Co-Executive Director – People and Programs

Overview

Job Title: Co-Executive Director – Programs and People
Reports to: Board of Directors President 
Position Duration: permanent (3-month probation)
Hours/week: 14 hours/week
Hourly wage: $50.00/hour during the six-month probationary period, increasing to $53.00/hour upon successful completion of probation.
Vacation: 8% accrual
Benefits: 5% RRSP Contribution (following probation)
Office Location(s): Castlegar, BC

Position Summary

The Executive Director role at Freedom Quest Youth Services Society is held jointly by two Executive Directors working in a co-leadership model, sharing a combined 38 hours per week. One Executive Director leads with a focus on Programs and People, while the other leads with a focus on Operations and Strategy. Together, they are fully responsible for ensuring the Executive Director function described below is carried out in its entirety.
 
Each year, the two Executive Directors co-create a Partnership Agreement, approved by the Board, that defines how responsibilities are divided between them and how the role is put into practice. This shared model is built on collaboration, mutual accountability, and a commitment to leading the organization as true partners. 

The Freedom Quest Executive Director provides leadership to a growing and complex organization and acts as an agent for social change by supporting a diverse staff in multiple programs aimed at the health and wellbeing of youth who are impacted by substance use or other challenges. The Executive Director is accountable for planning, organizing, and evaluating the functions of administration, finance and human resources. They assist and guide Program Managers in developing strategies, goals, and policies consistent with the mission of the Society. Currently there are between 30-40 staff members supported by significant operational budgets.
 
Freedom Quest provides services in the following program areas:

• Youth Substance Use Support Worker Services
• Youth Substance Use & Family Counsellor Services
• Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD)
• Therapeutic Recreational Programming
• Housing for Children & Youth in the Government Care System

 
Freedom Quest operates under a policy governance model. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and ensures that financial, human, and material resources are organized and directed towards implementation of the goals and policies established by the Board. The Executive Director works with the Board in promoting positive public relations.
 
General Responsibilities:

• Plans, organizes, directs and administers all Freedom Quest programs and operations directly, or through delegation, as consistent with organizational mission, values and policies.
• Collaborates with community partner organizations and groups to positively impact efforts that positively impact youth and community service delivery.

Advocates for the needs of youth through engagement with community, business organizations, funders, government and the general public.

Key Competencies

Teamwork:

• Fosters a collaborative work culture that values sharing of information, knowledge, and expertise.
• Promotes organizational teamwork goals through inclusive leadership and supportive behaviors.

 
Communication:

• Provides important information quickly and accurately to key people within and outside the organization.
• Expresses concepts and ideas in a clear, succinct, accurate and simple manner that is sensitive to the needs of the audience or listener.
• Fosters dialogue and shared understanding when communicating with those who may have different needs or understanding of situations.

 
Organizational Awareness:

• Leverages formal and informal roles, relationships and structures within Freedom Quest and also among other organizations to accomplish goals. 
• Identifies the real decision-makers and the individuals who can influence decisions; and considers how new events or situations might affect individuals and groups within the organization.

 
Leading Change:

• Champions transformational change within the organization, communicating its relevance and sustaining momentum.
• In alignment with CARF accreditation standards, develops plans, monitors progress, and adjusts as needed, with a focus on quality assurance and promoting diversity and inclusion.

 
Innovation:

• Nurtures an environment where creativity, challenging the status quo, risk-taking and learning from mistakes are encouraged.
• Thinks outside the box and views problems and situations from many different perspectives and encourages others to do the same.
• Balance the need for innovation with the need to meet the organization’s mission and mandate.

 
Staff Development:

• Promotes a culture of continuous learning, goal setting for professional development goals.
• Provides ongoing feedback and coaching and recognizes employees in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Monitors and addresses performance issues.

 
Strategic Thinking:

• Formulates broad strategies to address multi-dimensional issues, considering various viewpoints and agendas.
• Maintain a broad, strategic perspective while attending to crucial details, adapting strategies to changing circumstances.

Integrity and Ethical Behaviour:

• Practices ethical leadership and supports ethical service delivery
• Strong understanding of ethical practice as it pertains to service delivery.

 
Youth Centred Approach:

• Prioritizes youths’ needs and the needs of the community in decision making and service delivery.
• Continually searches for new ways to improve service delivery to meet or exceed the needs of youth and the community.

 
Community Collaboration:

• Fosters positive relationships with funders, community partner organizations, donors, and clients.
• Acts as FQs spokesperson. Represents FQ at all relevant community, committee, fundraising events, and/or official functions.
• Builds relationships to enhance FQ’s partnership with Indigenous-led service providers

 
Cultural Responsiveness and Sensitivity

• Commitment to cultural safety, humility, and anti-racism
• Understanding of distinctions-based approaches for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
• Ability to work respectfully with diverse families and communities
• Skilled in incorporating cultural practices and traditional healing into treatment planning

Key Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Provides leadership and acts as an agent to enable positive social change.
• Provides leadership to the Board, staff and clients to work together to access the resources required to achieve organizational goals.
• Acts as a mentor and role model, providing opportunities for learning and the encouragement necessary to achieve FQ organizational goals.
• Actions the organizational Strategic Plan

 
Human Resources:

• Establishes and implements management and human resource policies necessary to support the objectives of Freedom Quest including issues relating to hiring, performance appraisal, discipline, grievance resolution and discharge.
• Provides oversight and supervision to members of the administrative and management teams.

 
Policy Development:

• In collaboration with the Co-Executive Director, Administrative and Management Teams, formulates and presents new or revised policies to the Board for consideration.

 
Community Partnerships:

• In collaboration with the Co-Executive Director, participates, supports and collaborates with various partners, working groups and other committees as an advocate for FQ and its stakeholders and as an advocate for the communities throughout Kootenay Boundary.

 
Relationships:

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with government officials, stakeholders including participants, funders, staff, community groups, etc.
• Communicates and/or promotes Freedom Quest services, funding needs, value to the community, etc.
• Represents Freedom Quest at fundraising events and other official functions.

 
Advocacy:

• Systemic advocacy efforts for the clientele of the agency services in conjunction with the Board.

 
Knowledge Skills, and Abilities
​
Qualifications:

• Preference for a master’s degree or equivalent in the Human Services field or in Administration, Leadership and Management and with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the management of non-profit agencies with competence having been demonstrated in agency administration, project management, and in financial management.  
• For candidates interested in the Clinical Supervision role:

• Masters’ degree in a relevant healthcare or human services field such as social work, psychology, nursing, or equivalent (REQUIRED), plus additional training or certification in clinical supervision (PREFERRED).

 
Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional interpersonal and written and verbal communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Understanding of provincial, regional, and community resources.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt quickly to unforeseen situations.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills. Experience with supervisory duties in an integrated, multi-service organization.
• Ability to lead and motivate all employees.
• Familiarity with business technology, programs, and social media platforms.

 
Additional Information:

• From time to time, the Executive Director may be called upon to perform certain tasks not specifically detailed in the Job Description but related to the goals and objectives of the position.
• Must have the ability to function independently and under pressure while managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• Must be able to effectively manage crisis and emergency situations.
• Participation at meetings, conferences and other events may at time involve long workdays, and travel and evening or weekends.

 
Other Requirements

• Criminal Record Check (required)
• Valid Class 4 BC Driver’s License (required)
• Access to a reliable vehicle (required)
• Valid ASIST Certification (an asset)