Chief Executive Officer

The Opportunity

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwestern Ontario (RMHCSWO) is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is passionate about our mission to provide a home away from home to the families of seriously ill children living in Southwestern and Northern Ontario.

As the result of excellent leadership, a dedicated staff team, and a well-respected brand, our charity is primed for the exponential growth of our programs, fundraising, and partner relationships. Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a staff team of 50, the new CEO will be a committed spokesperson and advocate who will take our organization to its next stage of development.   

A compelling and authentic communicator, the new CEO will further develop our key relationships and increase engagement across our broad RMHC community. A proven connector, the successful candidate will strategically and thoughtfully build relationships internally with staff, volunteers, and families, and externally with donors, hospital partners, local support groups, McDonald’s owners, the RMH network, and all levels of government.

Possessing a growth mindset with the ability to leverage current organizational strengths, the new CEO will bring a business-minded approach to strategic planning, operations, and revenue development. Knowledgeable and collaborative in all interactions, the successful candidate’s strategic vision will inspire confidence, enabling senior leadership and the Board to make sound decisions and heighten our collective impact as we continue to evolve and renew our direction and commitment to our families, and work towards the launch of capital campaigns in London and Windsor.

The new CEO will primarily work at our London House which is on the grounds of London Health Sciences Centre with frequent travel to other sites, and to meetings in the community.

 

About Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario

Our Mission

To provide comforting and supportive programs and services for families of seriously ill children who require medical care.

Our Vision

Giving sick children what they need most… their families.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario is a growing chapter that continues to expand its services to help more families with seriously ill children.

We provide a place where out-of-town families with seriously ill children can stay for as long as they need and are part of a global network that prioritizes family-centered care through our three core programs:

Ronald McDonald House London

Offering families traveling far from home a welcoming community where they can re-energize with a home cooked meal and good night sleep. Together, families can also enjoy time in our courtyard, spend quality family time together in Finn and Friends Den watching movies, playing games or using the indoor gym, and participate in family programs like Pet Therapy and Family Art Nights.

Ronald McDonald Family Room London

Located inside London Children’s Hospital, our Family Room gives all caregivers with a child receiving medical care a space to nap, shower, use laundry amenities, or grab a snack. The Cart with a Heart helps bring many of these simple comforts directly to a child’s hospital room.

Ronald McDonald House Windsor

Giving families a “home-away from-home” directly inside Windsor Regional Hospital, this 7-bedroom House provides families with a place to sleep, shower and refresh, while taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the hospital. The Day Pass Program and Cart with a Heart bring comfort to even more families with seriously ill children

To help provide families with supportive resources, we rely on strong partnerships with the medical community. These relationships have grown over our 30+ year history and help us to bridge access to health care for families through:

  • Ronald McDonald House London located 165 steps from London Health Science Centre Children’s Hospital and located nearby additional medical centres including University Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
  • Ronald McDonald House Windsor, the first Canadian House-Within-A-Hospital, located directly inside Windsor Regional Hospital.
  • Ronald McDonald Family Room London located inside London Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital.

To provide this support to families with seriously ill children (the cost to host one family for one night of comfort is $177), Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario is dependent on public donations and fundraising. We are very thankful to receive generous donations from individuals within the community, current and former house families, and a number of corporate entities that help ensure our house is able to continue helping families when they need it most.

Strategic Priorities

To strengthen our programs and ensure we are meeting the needs of those we serve we defined four key areas of focus for 2018-2022. Our current focus on these strategies allows us to continue to deliver on our commitment to keep families close. The new CEO will work with the Board, staff, volunteers, hospital, and community partners to define and advance the chapter’s 2023 – 2027 strategic goals.

Enhancing Family Experiences

  • Develop long-term program plans to meet our families’ evolving needs
  • Complete a Facilities Assessment and Development Plan
  • Improve service excellence that create positive family experiences

Expand Strategic Partnership

  • Broaden our regional presence
  • Grow our strategic partnerships

Deepen & Broaden Donorship

  • Foster donor relationships
  • Build a donor stewardship and engagement program
  • Increase fund development revenues

Cultivate our Peoples Potential

  • Develop our organizational culture and structure to reflect our evolving scope and services
  • Improve employee engagement and accountability
  • Continuously improve our governance model and practices

 

Additional Information

RMHCSWO – How We Help

RMHCSWO Accountability

2021 Annual Report & Financial Statements

RMHCSWO Strategic Priorities

RMHCSWO Impact Report

RMHC Canada Mission Brochure

RMHC Canada Infographic

RMHCSWO News & Events

 

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning & Governance

  • Work with the Board to create a multi-year strategic plan that reflects innovation and growth of mission-based programs, relationships and revenue drivers.
  • Lead the annual operation plan process ensuring the annual plan is informed by strategic objectives. Work with the senior leadership team to track and deliver on annual objectives, creating alignment between the strategic and annual plans, and department and individual staff goals.
  • Strengthen organization policies, processes and staffing structure to increase overall efficiency and accountability while ensuring the ability to meet annual and strategic objectives.
  • Provide support to the Board of Directors to help fulfill governance responsibilities including the provision of CEO reports at scheduled Board meetings, along with other materials to support Board oversight.
  • Identify, assess, mitigate and inform the Board of internal and external risk factors, which may affect annual objectives.
  • Participate in the identification, cultivation, recruitment, and retention of Board members and other key volunteers.

Operations

  • Provide strategic and inspirational leadership while working to enhance mission-focus and revitalize post-pandemic organizational culture.  
  • Work with the Director of Operations to develop, implement and evaluate programs and services that enrich, extended and build capacity to serve families in the region.
  • Ensure all sites meet or exceed all legal, regulatory, ethical, professional and internally established requirements.
  • Work collaboratively with the Director, Finance and Corporate Services, the Board Treasurer and the Board Finance Committee to ensure required fiscal management and control systems and prepare comprehensive budgets to meet an annual goal of $3.5 million.
  • Work with HR staff to ensure the effective recruitment, assessment and development of the talent required within the organization to cultivate a high-performing, family-focused team.
  • Further build and enhance a culture of success, innovation and continuous improvement ensuring that all staff are accountable for goals, aligned with the organization’s strategic plan, and are managed using effective performance management processes and tools.
  • Coach, mentor and manage three direct reports and work with the senior team to promote and model a culture that reflects the values of RMHC.
  • Work with the senior team to ensure staff application and participation in all required policies, procedures, programs and initiatives.

Network & Public Relations

  • Build, strengthen and maintain relationships with key community partners including local government, other Houses, community organizations and businesses in Southwestern Ontario in a manner that helps achieve strategic priorities and annual objectives.
  • Support the maintenance and development of positive and productive relationships with RMHC volunteers, key community groups and leaders across Southwestern Ontario.
  • Work collaboratively with the senior staff team and the Board to implement strategies and tactics to build the organization’s brand profile and awareness in a manner that inspires community confidence and the belief that RMHC is an important investment partner and an integral part of patient-centered healing and care.
  • Play a proactive role working with Ronald McDonald House Canada and other Chapters in identifying and addressing key issues, opportunities and best practices.
  • Act as the main representative and spokesperson for RMHC within our community, telling our story to media, at events etc., in a manner that builds and maintains relationships that inspire greater engagement and support for our annual and strategic goals.

Revenue Development & Capital Projects

  • Work with the Director, Fund Development and Donor Engagement to: 
  • Strengthen the culture of philanthropy ensuring the adoption of best practices in fundraising, donor relations and leadership volunteer engagement across the organization to raise funds within a competitive philanthropic landscape.
  • Contribute as required to fundraising programs and projects related to major gift fundraising, capital campaigns, planned giving and annual campaigns.
  • Help cultivate, nurture, secure and steward growth of fundraising revenue, leveraging RMHC programs and services across the region to secure new donor opportunities.
  • Determine appropriate goals, targets and metrics to ensure that all fundraising efforts are effective, efficient, and successful. 
  • Provide oversight in collaboration with the senior team, on capital projects at the London and Windsor house sites, providing leadership to help secure resources and deliver on short-term and long-term campaign milestones.
  • Lead the relationship with government funders to successfully advocate for and secure grants for capital projects. 

 

Qualifications & Key Competencies

  • Progressive senior leadership experience within the non-profit sector or senior leadership experience in a for-profit environment coupled with broad involvement in senior volunteer roles with a charity.
  • Experience as an Executive Director or CEO would be considered an asset.
  • Excellent relationship-building and networking skills, with a demonstrated ability to genuinely connect with a wide variety of audiences in a manner that uncovers shared goals and increases engagement around a cause.
  • Proven ability with developing, leading, monitoring, and evaluating business plans and budgets that deliver results and are aligned with strategic objectives.
  • Business acumen and experience, including the ability to leverage a strategic vision with thoughtful approaches that lead to innovative growth of programs and services, and builds new connections and leverages opportunities with key partners.
  • Knowledge and experience with the financial oversight of an organization or department including budgeting, controls, and reporting.
  • Solid knowledge of the legal and regulatory requirements of a non-profit organization.
  • Experience leading change mandates related to organizational development and growth.
  • Proven results related to revenue development with a solid understanding of capital campaigns.
  • Experience developing effective organizational systems and processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to recruit, motivate, empower, and retain high-performing staff and volunteer teams.
  • Uses a Visible management style with the ability to model confidentiality, trust, integrity, and collaboration within a highly sensitive environment. 
  • Experience with Board relations and supporting effective governance models.
  • Working knowledge of marketing and communications to support brand building and awareness initiatives. 
  • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with a demonstrated interest in networking and public speaking. 
  • Strong planning, implementation, analytical, and evaluation skills.
  • Passion for the mission of RMHC with an appreciation of the complexity and strength of the RMHC network.
  • Interest and experience working in healthcare, or a health-related environment will be considered an asset.  
  • A University degree is considered an asset; an equivalent combination of education and related work experience will be considered. 
  • Access to a vehicle with the ability to travel throughout the region.

 

For More Information

KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) has been retained to conduct this leadership search on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Samantha David, Associate Vice-President, KCI Search + Talent at RMHCSWO@kcitalent.com.

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

Interested candidates are invited to send a resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by October 10, 2022.  All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.

The salary range for this role is $160,000 to $190,000 including an excellent benefits package.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario is dedicated to providing an atmosphere free from barriers in order to promote equity and diversity. We celebrate and welcome the diversity of all employees, stakeholders and external personnel. It is the policy of Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario to foster an environment that respects people's dignity, ideas and beliefs thereby ensuring equity and diversity in employment. We demonstrate our commitment to this by providing a supportive work environment and a corporate culture that welcomes and encourages equal opportunities for all employees.