Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS) is seeking an Executive Director to work collaboratively with Board, staff, students, and funding partners in leading the organization.
NS is a not-for-profit charitable organization providing innovative post-secondary education programming for Inuit youth from Nunavut. Basing its approach on the values of relationship, responsiveness, and relevance, NS is known for providing a transformative student learning experience that is in high demand among Inuit youth.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have administrative and management responsibility to successfully guide and maintain the overall operations of NS in a manner consistent with the values and principles that have supported its development. The position involves duties and responsibilities in the following key areas:
- Board governance
- Financial management
- Human resources
- Programming and courses
- Student affairs
- External relations and communications
- Facilities management
Responsibilities
Board Governance
As the Directors of the Board are geographically distant from NS operations, the ED plays a key role in supporting their involvement in policy decisions, fundraising, and maintaining the overall visibility of the organization, including:
- ensure Directors have up to date and relevant information on programming and operations,
- draft HR and student policies for Board consideration,
- maintain incorporation status, and
- organize regular meetings and records management.
Financial Planning and Management
As a not-for-profit organization with relatively small core funding, NS relies on financial contributions from a variety of sources. The ED is responsible for maintaining the overall fiscal health and integrity of NS, including:
- assess organizational and programming financial requirements,
- analyze potential revenue sources and prepare funding proposals,
- oversee organization and program expenditures,
- ensure sound accounting and preparation of financial reports, and
- report on operations and finances to funders.
Human Resources
The diverse elements of NS programming are developed and delivered by a dynamic and dedicated team working together in a collaborative manner. The ED plays a key role in fostering collaborative team activity and supporting individual staff development, including:
- assess staffing needs, hire, supervise and evaluate staff,
- oversee application of all benefits and HR policies,
- facilitate staff engagement in all aspects of programming, and
- attend to individual staff needs.
Programming and Courses
NS delivers Algonquin College (AC)accredited post-secondary academic courses supported by a wide variety of additional experiential programs. The ED is responsible for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of all programming, including:
- ensure delivery of all programming in a manner consistent with NS’s values and principles,
- ensure content and delivery of all courses meet AC accreditation standards,
- ensure development and delivery of innovative educational activities that reflect NS’s values and approach, and
- ensure adequate resources for delivery of all programming.
Student Affairs
The NS experience requires students to leave their comfort zone and enter into the highly stimulating and challenging world of independent living and post-secondary study in a new cultural environment. The ED is responsible for ensuring that adequate measures are taken to support the physical, material, and mental well-being of the students, including:
- oversee selection of new students,
- facilitate development of programming initiatives to support student needs,
- engage directly with individual students,
- employ a developmental approach in determining student success,
- collaborate with staff to assess on-going individual student experience and needs, and
- guide staff discussions to coordinate attention to individual students.
External Relations and Communications
As a small independent organization, NS is privileged to have the support and cooperation of a variety of donors, educational institutions, and community and political organizations. Much of this is supported by clear communications on the activities and results of the program, through direct targeted communications and an indirect social media and website presence. As well, due to its unique programming approach, the organization frequently fields requests for information and invitations for participation in external projects. The ED is responsible for maintaining healthy relationships with all affiliates and ensuring an ongoing positive public presence, including:
- maintain contractual relationship with post-secondary institutions,
- oversee positive social media presence, and
- ensure creation of effective promotional materials.
Building Management
NS owns its education centre as well as three student residential buildings. The ED is responsible for ensuring the financial and physical integrity of all buildings, including:
- assume role of Director of the Condo corporation, and
- oversee building management contracts,
- assess and authorize maintenance, repair and renovation needs of education centre and apartments, and
- develop expenditure and rental revenue projections for overall budget.
Required Experience and Skills
The ideal candidate will possess all or an equivalent combination of the following:
- At least 5 years of experience in a senior leadership position, preferably within an education or training context
- Strong relationship skills; ability to be a collaborative team leader, building trust and confidence with board, staff, students and funders.
- Proven abilities in planning, innovative program development and problem solving; able to make sound decisions that generate unified support from diverse perspectives.
- Extensive knowledge of the history and current realities of Inuit society within Canada.
- Direct experience working with Inuit or other Indigenous youth, within an experiential education context.
- Strong operational and financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision- making, and reporting.
- Excellentcommunication skills, preferably in Inuktut and English; demonstrated ability to communicate the organization’s mission, values, approach and outcomes to different audiences, particularly students, staff, funders, community leaders, partner agencies and politicians.
- Strong fund development/donor stewardship skills; a strategic approach to developing sustainable funding and a strong financial foundation through establishing strong relationships and support with funders and partners.
Required Education
- Post-secondary degree, preferably in Education or a complementary field. A combination of relevant education and experience will be considered.
- All things being equal, priority will be given to beneficiaries of the Nunavut Agreement. Please send your expression of interest and resume on or before March 24, 2023, to:
Kevin Kablutsiak
Chair, Board of Directors Nunavut Sivuniksavut
Email: NSBoardChair@gmail.com