WESN Career Opportunities

Executive Director – West End Seniors Network

Summary

The West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) is a community leader and hub for seniors’ services in Vancouver’s City Centre. WESN is looking for its next Executive Director (ED) to lead the anticipated growth and renewal of its mission to enhance the quality of life of older adults by providing social, recreational, educational, and supportive programs and services that foster connection and inclusion in the broader community.

Description

Role Overview

The West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) is a community leader and hub for seniors’ services in Vancouver’s City Centre. WESN is looking for its next Executive Director (ED) to lead the anticipated growth and renewal of its mission to enhance the quality of life of older adults by providing social, recreational, educational, and supportive programs and services that foster connection and inclusion in the broader community. The next ED will bring significant community, member, and partner engagement skills to strategically balance and align programs and services while strengthening organizational capacity.

Impacting over 600 members and joining a dedicated team of 15 – 20 staff and 200 volunteers working at WESN’s three locations in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood, the ED will lead the successful management and growing operations of WESN’s $750k annual operating budget. The ED will be a collaborative partner with the Board of Directors to both develop anew and then implement the Board’s strategic direction. The ED also holds responsibility for coordinating and assisting the Board in representing WESN’s interests to regulatory bodies, agencies, community and civic organizations, and donors.

Learn more about WESN’s programs, services, and distinct locations (Barclay Manor, Kay’s Place, and Clothes and Collectibles Thrift Boutique) at http://wesn.ca/.
 

Is this the right fit for you?

With a deep operational and people management skillset , the new ED will strive to support a collaborative, cohesive team, to provide the most meaningful programs and services in support of seniors in the community. You have a depth of understanding or a passion to learn more, about the needs and issues facing seniors in Vancouver and are keen to apply this learning strategically to enhance mission impact. Though strategically minded, you are keen to be focused internally to ensure the organization runs smoothly.  You are in your element as an organized program manager and experienced non-profit administrator and you’re eager to play a strategic, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership role. 

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Represent WESN in accordance with established policies.
• Lead, mentors, and fosters effective teamwork among WESN staff.
• Advise and inform the Board of all internal and external matters affecting WESN.
• Prepare written reports as required that outline goals, key activities, and accomplishments.
• In collaboration with the Board, develop short-term and long-term Strategic Plans.
• Based on the approved strategic plans, develop the relevant Operational Plans.
• Implement the approved Strategic Plan.

Financial Planning and Fundraising

• Develop the annual operating plan in line with the approved Strategic Plan.
• Forecast and prepare the annual operating and capital budgets for Board approval.
• Provide the Board with comprehensive monthly reports on revenues and expenditures.
• Ensure that WESN complies with all legislation covering taxation and charitable status.
• Responsible for engaging with donors and for leading fundraising plans and funding proposals to ensure WESN’s long-term financial viability.
• Manage expenses and revenues against the approved annual budget; with necessary adjustments.
• Complete and review grant proposals.

Operational Planning, Management, and Administration

• Prepare and operationalize policies and procedures to ensure the smooth functioning of WESN.
• Ensure WESN’s operations engage with and consider the needs of WESN members, the Board, and stakeholders.
• Facilitate the productive involvement of relevant staff with Board Committees, for mutual benefit of WESN operations and governance.

Human Resources

• Ensure the organization has a positive, healthy, and safe work environment.
• Ensure HR systems and processes are in place to support effective people management.
• Be a people manager to direct reports, providing formal and informal feedback and assistance to staff as necessary.
• Determine staffing needs to meet operational demands.
• Conduct and document formal and informal reviews for all staff, and monitor staff performance.

Community Relations / Advocacy

• Represent WESN at various external meetings, and community events.
• Maintain positive relationships with community groups, funders, politicians, donors, and other organizations to achieve WESN’s goals.

Risk Management

• Identify and evaluate any developments that may negatively affect WESN’s brand, public image, finances, or the health and safety of WESN’s members and staff.
• Develop relevant risk management plan(s) in accordance with acceptable standards.
• Communicate the identified risks along with the recommended mitigation strategy(ies) to the Board’s attention consistent with their urgency, planning, and approval requirements.

Required Competencies

The successful proponent will demonstrate the following core competencies:

Leadership

• Integrity and honesty: ED acts consistently with words; follows through on promises and commitments; models the core values; and leads by example.
• Inspires and motivates staff: Proven track record in leading, mentoring staff, and fostering effective teamwork; energizes people to go the extra mile and be accountable; inspires commitment, high energy, and a positive attitude.
• Practices self-development: Makes constructive efforts to change and improve performance based on feedback from others; seeks feedback and development opportunities.
• Develops others: Is genuinely concerned about the success and professional satisfaction and development of staff; provides training and growth opportunities; gives an appropriate balance of positive and corrective performance feedback.

Technical/Professional

• Financial Management: Effectively manages finances consistent with the strategic plan and the values of the organization.
• Governance:  Supports the Board to strengthen governance capacity; ensures effective governance policy, processes, and documents are in place..
• Program Management: Ensures program results through effective management practices; strong organizational skills, and ability to set priorities and monitor progress towards goals; provides clear communication and provides solid coaching to staff and volunteers that enable them to meet the program goals and achieve results.
• Strategic Planning: Participates effectively in the strategic planning process; recommends adjustments to the strategic plan where appropriate throughout the year; reports appropriately on progress towards the strategic plan goals.           

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Communication: Is clear, concise, and articulate in a verbal and written communication; seeks to ensure clarity of understanding of issues; promotes timely and appropriate communications; articulate public speaker.
• Relationship Management: Identifies and builds effective relationships; earns the trust of Board, staff, and others; balances need for results with sensitivity for employee needs; approachable; handles difficult situations constructively.
• Partnership Development & Management: Effectively explores common interests among stakeholders to develop mutually beneficial partnerships to achieve goals; follows through on commitments to partners, maintaining organizational credibility.

 Strategic

• Develops strategic perspectives: Ensures organizational alignment to strategic plan; able to translate strategic initiatives and objectives into meaningful goals for others; can be trusted to balance short-term and long-term needs.
• Innovative:  Encourages innovation and new ideas; generates creative, resourceful solutions; constructively challenges the status quo and seeks new and better ways to get the job done; creates a culture of learning.
• Champions change: Able to identify change necessary to create efficiency, remove barriers, meet stakeholder needs, and achieve results; champions appropriate projects to achieve strategic goals; able to persuasively represent organization vision and provides clarity of message related to change both internally and externally to the Board, staff, consultants, stakeholders and/or partners.

Knowledge & Experience

• 5 or more years of related senior management experience in a similar organization or department, non-profit experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in large-scale program and/or project management.
• Passion for working with adults aged 55 years or older, an asset.
• Experience in human resource management including employment and human rights legislation.
• Experience with financial management and budgeting.
• Awareness of funding opportunities available to non-profit organizations.
• Knowledge of various agencies, communities, and organizations in BC committed to senior needs.
• Computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet, and database management.

Working conditions

• The salary range for this full-time, permanent position is $81 – $100K, with generous benefits, including extended health and dental plans. ,  
• The ED is required to pass a Criminal Record Check including the vulnerable sector.
• The ED usually works in an office environment along with staff, but the mission of the organization may sometimes mean working in non-standard locations, including flexibility in hours to attend monthly Board and Committee meetings in the evenings and occasional special events on evenings and/or weekends.

Employment equity

WESN is actively committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  We encourage applications from qualified members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including but not limited to: status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, neurodiversity, political belief, religion, marital or family status, or age.

Questions?

If you have any questions or would like to get more information about our organization please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] . Thank you for your interest!

How to apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]. Please note, first-round interviews are anticipated to take place in early January.

Only candidates that meet the minimum requirements will be considered. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada.