Executive Director

The Council on Admission and Transfer for Nova Scotia Inc. (CATNS) is a not-for-profit, member-based organization supporting the 11 publicly funded universities and colleges in Nova Scotia.

CATNS serves as the organization through which collaborative systems that support student enrolment, student mobility, and data portability are managed.

In recognition of the importance of education and training in today’s global economy, CATNS’ focus is on improving student experiences related to their post-secondary education journeys through innovative systems and tools, focused partnerships, and a commitment to excellence.

CATNS is committed to being an organization where diversity and different perspectives are valued. They strive to be an organization that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the communities and organizations they serve and encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of a traditionally marginalized community.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the strategic leadership of CATNS, ensuring its future relevance, credibility, and viability.

As Executive Director, you will provide CATNS with the leadership required to achieve its mission, and you will work collaboratively with CATNS’ Executive Committee, Operations Committee, Audit Committee, and various working groups to develop and implement the strategic vision for CATNS, oversee the smooth running of its operations and initiatives (e.

g., MyNSFuture.ca, MyTranscripts, MyTransferCredits, MySpring&SummerCourses, etc.), guide the efforts of contractors and volunteers, and identify and pursue new projects and resources.

You will build and foster formal and informal strategic relationships and partnerships with members, government, provincial hubs, and other organizational leaders to ensure strategic priorities are achieved and to advance CATNS’ values and strategic objectives in cross-jurisdictional initiatives.

You will also serve as an ambassador representing CATNS and its members, domestically and internationally, effectively building and cultivating relationships and bolstering the organization’s reputation externally.

You will lead and collaborate with members, the board, sector associations, and peer associations in other jurisdictions to enhance the organization’s visibility, scope of practice, and access to services and to reach beyond the boundaries of CATNS’ scope to identify and cultivate new relationships.

Ideal Candidate Profile

As the ideal candidate, you are a highly strategic systems thinker and leader with experience leading people, budgets, and projects in complex, multi-partner environments.

You bring experience in, and a deep and current understanding of, the complexities and dynamic nature of the post-secondary landscape in the region and beyond.

You demonstrate exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and the proven ability to articulate a practical and compelling vision for the future and to influence and inspire others to work as part of a team toward that vision.

You have led in a digitally enabled context and have a strong understanding of the use of technology-related functions that support user experience and service delivery.

You keep abreast of the organization’s system-level issues, opportunities and strengths and confidently navigate complex decision-making processes and projects within an ever-changing operational and political landscape.

You effectively anticipate policy shifts, positioning the organization as proactive, informed, relevant, and differentiated.

You are adept at building and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with a wide array of individuals both inside and outside of your organization, including with government, funders, volunteers, and partners who come with different perspectives.

A highly inclusive leader, you integrate principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in all that you do.