Title: Executive Director
Duration: Permanent
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Apathy is Boring Office, 1514 avenue Docteur-Penfield, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Start Date: May 29th, 2013
To apply: Send a resume, cover letter, and three references to Mackenzie Duncan, Chair, Board of Directors & Co-founder at info@apathyisboring.com
NOTE: Please indicate your availability in your cover letter to attend the staff & board retreat May 30th – June 2nd to take place 1.5 hours north of Montreal.
Website: www.apathyisboring.com
The Cause & Philosophy
Apathy is Boring is a non-partisan charitable organization that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy, with the aim of increasing youth voter turnout, increasing youth engagement in the democratic process, and building a sustainable dialogue between youth and elected officials.
Apathy is Boring is a youth-led organization, and although not everyone atApathy is Boring is necessarily youth; our human resources policies are built with those in their early career in mind.
Apathy is Boring is non-partisan - we don't support or oppose any given party, candidate, campaign, or policy. Our content and programming are balanced and impartial and when discussing issues, we stick to the facts. It is important that anyone applying to work with Apathy is Boring abides by our non-partisanship policy.
If you want to know more about what we do check out our Annual Report 2011-2012.
Job Context
Apathy is Boring is looking for a leader who will guide the organization into its next phase of growth. Fund development, increased programmatic impact, stewardship of current clients, partners, and initiatives, and strong team management and mentoring, will all be priorities for the new Executive Director.
This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual, with a passion for democracy, electoral processes, youth engagement, and the change-making potential of art and technology. This individual should be excited to work closely with a strong Board of Directors, and the outgoing Executive Director, who will be moving out of an operational role and into a governance role.
Job Overview
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is the organization's key staff member and is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization according to organizational vision, mission, goals, and the strategic plan developed by the Board of Directors, along with staff, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Fund Development
Lead
- Ensure financial viability through implementing the fundraising strategy and directing fund development, and earned revenue activities, carrying out donor and client relations, and ensuring overall fiscal accountability;
- Deliver monthly reports to the Fundraising and Earned Revenue Committees.
- Manage relationships with donors and clients, prepare grant applications, and participate in in-person ask / pitch meetings;
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Pursue new donor and client leads with an aim to develop a healthy and diverse base of funding partners.
Finances
Lead
- Ensure sound financial management and controls, budget preparation, and forecasting in accordance with organizational policies and procedures;
- Ensuring that the books of the organization are accurately maintained by the Development and Administrative Coordinator;
- Report the financial results of A is B operations on the schedule established by the Finance Committee, but at least quarterly;
- Be responsible for the timely remittance of payments to the government as required;
- Liaise with creditors and ensure that contracts are fulfilled, and payments are made on a timely basis.
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Develop and monitor annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors;
- Work with the Apathy is Boring accountant to prepare financial statements for approval by the Board of Directors.
- Oversee the implementation of financial policies, procedures, and practices.
Operational and program planning and management
Lead
- Ensure that benchmarks are set for the measuring success of all programs such that organizational culture is creative, continuously innovating, and impact driven;
- Supervise, mentor, delegate, manage, and support staff activities in accordance with organizational quality control procedures;
- Review, edit, and approve documents, project plans, action plans, and other documents written by staff, to ensure high quality standards;
- Monitor on-going programs, through staff program plans, action plans, and regular staff check-ins, and identify any issues that may prevent success. Work with program area coordinators to mitigate risks, problem solve, and modify activities when necessary.
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Oversee the implementation of the operational and programming related policies, procedures, and practices.
Team planning and management
Lead
- Determine all staffing requirements;
- Responsible for recruiting, motivating, developing, evaluating, mentoring and managing a high quality team;
- Establish a collegial, collaborative, and youth-friendly work environment where trust, integrity, humour, creativity, high professional standards, and open communication are valued;
- Continually monitor professional standards of staff and ensure all employee performance evaluations are completed in a timely manner.
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Oversee the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures, and practices.
Public relations, relationship-building, and communications
Lead
- Support the development of communications strategies and communications materials and messaging to effectively promote programs and expand reach.
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Oversee the implementation of the branding guidelines and content policy.
In partnership with the President of Apathy is Boring
- Represent the organization in English and French at events, conferences, and in the media.
- Initiate, develop, and manage partnerships in order to reach strategic and operational goals with stakeholders such as elected officials, electoral agencies, non-profit and charitable organizations, musicians, celebrities, notable Canadians etc.
Strategic planning and governance
Lead
- Implement the vision, mission, and strategic goals by leading the staff through the development of short and long-range operational plans (yearly action plans, monthly action plans);
- Support Board of Directors and Board Committees by preparing meeting agendas in partnership with the Board Chair and Vice-Chair, ensuring all written reports are prepared in advance, and relevant materials are provided.
In partnership with the Board of Directors
- Identify, assess, and inform the Board of Directors of internal and external issues that effect the organization as part of an annual Strategic Plan review.
Qualifications
- 3-5 years experience in a leadership or management role;
- Demonstrated capacity to learn on the job, and react / correct quickly;
- Creative, solutions finder, and lateral thinker who is always looking for opportunities;
- Organized, detail oriented, and likes structure, excited to build on existing organizational structures, and processes;
- Team player, who is excited to work with two co-founders, Board of Directors, staff, interns, and volunteers to take the organization to its next phase of growth;
- Experience in fund development including major gifts, donor campaigns, and donor stewardship;
- Experience in grant writing for government and private family foundations;
- Experience in financial management including preparing budgets, charitable returns, forecasting cash flow, and maintaining controls;
- Experience working with an accountant to prepare financial statements;
- Experience in project and program management;
- Experience in team management with an emphasis on mentorship, as well as supporting professional and personal development;
- Experience working with paid clients;
- Experience in event management;
- Experience in presenting and facilitation for both youth and adult audiences;
- Strong writing and editing skills, experience writing reports for public, paid client, or academic audience;
- Bilingual in written and spoken French and English;
- Strong knowledge of and interest in Canadian politics and democracy;
- Strong interest in youth engagement and youth electoral engagement;
- Knowledge of the NGO sector in Canada;
- Experience working with aboriginal youth or in northern Canada an asset;
- Experience working in the Canadian music industry an asset;
- Interest in design, and understanding of the importance of good branding;
- Excellent attention to detail and proven track record of accuracy;
- High personal integrity, honesty and professional standards;
- Youth-friendly, excited to work with youth and those who are young at heart; and
- A sense of humour, quick wit, and positive attitude.
Compensation
Salary $46,000 - $52,000 a year, including a generous vacation package, $500 per year for professional development, a great team to work with, and a flexible work environment.
