THE ORGANIZATION
Every parent wants their child to explore their world, experience meaningful participation and hold a valued role in their community. More than anything, every parent wants their child to live an ordinary life. That’s what our client, GRIT, wants too. GRIT is a non-profit organization that works alongside families and community partners to strengthen the skills and confidence needed to support every child’s learning and development. Since 1982, they have helped hundreds of children with developmental disabilities become meaningful participants in their families, communities, and schools.

As a trusted leader, they use research to guide their professional knowledge and practices to provide the resources and information needed to achieve the best outcomes for all children. GRIT offers support through two main program streams:

1. Programs providing services directly to children and families including Early Childhood Services and Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Services.

2. Programs where GRIT partners with Early Learning and Childcare programs including Access, Supports and Participation (ASaP), Inclusive Child Care (ICC) and Connecting Canada (CC).

VISION
Communities embrace diversity and uphold the rights of all children and their families.

MISSION
To build on the skills, knowledge, and confidence of families and educators to ensure that children are supported in inclusive settings and meaningfully participate in everyday routines.

CORE VALUES
Family Centered Practice – Parents hold a central role in decision making and choices for the well-being of their child and family. Parents actively participate, learn, and gain confidence to positively influence their children’s future.

Inclusion – Embedded in GRIT’s work is the belief that “we all belong”. All children have the right to participate in every day places where children play and learn. . When children are included, they are active and valued participants in life.

Learning Through Play & Everyday Routines – Play nourishes development and forms a strong foundation for ongoing learning. Through play, children learn to make sense of their world, expand their imagination, gain independence and develop friendships.

Learning Community – Passionate and engaged people are GRIT’s most valuable asset. Together, we learn, seek knowledge, and discover innovative practices for our work.

For further information on GRIT, please visit their website at www.gritprogram.ca .

THE OPPORTUNITY
GRIT is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will report to the Board of Directors and is responsible for providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and leadership to the organization. The CEO ensures the delivery of services to children, families, early childhood educators and care providers in accordance with the vision, mission, values, operational goals, and the Board’s strategic direction. Their new CEO will build on the successes previously achieved by GRIT and will help take the organization into the future as they continue to have an impact, grow, and expand. The CEO considers a long-term view on challenges and opportunities and encourages leading practices and fresh approaches that contribute to the achievement of GRIT’s goals and priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Delivery

• Provides vision, leadership, and guidance in directing all aspects of service delivery while upholding GRIT’s core program values.
• Leads while encouraging collaboration in the development of operational plans that align with strategic directions and agency wide vision.
• Supports community-based research activities and stays abreast of relevant leading edge research and practice.
• Ensures the development, implementation, and evaluation of annual operational goals, including quality program implementation standards and accountability frameworks.
• Seeks innovative opportunities to advance the organization’s mission, vision, and service provision.
• Leads fund development initiatives (e.g. sponsorship, donor relations, etc.)
• Provides supervision, collaborative coaching, growth opportunities, and performance reviews of direct reports: Director of Programs, Project Manager (Connecting Canada), Finance Manager, Human Resource Manager, Office Manager, and the Executive Assistant.

Stakeholder and Community Relations

• Develops positive and productive working relationships with key stakeholders including those with government and other funding bodies, early childhood educators, care providers and other organizations with common or overlapping interests.
• Engages in individual and systems advocacy as needed to advance mission and vision.
• Oversees external communications including activities/deliverables such as branding, marketing, and digital media (website, e-newsletters, social media) and knowledge translation briefs.

Administration

• Responsible and accountable for financial aspects of all program streams.
• Ensures organizational risks are identified and appropriately managed.
• Oversees human resource management for all staff, which includes workforce planning, recruiting, training and performance management.
• Creates a high-performance values-based culture of professional engagement and transparency to maintain a positive work environment.
• Ensures creation and periodic review of corporate policies and procedures.
• Ensures maintenance of records, reports, and systems in accordance with funders’ requirements and program policy.
• Ensures appropriate infrastructure (including facilities and technology) to support organizational growth and scaling of programs.

Board Development

• Provides reports to the Board about GRIT program activities in the frequency and format defined by the Board.
• Supports the Board and its committees as required.
• Collaborates with the Board in the development and review of the vision, mission, values, and strategic plans.
• Advises the Board in a timely fashion of any developments that impact risk to the Agency.
• Conducts activities in compliance with Board Policies, in particular those related to Responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer

FIRST YEAR – MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Move the strategic plan forward, reviewing progression through demonstrated behaviours such as partnerships, strategic relationships, funding goals, organizational sustainability and other milestones determined by GRIT to achieve its Vision and Mission.
• Build an organizational sustainability plan that diversifies GRIT’s funding portfolio to be more balanced between public and private.
• Develop key stakeholder relations and partnerships with government, business, communities, educators, families, and donors.
• Elevate and build brand awareness for GRIT in the communities it serves.

THE INDIVIDUAL
Given the pivotal role this individual will be expected to play in achieving the strategic objectives of the company and in supporting the success of the organization, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience, and attributes:

Education

• University degree required.

Experience

• A minimum of ten years in progressively responsible leadership positions.
• Experience with both strategy development and operations.
• Experience either working with a Board or serving as a director on a Board.

Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge and understanding in the following areas:

• Early childhood development programs for families with a young child with complex needs.
• Alberta Government funding criteria, policies, and practices.
• Grant applications and fundraising.
• Development of policy and procedures.
• Financial management, risk management, and accountability frameworks.

Competencies and Skills

• Strategic, innovative, and critical thinking skills.
• Problem solving and issues management skills.
• Relationship management skills with the ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communicator, both internally and externally.
• Savvy networker that can be the brand ambassador and face of GRIT, bringing greater awareness to the organization.
• Leadership and influencing skills with the ability to motivate, empower and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to apply research and practice related to early childhood development, disability, and related fields of practice.

Demonstrated Values

The incumbent must be able to demonstrate:

• A passion for inclusive education and inclusive communities.
• A commitment to serving children with diverse abilities, their families, early childhood educators and care providers.
• A commitment to GRIT’s values of family-centered practice, inclusion, learning through play and everyday routines, and learning community.

Personal Profile

• Confident with demonstrated personal and professional integrity.
• Visionary
• Collaborative and inspirational leadership style.
• Bold and open to taking calculated risks.
• Entrepreneurial spirit.
• Highly accountable with a passion to drive and build.
• Innovative and can think outside the box.
• Has grit – no problem is too big to overcome.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Shows strength, resiliency, and calmness when emotions are high.
• Builds trust with credibility in knowledge, demonstrated results and by being accountable to your word.
• Highly respectful of others.
• Displays ethical leadership.
• Critical thinker with problem solving skills.
• A positive attitude when faced with adversarial situations.
• Exhibits sound judgment.

COMPENSATION
An excellent compensation package awaits the successful candidate.

LOCATION
Edmonton, Alberta

WORK ENVIRONMENT
GRIT operates in a hybrid/flexible work environment with the successful individual residing in Metro Edmonton and/or surrounding area with understanding that to be effective, you will need to be in the office to build relationships and lead the team.

HOW TO APPLY
For the opportunity to join GRIT in the role of Chief Executive Officer, please email your resume to DreamBig@profoundtalent.com referencing Position ID # AJGJ-814500.

Should you have an inquiry regarding this position, please contact Stacey Laing at 587-200-0114 ext.104 or Terri Davis at 587-200-0114 ext. 101.

For further information on ProFound Talent Inc. please visit: www.profoundtalent.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

ProFound Talent is a woman owned and operated business, recognized and certified by Women Business Enterprise (WBE). We pride ourselves in supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in our recruitment processes and in our work environment, where every individual feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals to which you may confidentially share your accommodation needs at time of application. We will adjust our processes to ensure you have an inclusive, fair, and respectful experience that allows you to represent yourself in your unique and most authentic way.

* We thank all applicants for your submissions, however only candidates being considered for this role will be contacted. *