Executive Director

Start Date : February 01, 2024 This allows for a one-month overlap and training with the retiring Executive Director.

About us :

ALSBC is a prestigious, firmly established and well-recognized Not-for-Profit charity founded in 1981 and is registered with the Government of Canada (10670-8985-RR0001).

Its prime aim is to provide support and services for people and families living with ALS in British Columbia. It achieves this through a variety of modalities, including an integral collaboration with the ALS Clinic.

ALSBC has created an important relationship with the University of British Columbia and the Government of British Columbia through the formation of Since the launch of , over $8M towards a $20M goal has been raised, establishing an endowed trust to fund an ALS Research Professorship at UBC.

This Clinician-Scientist oversees, spearheads, and creates opportunities for patients to access clinical trials in BC and is a Canadian World leader in ALS research.

Why work with us?

The position of Executive Director of ALSBC is a career choice and the successful applicant will be expected to look at the opportunity as a long-term commitment, dedicated to a cause.

This is an exciting venture leaving considerable room for individuality, building and expanding on a presently impressive Society, enviable amongst other not-for-profit organizations.

You will be in contact with a wide variety of humanity and make many new friends.

Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Board of Directors of the Society, the Executive Director is the chief of staff who contributes to the Society's growth, success, and achievement of its stated goals by providing leadership, creativity, and energy for accomplishments, for service and for harmonious and synergistic relationships within the entire ALS community of interest in BC and the Yukon.

1. Organizational Leadership

• Leads the organization in maintaining its focus on meeting the needs of individuals living with ALS together with their caregivers and families, in a manner that inspires the confidence and trust of the Society's members, chapters, donors, professional and medical practitioners, governments and the public.
• Leads in identifying and implementing ways in which the organization can enhance and further develop harmonious, synergistic and mutually appreciative relationships throughout the entire ALS community of interest in BC and the Yukon, in consultation with all elements of that community, including individuals living with ALS, their caregivers and families, volunteers, donors, chapters, and medical and professional staff and entities involved with ALS patient diagnosis, treatment and support.
• Oversees the operation of the Society and its staff at its head office and equipment warehouse in Richmond.
• Regularly meets with the chapters, keeps attentive to their needs, their program development, and their strengths, offers assistance and resources as appropriate, and brings emerging issues to the Board
• Assists with other projects and duties as requested, assigned, or required by the Board.

2. Support Services

• Works with a Board committee and with staff of the Society to promote and provide improved services to those living with ALS, their families, and caregivers.
• Provides oversight on all aspects of patient equipment supplies including acquisition, distribution, maintenance and inventory, and evaluation of same, to ensure that maximum utilization of the resources available are efficiently and effectively utilized.
• Schedules regular workshops for persons with ALS, families, caregivers and healthcare providers.
• Establishes and conducts regular evaluations of the nature, extent, and quality of support services.
• Brings patient advocacy issues forward to the Board for discussion and action.
• Maintains strong connections with the patient advocacy movement in BC and Canada; keeps ALS issues at the forefront of this movement and connects the Society to its work.

3. Fund Raising

• Develops and implements a fundraising plan to maximize the Society's fundraising potential.
• Develops and submits proposals to service clubs, corporations, foundations and employee groups.
• Develops and maintains relationships with all large donors.
• Co-ordinates and assists chapters and support groups in fundraising activities.
• Ensures that Directors and members are regularly asked to financially support the Society.
• Ensures regular accountability communication to donors to keep all well informed of how all donated funds are applied toward achieving the established goals of the Society with maximum efficiency.
• Take the lead in fundraising for PROJECT HOPE.

4. Financial Management

• With the finance staff and Finance Committee, prepares for Board approval annual budgets which accurately reflect the needs of the Society.
• Assures that the Board is provided with full financial information relative to those budgets, on a timely basis.
• fiscal responsibility and stewardship throughout the organization.
• Functions as a signing officer for the Society within the guidelines provided by the Board.

5. Public Relations, Communications and Awareness

• Develops and implements a public awareness plan to maximize public awareness of the disease and the Society.
• Functions on most occasions as the official spokesperson for the Society, and when others are deemed to be more appropriate spokespersons on certain issues, supports them in this role.
• Conducts speaking engagements and media interviews about the disease and the organization.
• Arranges Provincial and local media exposure, wherever and whenever possible.
• Fields all calls from the media.
• Draw on resources available to ensure that up-to-date ALS research information is available for communication.

6. Governance

• Coordinates with, and assists, the Board in the governance of Society initiatives.
• Provides orientation for Board members and committee chairs.

7. Staff Management

• Builds and continually enhances an excellent staff team committed to service and competence.
• Provides for staff both opportunities for, and encouragement to engage in, professional education and development.
• Works with the staff to develop an annual plan as a working guide for staff. This includes an annual review of all operations policies and procedures.
• Ensures that human resource policies are followed within the staff structure.

8. Volunteer Management

• Ensures that throughout the organization, there is increased attention to and skill in recruitment, screening, orientation, training, support and recognition of volunteers.
• Assists with volunteer training initiatives.
• Oversees and strengthens a volunteer recognition TEAM ALS BC & Yukon.

9. External Relations

• Functions as the key link between the Board and various provincial government departments.
• Is attentive to emerging issues in government / voluntary sector relationships and alerts the Board to items of importance.
• Takes initiative to build collaborative links with other organizations in the voluntary sector.
• As needed, represents the organization at meetings of provincial voluntary health organizations and other similar meetings.
• Builds appropriate linkages with other elements of the entire ALS community of interest in BC.

Qualifications and Skills

Required :

• Demonstrated leadership skills, linked with a commitment to service.
• Empathy, a deep caring for people with life-threatening illness, and a demonstrated capacity to be comfortable and effective around people with ALS.
• Demonstrated skills in developing and enhancing and developing harmonious and synergistic relationships and an environment of mutual appreciation and respect, within the complete community of interest surrounding individuals with a serious illness or disability.
• Demonstrated track record in successful fundraising, from large to small donors, including the development of continuing donor relationships, proposal preparation and grant applications.
• Demonstrated track record in developing annual budgets and in monitoring financial status relative to approved budgets.
• Relevant university degree, preferably at the graduate level, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and certification.
• Working knowledge of general accounting and an ability to read and understand financial statements.
• Basic computer literacy and email proficiency
• Demonstrated ability to think and act creatively and innovatively.
• Willingness to locate in Richmond.
• Driver’s license and vehicle (car allowance will be provided)
• Prepared to travel.
• A sense of humor

Desirable, but not essential.

• Certification or accreditation in fundraising
• Proficiency with software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, publishing, and bookkeeping
• Successful track record working with government, including provincial, municipal, and federal departments and agencies.
• Demonstrated capacity for organizational development and strategic planning.
• Commitment to continuing education for her / himself and staff and volunteers.
• A track record of remaining calm and effective in high-stress situations
30+ days ago