Company Summary
Since 1866, Willis College has built a strong reputation as one of Canada's leading career colleges. As the oldest institution of its kind in the country, we continue to evolve with the changing labour market, delivering practical, in-demand skills training that prepares students for today’s—and tomorrow’s—workplace. Graduates benefit from more than a century of experience, innovation, and industry partnerships, and we remain committed to offering exciting, career-focused education.
Our Mission Statement: Providing excellence in education to adult learners, supporting them in reaching their potential as well as gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve their career goals.
Position Summary
Ready to help build the next generation of skilled trades professionals?
Willis College is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead an innovative training program that prepares youth for careers in the skilled trades. This role is ideal for someone with a background in construction, building supplies, project management, or hardware retail leadership who wants to use their industry expertise to make a lasting impact. Whether you're looking for a new challenge, a meaningful career transition, or an opportunity to stay engaged after retirement, this role offers the chance to shape future trades workers while building strong connections with industry partners.
This innovative workforce development initiative supports youth, particularly those facing systemic barriers, in developing the skills, confidence, resilience, and industry-recognized certifications required to enter careers in the skilled trades. The program combines jobsite safety certifications, trades fundamentals, green construction awareness, employability skills, and AI-enhanced learning experiences.
The Project Manager will be responsible for both project leadership and instructional delivery. This includes participant recruitment and support, stakeholder engagement, employer partnerships, instruction, training and instructor coordination, curriculum implementation, outcome tracking, reporting, and classroom facilitation.
The successful candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for participants, community partners, employers, and program stakeholders while ensuring program objectives and performance targets are achieved.
Key Responsibilities
1. Program Leadership & Project Management
- Lead the day-to-day planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Youth Pathways into Skilled Trades Program.
- Maintain detailed project plans, timelines, budgets, and reporting tools.
- Coordinate program schedules, training activities, certifications, guest speakers, employer visits, and community events.
- Monitor program deliverables and ensure all funding and reporting requirements are met.
- Track participant progress, attendance, certifications, completion rates, and employment outcomes.
- Prepare reports, success stories, performance metrics, and stakeholder updates.
- Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to support successful project delivery.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives through participant, employer, and partner feedback.
2. Participant Recruitment & Support
- Collaborate with community organizations, employment agencies, schools, and youth-serving agencies to recruit participants.
- Conduct participant intake, orientation, and onboarding activities.
- Provide ongoing coaching, mentorship, and support to participants throughout the program.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and trauma-informed learning environment.
3. Employer & Community Partnership Development
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, unions, apprenticeship organizations, and industry stakeholders.
- Coordinate employer presentations, jobsite tours, guest speakers, and networking opportunities.
- Support employment placement, apprenticeship exploration, and transition-to-work activities.
4. Instructional Delivery
- Deliver and coordinate classroom, workshop, and experiential learning activities related to:
- Workplace safety and jobsite readiness.
- Construction and trades fundamentals.
- Employability and workplace resilience.
- Career exploration within the skilled trades.
- Digital and AI tools relevant to construction and trades environments.
- Facilitate engaging learning experiences that accommodate diverse learning styles and backgrounds.
- Assess participant learning and provide timely feedback and coaching.
- Maintain accurate records of attendance, evaluations, certifications, and learner achievements.
- Collaborate with subject matter experts and guest instructors where specialized certifications are required.
5. Administration & Compliance
- Maintain participant files and documentation in accordance with privacy legislation and organizational policies.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements and funding agreements.
- Coordinate certification registrations, records, and credential tracking.
- Support audits, evaluations, and quality assurance activities.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Application & Compliance Requirements (Mandatory)
- Reference Requirement: Candidates must provide two (2) professional letters of reference from previous employers or industry partners with their application.
- Credential Submission: Candidates must submit formal copies of their applicable diploma and/or degree upon applying.
- Condition of Employment: This position is strictly subject to the verification of a successful Criminal Record Check.
Education & Experience
- Diploma, degree, or recognized certification in Construction, Skilled Trades, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Project Management, Community Development, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in project coordination, workforce development, employment services, construction, or skilled trades.
- Experience managing community-based or government-funded programs is an asset.
- Experience teaching, facilitating, coaching, or delivering training to youth and adult learners is an asset.
- Adult Education or Training certification is considered an asset.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of skilled trades career pathways and apprenticeship opportunities.
- Knowledge of construction safety practices and jobsite expectations.
- Excellent project management, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Strong interpersonal, coaching, and facilitation abilities.
- Experience using Microsoft Office Suite.
- Familiarity with AI-powered learning tools and workforce development technologies is an asset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation considered an asset.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for outreach, employer events, or community engagement activities.
Success Measures & KPIs
The successful candidate will support achievement of the program's key performance indicators, including:
- Participant recruitment and retention targets.
- Program and certification completion rates.
- Employment, apprenticeship, or further education outcomes.
- Employer engagement and partnership development.
- Participant satisfaction and program impact measures.
- Compliance with funding, reporting, and quality assurance requirements.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Willis College is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and candidates feel valued and respected. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live and serve. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment and selection process due to a disability or other human rights ground, please let us know so that appropriate arrangements can be made to support your application.
Why Join Willis College?
Join a team committed to changing lives through education and workforce development. This role offers the opportunity to directly support youth in building meaningful careers while helping address workforce shortages in the skilled trades sector. You will play a key leadership role in delivering an innovative program that combines technical skills, resilience building, green construction awareness, and emerging technologies to prepare participants for the future of work.
Pay: $70,000.00-$85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
