Executive Director

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph

Mission & Vision: Our Mission is to enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people. Our Vision is that all young people realize their full potential.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Federation, comprised of 90 member agencies across Canada. Big Brothers Big Sisters has provided quality mentoring programs to young people for over 100 years, and locally since 1921.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG) was founded in 1968, and now serves more than 600 young people across the community through our five core mentoring programs.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG) it is our collective mission to provide life-changing mentoring programs that ignite the power and potential of all young people.  We seek to put children and youth on a path to lifelong success and change the trajectories of their lives in positive ways. We are committed to the recruitment of volunteers dedicated to upholding the values and principles of the agency and to those we serve. Our organizational vision is that all young people realize their full potential.

The Opportunity

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph is a dynamic organization focused on youth mentorship in Guelph, Ontario, with the goal of helping every child realize their full potential.

The organization serves 600 children and youth annually, providing them with life-changing mentorship to help them grow and thrive. Over 300 volunteers generously support the organization.

The Executive Director’s role is the organizational lead, directly managing a team of eight staff focused on two key areas: program delivery and external relations.

The successful candidate will report to the board executive and have a passion for youth mentorship and service to their community. They can rally a community and team around a core mission of helping young people reach their full potential. They will do so by empowering the team to meet the needs of our rapidly evolving community. In addition to team leadership, the role will play a critical role in building partnerships, revenue generation, and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the organization.

Summary Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of management experience in a non-profit organization. Proven track record in revenue generation, community engagement, and program management
• Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to inspire and motivate staff, volunteers, and donors. Financial acumen and strategic thinking.

General Purpose

As BBBSG’s public face, the Executive Director is responsible and accountable to the Board of Directors for the leadership, fundraising, administration, organization, and management of its operations in accordance with BBBSG’s Mission, Vision, Values, Strategic, and Operational plans.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Participate with the Board of Directors in developing a strategic plan to guide BBBSG.
• Identify, assess and inform the board of Directors of internal and external issues that affect BBBSG.
• Foster effective teamwork between the Board of Directors and the Executive Director and between the Executive Director and Staff.
• Develop operational plans that incorporate goals and objectives that align with BBBSG’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan.
• Ensure that BBBSG’s operation meets the expectations of its clients, board, and funders.
• Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of BBBSG.
• Ensure the development, implementation and maintenance of relevant policies and procedures.

Community Relations:

• Represent the organization by promoting the vision and impact of programs to inspire and encourage staff, volunteers, partners, donors and community members.
• Foster relationships and partnerships in the Guelph non-profit ecosystem.
• Build relationships with community groups that reflect the diverse range of individuals and groups in our region to ensure our programs and services are reflective of our EDI goals.
• Work with staff and volunteers to promote and enhance a strong BBBS brand, profile and reputation through excellent communications channels and impact reporting.
• Act as the primary spokesperson and attend community functions, media events and public meetings.
• Represent BBBSG in working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ontario.

Financial Management and Revenue Generation:

• Work with staff and the board to prepare a comprehensive, balanced annual budget.
• Monitor and report on financial performance to the Board, working with the board’s finance committee to adapt as required to meet the yearly target.
• Provide leadership in the development of a diverse fundraising strategy and fostering a culture of philanthropy.
• Lead staff to optimize revenue generation to meet the organization’s needs.
• Ensure that sound, legal business and accounting practices are followed.
• Negotiation of contracts and agreements for BBBSG as required.
• Administer BBBSG’s funds in accordance with the approved budget and within the signing authority delegated by the board.
• The position is responsible for oversight of the agency’s grant management program.

Service and Program Delivery:

• Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of BBBSG’s programs and services.
• Ensure that the programs and services offered contribute to BBBSG’s Mission and reflect organizational priorities.
• Ensure strategies and plans are in place to promote BBBSG’s programs and services, as well as identify service needs/gaps and emerging trends to support the sustainability and growth of BBBSG programs and services.
• Be a knowledge broker for changes in any National Standards, legislative, policy, or procedural areas affecting programs, services, or service delivery practices.

Human Resources Planning and Management:

• Determine staffing requirements for organizational management and program delivery.
• Oversee the implementation of human resources policies, procedures and practices.
• Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations.
• Encourage/mentor staff to demonstrate personal leadership, problem-solving skills and teamwork.
• Implement a complete performance management process for all staff positions (including effective recruitment, complete job descriptions, ongoing feedback/mentoring, annual performance evaluation, compensation, recognition, development opportunities, and discipline processes).

Risk Management:

• Identify and evaluate the risks to BBBSG’s people (clients, staff, management, volunteers), property, finances, image and reputation, and implement measures to control risks.
• Inform the Board of any risks to the organization.

Qualifications and Key Skills:

• Over five years of experience in a leadership role
• A passion for youth service organizations and the role mentorship plays in the development of young people.
• A strategic and growth mindset
• A history of success in developing, executing and monitoring successful revenue generation and fundraising plans.
• A firm grounding in financial reporting and budgeting
• A history of developing, managing and leading highly effective teams
• Experience working with a Board of Directors
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic and operational plans in service to implementing an organization’s mission
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills with an ability to tailor messaging to a variety of audiences.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The compensation for this role is $75,000-$100,000 per year.
• The position also comes with benefits, including life insurance, extended medical and dental coverage and a health care spending account.