Executive Director

Executive Director

Wesley

 

The Opportunity

Wesley is seeking an Executive Director to lead our multi-service, multi-site, social service agency that works to enhance the physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being of our clients. Located in downtown Hamilton while also supporting locations in Halton and Brantford–Brant, the Executive Director will be a champion for marginalized individuals and will build strong relationships with community partners, funders, government, and other key stakeholders to deliver innovative programs and services that transform people’s lives.

Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a senior management team that supports over 200 staff and 900 volunteers, the Executive Director will be responsible for driving our strategic direction and overseeing our program and service delivery, including the implementation of the agency’s strategic plan.

A well-known and respected agency servicing 12,000 clients and participants annually, Wesley has seen tremendous growth in the past 10 years, more than doubling their revenue from $7 million in 2009/10 to $16 million in 2018/19. Wesley has also received “Top 100 Charities in Canada” status by Charity Intelligence in 2019 and 2020 as featured in MoneySense magazine in 2018 and Maclean’s in 2019.

The Board of Directors is seeking an Executive Director who has a passion for improving the lives of the most vulnerable in our community, as well as the skills, experience, and collaborative mindset to position Wesley for a new phase of sustainable growth in program delivery and increased revenues in the coming years.

 

About Wesley

For over 64 years Wesley has been a highly respected non-profit, offering support for people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and barriers in the community. We provide programs and services to meet diverse community needs in Hamilton as well as Halton Region and Brantford–Brant.

As a multi-service organization, we offer Children, Youth & Family Services, Housing & Homelessness Services and Newcomer & Community Services. The long-term impact of our programs includes improved education, successful employment and supportive independence.

As an organization, we are innovative, creative, evidence-based and financially responsible. We began in 1955 with one program in the basement of Wesley United Church in downtown Hamilton and now offer more than thirty different programs in twenty different locations.

Wesley’s services are made possible through a broad base of funding support from government, businesses, foundations, churches and individuals.

Wesley’s legal charitable name is Wesley Urban Ministries. In 2018, an operating name of Wesley was registered and is the forward facing name of the organization.

Programs & Services

Over the last decade, Wesley has significantly expanded their program portfolios to include housing first, refugee settlement, supporting housing, social enterprises and more.  As an example of this growth, in 2011, Wesley responded to community needs and began to welcome and settle government assisted refugees in Hamilton. During the influx of Syrian refugees, between December 2015 and December 2016, Wesley welcomed 1,338 Syrian government assisted refugees, with a total of 1,654 refugees from Syria and other countries. 

 

Wesley programs include:

Children, Youth & Family

· Beasley Community Centre

· Child Care and Before & After School Care

· EarlyOn Child and Family Centres

· Family Home Visitor Program

· Housing First for Youth/Early Intervention

· Summer and March Break Camp

· Abacus Program

· Youth Centres

· Youth Housing

· Youth Outreach Workers – Brantford & Hamilton

Housing & Homelessness

· Day Centre

· Housing Services – Brantford, Halton, Hamilton

· On-site supports at Vanier Towers

· Outreach Worker at Hamilton Public Library-Central Library

· Special Care Unit – Harm Reduction & Alcohol Management

· Supportive Housing for People with a Dual Diagnosis

Newcomer & Community

· Christmas & Holiday Store

· Employment Services

· Food Service Training Program

· Newcomer Services

· Supports for Seniors and Older Adults

· Special Care Unit – Harm Reduction & Alcohol Management

· Supportive Housing for People with a Dual Diagnosis

Social Enterprises

· First Start Cafe

· Interpretation Services

 

Additional Information

 

Ideal Candidate

A progressive and passionate visionary who is driven by goals and results, the Executive Director will bring a balance of community and staff engagement skills, strategic leadership, and business acumen, to drive organizational growth to meet the increasing needs of the most marginalized members of our community.

An engaging genuine communicator, the Executive Director will collaborate with partners to inspire funders to invest in solutions that will positively impact our clients.  A skilled networker and spokesperson, the new incumbent will place emphasis on innovative outreach to heighten awareness of the needs of our community and ways to help.  A commitment to and knowledge of government funding and the role governments can play will be important, along with a willingness and demonstrated experience developing new and diversified sources of revenue.

Reporting directly to and consulting with the volunteer Board of Directors, the Executive Director will bring strong business planning, financial acumen and budget management skills.  The new incumbent will be adept at organizational development and have proven success building and implementing long and short term strategic plans and will be sensitive to organizational history while embracing future potential. 

The ideal candidate will be an authentic, transparent person of integrity who instills confidence and trust in others. Respectful of our community stakeholders, our funders, donors, volunteers, clients, and staff, the Executive Director will listen, observe, consult and value the opinions and expertise of others. The new incumbent will be knowledgeable regarding non-profit governance, and experienced at working with a diverse and committed group of senior leaders and volunteers.

Comfortable with ambiguity and courageous in the face of challenges, the successful candidate will be experienced driving change and comfortable leading within a unionized environment with sensitivity and diplomacy. As someone who recognizes the potential in everyone, the Executive Director will celebrate successes, applaud accomplishments, and reinforce a positive team atmosphere with a high degree of engagement.

 

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the overall strategic and operational leadership of the agency. As a champion for marginalized and underprivileged populations, the Executive Director ensures strong relationships with community, partners, staff, volunteers, funders, and donors.

Operations & Governance

  • Direct the overall operations of Wesley in an ethical and efficient manner.
  • Oversee program planning, evaluation and direction of current and proposed services.
  • Leadership support of the senior management team.
  • Delivery of regular operations reports to the Board.
  • Support the activities of Board sub-committees.
  • Preparation of both short-term and multi-year strategic plans as directed by the Board, ensuring adherence to the organization’s values, vision, and mission.

Human Resources

Oversight and delegation of Human Resources duties, in consultation with the Manager of Human Resources, the Human Resources Committee and the Board of Directors (when appropriate) to include:

  • Hiring, promotions, demotions, and dismissals of staff.
  • Performance evaluations, grievances, salaries, benefits.
  • Counsel and support to the Manager of Human Resources in union negotiations, labour relations matters, and the administration of the collective agreement.
  • Other Human Resources matters as required.
  • Delivery of regular HR reports to the Board.

Finance

In collaboration with the Director of Finance:

  • Submit a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.
  • Deliver operations within approved budgets while ensuring maximum resource utilization, and maintenance of the organization in a positive financial position.

Fundraising and Revenue Generation

Works with fundraising staff to develop fundraising plans and supports all fundraising activities in order to support increased financial self-sufficiency.

  • Fosters a culture of philanthropy by stewarding key donors and partners. Engages and leverages community contacts to build new revenue generating relationships.
  • Ensure all funding applications are prepared and submitted and maintain excellent working relationships with all funding bodies including government and foundations.

Communications and Community Engagement

  • Develop opportunities to communicate the work of the organization through speaking engagements, media engagements, publications etc.
  • Create strategic partnerships with relevant social service agencies in the community.
  • Assess and deliver the appropriate level of engagement required with the broader community to advance organization vision and mission.
  • Function as key contact with The United Church of Canada.

Qualifications and Competencies

  • A positive track record of progressive management experience in charitable organizations.
  • Demonstrated passion for serving marginalized groups in a community service organization.
  • Excellent people management skills with the ability to build strong relationships with staff and empower teams to deliver successful outcomes.
  • Experienced leader with highly developed skills in governance, strategic planning and the oversight of operations and staff.
  • Proven success rallying multiple stakeholder groups using advanced skills in advocacy, communications and government relations.
  • A successful track record in fundraising in a non-profit environment
  • Exceptional abilities in verbal and written communications with highly developed public speaking skills. 
  • Experience creating a culture of inclusivity, equitable treatment and mutual respect using an anti-oppressive and anti-racism lens.
  • Proven success collaborating with other non-profit organizations and groups with similar goals to build strategic relationships.
  • Strong business and financial acumen with an understanding of government funding in a challenging climate.
  • Experience leading in a unionized environment with a high level of knowledge and sensitivity regarding collective agreements.
  • Post-secondary education in a related field—a combination of skills and experience may be considered.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends and attend agency events.
  • Ability to travel to remote offices in Halton and Brant Regions.

 

For More Information

KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) has been retained to conduct this leadership search on behalf of Wesley. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Ellie Rusonik, Senior Search Consultant, KCI Search + Talent or Kara Spedding, Senior Search Consultant, KCI Search + Talent by email at wesley@kcitalent.com

Interested candidates are invited to send a resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by December 2nd, 2019.

To view the full Executive Brief, please visit: www.kcitalent.com

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.

Wesley is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minorities, aboriginal people, LGBTQ2S+ and persons with disabilities.

Wesley’s legal charitable name is Wesley Urban Ministries. In 2018, an operating name of Wesley was registered and is the forward facing name of the organization