Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) Canada Looking for Executive Director at Toronto, ON Full Time

Executive Director – Youth & Philanthropy Initiative Canada

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Youth & Philanthropy Initiative Canada (YPI Canada) believes in the impact young people can make as champions for social issues and community leadership. YPI Canada has granted close to $11 million to community-based social service charities selected by thousands of high school students through a unique student-driven, school-based youth philanthropy project.

As YPI Canada enters an important new chapter in its drive to achieve the goals of its five year strategic plan, we are seeking our next Executive Director; a passionate, strategic and collaborative leader with a deep commitment for youth and charitable endeavours.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will build upon past success while developing and implementing approaches to build the YPI Canada brand across the country, enroll schools and drive fundraising. The ED will implement and execute against the strategic goals as approved by the Board of Directors. They will provide leadership, direction and guidance for all of the organization’s activities and employees. They will coordinate activities through the team and appraise assigned personnel. They will analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the organizations operations and programs and represent YPI Canada to all stakeholders, including students, teachers, schools, charities, community/civic organizations, donors and the general public.

ABOUT YOUTH PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE

YPI is an award-winning,program that engages students in understanding and standing up for social issues and charities in their communities. Over 350 secondary schools participate globally, in Canada, USA, and the UK. Each year, at each participating school, students with the most compelling culminating presentation about a local charity receive a $5,000 grant for their charity, funded by YPI’s generous supporters in each country.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Planning

• Works with the Board to develop the strategic plan for the organization

• Develops and implements annual operational plans and goals that further YPI’s strategic objectives

• Gathers and articulates information to the Board about community trends and resources as they relate to enhancing the Board’s capacity for effective decision-making and long-term planning

• Acts as a resource to the Board so that policy decisions are made on an informed basis

• Monitors and adapts operational plan to meet strategic objectives

Governance & Compliance

• Ensures compliance to minimum standards (and best practices) in accordance with government legislation, regulations and guidelines pertinent to the organization’s role as an employer and non-profit agency

• Maintains regular meetings with the Board and sub-committees as per the organizational bylaws

• Prepares and distributes Board packages with necessary updates

• Maintains sound knowledge of relevant government legislation and human resources practices (ESA) and procedures

• Works with the Board on governance policy issues, supporting and initiating approved recommendations or actions

• Recommends to the Board changes to policies and procedures that would improve the organization

• Oversees development and implementation of orientation for incoming Board Members

• Ensures appropriate and adequate insurance coverage

Team Leadership and Program Delivery

• Fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and employee well-being

• Ensures appropriate staffing levels consistent with program needs and within the constraints of the organization’s physical and financial resources

• Leads the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programming and services

• Provides leadership to organization personnel through effective objective setting, delegation, and communication

• Recruits, selects, orients and trains staff

• Ensures safety for all staff

• Effectively manages performance of all staff including conducting performance appraisals and implementing corrective action as required, including exit interviews

• Ensures appropriate salary and wage structures are maintained

• Develops and maintains the HR Policy & Procedure Manual in collaboration with HR Committee

• Develops and maintains job descriptions for all staff

Fundraising and Community Outreach

• Maintains and develops funding sources to sustain and expand the organization’s activities

• Stewards current relationships through regular communications (meetings, emails, calls, impact reporting), and adherence to all performance indicator reporting to comply with funding partner agreements

• Collaborates with Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising Committee to develop and deliver on a plan to meet fundraising objectives

• Works with the Board and staff to identify and/or apply for additional funding opportunities for the organization

• Maintains and adheres to sound knowledge of ethical fundraising practices

• Oversees research and development for letters of inquiry, partnership proposals, and grant applications

• Initiates and develops relationships with a broad range of community sectors including: government, non-profit and business organizations

• Undertakes activities within the community that enhance the visibility of the organization i.e. workshops, panels, conferences, articles

• Represents the organization on appropriate committees, network and joint projects

• Oversees and directs communications activities for organization ie social media

Finance & Administration

• Ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial accounting and reporting, including all CRA submissions

• Ensures that operating results established in the annual budget are achieved and the control of operating expenses within budget

• Collaborates with the Board to prepare a comprehensive budget for the organization and ensure regular reporting to the Board

• Ensures that sound bookkeeping and accounting principles and procedures are followed

• Monitors staff benefits and other insurance programs

• Ensures that facilities, furniture and equipment are in place as necessary and appropriate to needs of the organization

• Provides recommendations to the Board for any acquisitions or expenditures that are outside the approved budget

• Oversees and ensures Annual General Meeting & Annual Report are implemented in accordance to bylaws

• Continually monitors, evaluates, and identifies risks to the organization

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

Strategic Agility
Leads stakeholders through the development of a strategic plan that drives overall organization purpose and objectives and is appropriate in the context of the current circumstances; adapts the plan as required to maintain momentum towards overall strategic objectives in the face of changes in the broader environment.

Strategy and Operational Execution

Ability to incorporate strategic objectives into operational program outcomes and achieve results that meet established measurable objectives, including sound management practices that promote the attraction and retention of engaged and effective staff who are able to support the achievement of overall organizational objectives.

Fundraising and Financial Management

Financial acumen and demonstrated experience in articulating financial objectives associated with the achievement of short and longer-term strategic objectives and establishing a plan to ensure financial aspects are met. Develops and manages an annual budget that is aligned with the funding side.

Stakeholder Management

Experience in leading interactions with the board on strategic and operational aspects of the organization and the engagement and management relationships with current and prospective funders.

Governance and Compliance, Financial Controllership

Demonstrated experience operating an organization within the context of the organization’s established governance practices; leads aspects of the governance agenda on behalf of the Board. Ensures robust organizational practices that are aligned with current legislative requirements. Manages the organization’s expenses in accordance with the established budget and all Financial policies of the organization.

Leadership

Demonstrated ability to build and lead a team that possesses the skills required to support the effective operation and growth objectives of the organization.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of five (5) years experience in a senior leadership role.

• Involvement with non profit, charitable and or/ educational sector organizations.

• Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors.

• A history of successfully generating revenue streams and improving financial results.

• Operational management experience including HR, Finance administration.

• Donor relations and fundraising experience.

• Technically proficient and able to leverage full capability of systems to support integrated, efficient operations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by May 27, 2022.

At YPI Canada, we value each person as a whole and their unique contribution. This includes your education, lived experience, race, colour, culture, ethnicity, language and linguistic origin, ability, socio-economic class, age (children, youth, seniors), ancestry, nationality, place of birth, religion or faith or other forms of conscientiously held beliefs, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexuality (including sexual orientation), family status (including marital status), and residency/migratory status in Canada.

Proof of vaccination may be required for activities the Executive Director will be expected to attend such as events, meetings, and travel.

All employees must be legally authorized to work in Canada and reside in Ontario with the ability to travel across Canada for in-person events and meetings.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

Application deadline: 2022-05-27
Expected start date: 2022-08-01