Job Description

You’ll feel great about a career with March of Dimes Canada

At March of Dimes Canada, our collective work matters. As a leading national charity backed by a history of more than 70 years of impact, we’re dedicated to being Canada’s leading service provider, resource, and advocate, empowering people with disabilities to live and thrive in communities nationwide. Our collective efforts are rooted in our Purpose, Vision, and Mission, which inform how we drive all our work forward.

• Purpose: Champion equity. Empower ability.
• Vision: An inclusive, barrier-free society for people with disabilities.
• Mission: To be Canada’s leading service provider, resource, and advocate, empowering people with disabilities to live and thrive in communities nationwide.

Skills Development and Employment ensures that people with disabilities find and keep meaningful jobs by matching them with employers seeking qualified job candidates. In addition, they offer support with assessments, rehabilitation and child and youth programs.

This Opportunity:

Are you a passionate Occupational Therapist with a love for working with children? Do you thrive in creative, collaborative environments where your ideas shape innovative programming?

Join March of Dimes Canada’s Early Learning team and help empower children with disabilities to thrive through play, learning, and connection. Your work will directly impact the lives of children and families, helping them build essential life skills and confidence through inclusive, engaging programming.

We are looking for a full-time, fully registered Occupational Therapist (OT) with experience in pediatrics to join our amazing team in Toronto, Ontario. If you are passionate, high-energy, fun and have a child-like imagination to go along with your stellar assessment/treatment skills then this opportunity is for you! At MODC, we focus on the potential of our clients, while making programming fun.

The OT is responsible for the development and delivery of the new Early Learning program curriculum. You would be responsible for the provision of occupational therapy consultations, assessments, education sessions and group interventions to promote and facilitate the development of skills essential to daily living and promote functional independence. This role will promote the development of sensory processing abilities, fine and gross motor skills, and self-regulation/emotion regulation skills that support a child’s ability to function and engage in their home, school, play, and community environments.

While most of the responsibilities will take place during regular operating hours on weekdays, this position may require you to work evenings and weekends as part of a 5-day work week.

This role involves active participation in group children's programs, including assisting with client transfers, setting up program spaces, and moving equipment. Candidates should be comfortable with bending, kneeling, and occasional lifting. Accommodations are available upon request.

This position primarily involves in-person work at 99 Duncan Mill Road during active program sessions, with potential opportunity for hybrid work between sessions based on the program schedule. Travel may be required to other sites within the Greater Toronto Area. As this role may involve periods of non-clinical work between program sessions and during development, the ability to manage your own schedule and adapt to changing and evolving work responsibilities is essential.

Responsibilities

This dynamic and unique role offers a blend of indirect program development responsibilities and direct service delivery duties and is not an exclusively clinical position.

Program Development:

• Co-design classes for the Early Learning program; development of group programming and curriculum and activities for children and youth (infants/toddlers to 16 years old) with disabilities.
• Co-design parent workshops on relevant, valuable topics for families who attend our programs.
• Implement and evaluate the effectiveness of various group class offerings and therapeutic group interventions. Opportunities for 1:1 direct occupational therapy intervention may be explored in future program offerings.
• Modify program curriculum based on feedback and integrate feedback into future program iterations.
• Create documents for program planning and development, prepare recommendations and rehabilitation plans, workplans and other tasks as needed.
• Consult and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams both internally (Knowledge to Action team, Marketing and Communications team, Early Learning, etc.) and in the community.
• Engage in special projects as assigned, both internally and with external partners.
• Contribute to planning, implementation and training during program expansion to other geographic locations.

Service Delivery:

• Conduct holistic semi-structured interviews and functional assessments to support the program intake process.
• Apply clinical judgement to assess clients and recommend optimal group class placement according to the clients’ individualized needs and areas for goal attainment using a strengths-based approach.
• Co-facilitate and instruct group classes in person.
• Co- facilitate parent workshops in person and/or virtually.
• Proactively identify and address any challenges that children and youth may have in group programs with regulation, activity engagement, sustained attention, social-communication, transitions, fine and gross motor skills.
• Supervision and mentorship of Occupational Therapy/ Occupational Therapy Assistant students for fieldwork placements, ensuring adherence to best practices and fostering professional development.
• Refer, liaise, and partner with other agencies to address identified needs of the referred individual as appropriate.
• Complete timely clinical documentation, discharge reports and program administration duties.
• Set-up of program space, organization of supplies for classes, etc. Other duties, as required.

Qualifications

• Registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, adhering to all clinical and ethical practice regulations.
• Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and/or Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy with equivalent relevant work experience.
• Experience working with pediatric populations or individuals with disabilities is required.
• Experience supporting children and youth with diverse behavioural needs, using positive behaviour support and trauma-informed approaches, is required.
• Clinical experience with neuro-typical, neuro-divergent, and individuals with developmental differences is considered an asset.
• Knowledge or training in Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Sensory Processing or Integration Theory, the Social Model of Disability, and Neurodivergent Affirming Practices is an asset.
• Experience in program and/or curriculum development is an asset.
• Demonstrated understanding of rehabilitation principles, including pediatric early intervention, sensory processing, and trauma-informed care.
• Commitment to quality care and service delivery, with the ability to maintain timely client notes, and strong report writing and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with Occupational Therapists in a team setting, supervising Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) and Occupational Therapy Students (fieldwork supervision), as well as working with volunteers.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, including mediation, negotiation, advocacy, consultation, and collaboration.
• Flexibility and adaptability to the dynamic nature of program development.
• Strong ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with team members.
• Respect for individuality and diversity, with excellent interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with clients and their families.
• Access to reliable transportation (e.g., car, public transit); a valid driver’s license and vehicle access are considered assets.
• Bilingualism is an asset.

Additional Details:

• Location: 99 Duncan Mill Rd, Toronto, ON, M3B 1Z2
• Salary: $80,000 per annum

Questions about working at March of Dimes Canada?

Whether starting or advancing your career with us, you’ll feel great knowing that you’re:

• Contributing to our important mission: creating real change for people with disabilities
• Joining a leading national charity with a history of impact and a future full of possibility
• Enjoying industry-leading employment incentives and benefits
• Supported in your professional growth, development, and success
• Included in our empathetic and supportive work culture

Learn more about why we’re a great employer at marchofdimes.ca/careers.

For general inquiries, you can reach us at recruitment@marchofdimes.ca

We value the health & safety of our employees!

MODC is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe work environment. We encourage all current and prospective employees to receive Covid-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Public Health. This reflects our dedication to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our workforce.

Need accommodations? We're here to help!

MODC is committed to a workforce that is reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds and abilities. In accordance with accessibility and human rights legislation across Canada, MODC will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities and other protected needs. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive, equitable, accessible, and barrier-free.

Our Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) approach

MODC is dedicated to building and advancing an inclusive and welcoming culture. It’s also why we’re focused on attracting, retaining, and supporting diverse people. Thanks to our progressive practices, team members of all abilities and backgrounds are encouraged to access the opportunities and supports they need to grow, thrive, and succeed. Our READI approach is rooted in our shared belief that championing equity and empowering ability starts by investing in our team members— and in our shared culture — so that we all feel included, safe, and confident at work every single day.