procedures that bring consistency and accountability. You will ensure compliance with PHIPA, PIPEDA, and AODA, embedding regulatory requirements into systems and practices, and reporting on performance across cost, risk, and effectiveness.

What you bring   

• The IT leadership experience. You bring progressive IT leadership experience in complex environments, with responsibility across systems, vendors, and operational risk. You have led or contributed to a portfolio of SaaS applications and integrated systems, including governance, lifecycle management, integrations, and rationalization. You understand how technology, process, and organizational design intersect, and can translate technical complexity into clear, executive-level insight. You balance risk, cost, service quality, and scalability while guiding teams through change with structure and pragmatism.
• The strategic and systems thinking. You understand how technology, process, and organizational design intersect, and can translate technical complexity into clear, executive-level insight. You balance risk, cost, service quality, and scalability, while guiding teams through change with structure, pragmatism, and a focus on outcomes.
• The leadership and delivery mindset. You are accountable, solutions-oriented, and comfortable operating in ambiguity. You make sound decisions under pressure and maintain composure during incidents, outages, and competing priorities. You support teams by setting clear expectations, removing blockers, and ensuring progress without needing to own every detail.
• The technical foundation. You bring a strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and identity platforms (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, Azure AD), along with a broad understanding of infrastructure, including backup and recovery, monitoring, automation, and continuity planning. You can assess system fitness, guide integration decisions, and oversee availability, data integrity, and performance. You also have a solid understanding of networking and security concepts, enabling effective risk assessment and vendor oversight.
• The communication and influence. You are an effective communicator who can translate technical concepts into clear, decision-ready insights. You build alignment across stakeholders and communicate with clarity and confidence across written and verbal contexts.
• The project and change experience. You have experience leading IT operations and infrastructure initiatives end to end, including change management, governance, and communication planning. You are comfortable moving between strategic oversight and hands-on problem-solving to advance complex initiatives.
• The flexibility. You are able to work outside regular business hours when needed and travel within the GTA to support multiple CDI locations.

Other requirements

• All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check and references.

Compensation:  At Child Development Institute (CDI), we believe that compensation should be transparent, fair, and supportive of your experience and growth. For this role, the annualized salary range is $107 - $116K which is inclusive of 4% vacation pay. Salary is determined by the complexity of the position and internal equity, ensuring a fair and competitive salary within our sector.

We believe in transparency and open conversations about compensation. If you have any questions about our approach, we are happy to discuss them throughout the hiring process.

Join us.

Fostering positive transformations in mental health for over a century, CDI is a world-class leader trusted in helping children, youth and families through a wide range of evidence-informed services to build lasting change.

At CDI, we prioritize the mental well-being and work-life balance of our teams. We acknowledge the reality of the emotionally demanding work each of us puts in every day. To that end, we strive to create a collaborative, diverse, inclusive, and equitable space where creativity flourish by offering:

• Flexible hours in a planned program environment.
• A focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Ongoing paid professional development opportunities and certifications. 

If you want to be part of our vision to make a measurable lifelong impact on the mental health and well-being of children, youth and their families, join us.

Apply now

If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications are strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application. 

What you can expect from our interview process:

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor will discuss your interest in the role. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
• A second-round in-person panel interview with the CEO and the IT Consultant leading the modernization project. This is an opportunity to discuss how your experience in technical operations projects and relationship management skills align with the organization's needs.

CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

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