Executive Director

Executive Director

In the early 1980s Lions Clubs across Canada developed an innovative national project for Canadians who were blind or visually impaired. The result – the exceptionally successful founding program, Canine Vision Canada. Through vision, commitment and passion, the Lions Foundation of Canada launched the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, a preeminent, not for profit national training school whose mission is to assist Canadians with a medical or physical disability by providing them with highly trained Dog Guides at no cost.

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides has grown to meet important needs with Dog Guide programs including: Hearing, Service, Seizure Response, Autism Assistance, Diabetic Alert and the newly introduced, Support Dog Guides. Now, one of the largest schools of its kind in Canada, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides has placed 2,974 Dog Guides with individuals across Canada.

For more information about Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, please visit their website at www.dogguides.com.              

The Position

A national role, based in Oakville Ontario, the Executive Director will lead the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides at an exciting time in its history. In this next chapter and building on a highly successful organizational brand, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides will be embarking on the construction of a new facility to meet the ever-growing demand for its services. The new Executive Director will continue to advance the organization’s success through vision, new programming, capital growth and innovative operational strategies. Critical to its ongoing success, the Executive Director will continue to advance exceptional relationships amongst a range of partners and supporters while continuing to nurture the great and evolving organizational culture that is highly committed to service excellence and new opportunities. The Executive Director will be a strategic partner to the Board of Directors and will work with the Senior Management Team, Staff and Volunteers in setting priorities and creating excellence to deliver on the core mandate, while building on the national and international brand.

Key leadership priorities for the Executive Director will be to:

• Inspire and implement new opportunities that enhance the organization’s current successes and build on a culture of change, growth and innovation. 
• Ensure continued operational and program excellence while showcasing the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides brand nationally.
• Lead the expansion of services and the introduction of a range of new initiatives that effectively meet and respond to the needs and expectations of clients and key partners.
• Engage and leverage the tremendous talent and commitment of Staff, Volunteers, External Partners and Funders to continue to deliver outstanding programs and services.

Experience

The successful candidate will be a passionate, visionary and courageous executive with a highly successful leadership track record in a complex, service-based, multi-stakeholder environment. In addition to exemplary leadership experience, the new Executive Director will be committed to an inclusive and innovative culture devoted to program and business excellence.  He/she will be a collaborative and engaged leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a bias for the “art of the possible”.

To confidentially explore this opportunity, please email your resume or query, quoting the appropriate position title, to Judy Mandelman at resumes@promeus.ca.