Director of Programs & Impact

Director of Programs & Impact

Organization: Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP)

Location: Hybrid

Job Type: Part-time/25hours per week

Salary: $70,000 CAD yearly

Application Deadline: June 25, 2026

This is a one-year contract position with the potential for renewal and transition to permanent full-time employment, contingent on funding.

About Dancing with Parkinson’s

Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP) is a registered Canadian charity founded in Toronto in 2008. We are dedicated to bringing joy, movement, and community to people living with Parkinson’s disease, seniors, and those with neurological conditions through inclusive, arts-based programming.

Grounded in compassion, accessibility, and the transformative power of the arts, our evidence-based dance and movement programs are specifically designed to support and enhance functional fitness, mobility, and overall quality of life.

With a strong foundation in therapeutic practice and artistic expression and over 6,000 participants, DWP continues to grow as a national leader in accessible programming for people of all abilities.

www.dancingwithparkinsons.com

Position Summary

This is a new and exciting executive leadership opportunity with Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP). The Director, Programs & Impact provides strategic leadership and executive oversight of all DWP programs, launches, and initiatives.

Reporting to the CEO, this role holds executive responsibility for the Program Manager and the Director, Outreach & Engagement, ensuring integrated planning and delivery across programs, outreach, and community engagement.

DWP operates as a national, evidence-informed initiative built on interconnected pillars of dance, community, healthcare, and evaluation. The Director serves as strategic steward of this model, leading programmatic oversight, implementation, and measurable impact while strengthening DWP’s position as a national leader in therapeutic dance, social prescribing, and brain health.

The Director functions as the senior operational decision-maker, driving cross-functional execution across hybrid, virtual, and in-person delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all DWP programs, launches, and initiatives, overseeing quality, accessibility, and consistency across sites and formats.
• While final authority over strategy, financial thresholds, and staffing remains with the CEO this role serves as the primary operational decision-maker, translating strategy into execution plans with clear accountability and timelines.
• Provide strategic direction to the Program Manager and Director, Outreach & Engagement.
• Oversee national instructor training, mentorship, and program standards; maintain program handbooks and documentation.
• Build and sustain healthcare partnerships and social prescribing networks; represent DWP at national events and conferences.
• Lead program budget oversight, monitor spend and variances, and support funder reporting and grant proposals.
• Oversee evaluation frameworks and translate data into program refinement and organizational learning.
• Manage and develop direct reports; foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

What We’re Looking For

We're seeking a purpose-driven executive leader with proven national or multi-site leadership experience, deep commitment to community impact, and the ability to build systems and inspire teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven executive-level leadership experience in a complex, multi-program or national organization, with a demonstrated track record of operational decision-making and organizational stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to translate organizational vision into operational strategy, build implementation frameworks, and drive execution across multiple teams and initiatives simultaneously.
• Deep experience overseeing national or multi-site program delivery, with executive-level accountability for quality, consistency, and outcomes.
• Experience exercising financial judgment across program areas, including budget oversight, resource allocation, variance analysis, and contributing to funder reporting and grant development.
• Background in the nonprofit or charitable sector, with knowledge of community-based programming, therapeutic or health-adjacent practice, and mission-driven organizational culture. Familiarity with therapeutic dance, brain health, or aging is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience building and sustaining healthcare partnerships, referral networks, or social prescribing relationships.
• Experience establishing and overseeing evaluation frameworks and translating findings into strategic decisions and funder communications.
• Comfort working with digital tools, platforms, and data systems that support hybrid program delivery, reporting, and organizational operations.

Core Competencies

• Executive Accountability - autonomous decision-making with a high degree of ownership.
• Strategic Agility - translates vision into strategy; sound judgment in complex environments.
• Cross-Functional Leadership - aligns and holds accountable diverse teams.
• Executive Communication - credible with board members, funders, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders.
• Resilience & Change Leadership — steady and effective through growth and uncertainty.
• Financial Judgment - uses data to inform strategy, manage risk, and communicate impact.

Culture and Commitment

Dancing with Parkinson’s is committed to equity, inclusion, and diverse representation both internally and in our community. We are committed to building a diverse team and welcome and encourage applications from equity-seeking groups including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment and selection process, please contact annmarie@dancingwithparkinsons.com. We are committed to ensuring an equitable and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Application Process

Please submit your resume and a cover letter as one combined document, to annmarie@dancingwithparkinsons.com with the subject line: Director Application no later than June 25,2026.

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and any offer of employment is conditional on the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal record and vulnerable sector check in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

DWP appreciates the interest of all applicants, however only candidates being considered will be contacted.