Executive Director, Ontario Municipal Tax & Revenue Association

Our client, the Ontario Municipal Tax and Revenue Association (OMTRA), is seeking a skilled manager with proven success across all areas of association or office management, as their next Executive Director. OMTRA is the professional association exclusively for Ontario’s municipal tax and revenue specialists to share expertise, gain knowledge, and shape legislation. The 500+ members are analysts, coordinators, managers, and treasurers, dealing with property taxes, property assessments, utility billings, service fees, provincial and municipal fines and more, all specific to the province of Ontario.

OMTRA has an involved membership with active volunteers who define, develop, and help deliver the programs and services that members value through working committees and an engaged board of directors.

The Executive Director must be exceptionally knowledgeable in all facets of operations and very organized. The Executive Director reports to the board of directors of OMTRA.

This will be initially a part-time role (3-4 days/week) with potential to become full-time in the near term. This is a remote position where the Executive Director will work primarily from their home office.

The association provides opportunities for its members to exchange experiences and best practices. There is training (e.g., webinars, workshops) and an annual conference. OMTRA is a resource on relevant developments in legislation, it develops policy papers, and advocates on issues of interest to its members. Members are kept informed through regular updates, online through member discussion forums, the website, social media, and networking. For more details about OMTRA, please visit https://www.omtra.ca .

The Executive Director will manage all operational aspects of the association, proactively supporting volunteers, and supervising occasional part-time contractors (e.g., webservice provider). Broadly, the Executive Director is involved in event planning, including the annual conference and volunteer meetings; communications (e.g., member interaction, newsletters, website updates), general association administration; and special projects.

Candidates with association management experience are preferred, including individuals who have attained the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation and/or a degree in management. Knowledge of municipal government and the work of municipal revenue professionals will be advantageous.

Specific Responsibilities

The Executive Director’s duties include although are not limited to -

• Execute assigned deliverables and job duties professionally and expeditiously, advancing the strategic plan, consistent with the policies and procedures of the organization, and best practices in association management.
• Act as the resource to enable the success of volunteers and support the board and committees (e.g., prepare meeting documentation, action lists, minutes).
• Engage with and be responsive to the needs of members, professional in demeanour and maintaining the highest standards of member/customer service.
• Attend meetings of the board of directors, committees, membership, and participate in conferences and other OMTRA events.
• Provide reports to meetings of the board of directors on the activities of the association, assigned deliverables, and key performance indicators.
• Secure the goods and services deemed necessary by the board of directors to meet member needs and operate effectively.
• Process invoices and payments; support the preparation of budgets; support the Treasurer in maintaining financial records, report on financial results and trends.
• Prepare member communications and distribute timely information including the electronic newsletter, print material for conferences and seminars, surveys, reports, etc.
• Maintain the official records of the association and ensure that it complies with all applicable laws and reporting requirements.
• Maintain an accurate website with timely and compelling information.
• Maintain member records and the member database.
• Gather and analyze data on member needs and association performance, with a view to continuous improvement of programs, services, and the value proposition.
• Ensure events are planned and the logistics are in place for successful implementation/delivery.
• Maintain registration for OMTRA events.
• As directed, ensure OMTRA training materials and content remain current and are updated.
• Such other duties and responsibilities as the board of directors may assign.

Success Defined

The OMTRA Executive Director will focus on organization, engagement, and growth. Among the opportunities before the association:

• Grow membership.
• Implement the strategic plan.
• Lead the shift from volunteer-driven to management responsible for achieving board-approved strategic objectives (while being a resource to OMTRA’s working committees).
• Elevate the education component (including the CMRP designation).
• A more active role for the association in legislative change.
• Member outreach and engagement (website and other means); better data on member needs.

Experience/Management Skills

• Organization, administrative, and project management skills (e.g., research, plan, prioritize, multi-task, set and meet deadlines, execute, monitor, report).
• Financial management and planning (e.g., how to budget, report results, supervise bookkeeping, liaise with auditor, manage sponsors).
• Volunteer management (onboarding, coordinate, guide and proactively support).
• Experience with core service/activity areas notably professional education, advocacy, event management, and information exchange (networking, sharing, mentoring, etc.).
• Continuous improvement and change management.
• Communication (listen, synthesize, write, present).
• Sales and marketing to grow and promote the association.
• Technologically proficient, including social media.
• Experience with partnerships and negotiation, including government relations.

Other Candidate Attributes

• Personal presence.
• People skills; effective outreach and interaction.
• Comfortable in a professional while relaxed environment (not too formal).
• Flexible, adaptable, and patient.
• Results-oriented.
• Approachable, welcoming, friendly.
• Receptive to ideas and responsive to needs.
• Passionate about the subject matter.

How to Apply and Other Details

Individuals with the requisite qualifications are invited to apply with their résumé and cover letter to -

Email: omtra@portagegroup.com

Please note this hiring process is being managed for OMTRA by The Portage Group (contact: Jack Shand, FCMC).

The salary range will be the equivalent to a full-time salary of $75,000-$90,000/year. Applicants are requested to indicate their compensation requirements, noting the role is at present part-time.

Individuals selected for interview will be contacted. It is expected the successful candidate will start in June 2024. This opportunity arises due to the retirement of the incumbent. Questions may be directed to omtra@portagegroup.com.