Chief Executive Officer – St. John Ambulance Society, BC/Yukon

Chief Executive Officer – St. John Ambulance Society, BC/Yukon

Location: British Columbia

Department: Provincial Head Office; hybrid permitted

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation Range: $200,000 – 275,000 CAD per year

Biweekly hours: 37.5 hours

Closing Date: May 29, 2026

Who We Are

St. John Ambulance British Columbia & Yukon (SJA BCY) is a charitable organization dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing for all.

For nearly 115 years in the region, SJA BCY has been a leader in first aid education, delivering high-quality training for workplaces, families, and individuals, and providing essential first aid products and services to help communities prepare for the unexpected. This work is strengthened by the support of more than 2,000 dedicated volunteers delivering medical responder services, and community-based volunteer programs throughout BC and the Yukon.

As part of the federated St. John Ambulance organisation in Canada, represented from coast to coast, we are proud to contribute to a legacy of more than 900 years of service to humanity.

The Opportunity

St. John Ambulance BCY is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization through its next chapter of growth, modernization, and community impact. This is a pivotal leadership role at a moment when the organization is poised to strengthen its operational performance, expand its reach, and deepen its contribution to health and safety across British Columbia and Yukon.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is accountable for the overall strategic, operational, and financial leadership of SJA BCY. You will set a clear direction for the organization, aligning teams, volunteers, and partners around a shared vision for sustainable growth and service excellence. This includes advancing core business lines such as first aid training and products, while strengthening community-based programs and volunteer engagement.

This role requires a leader who can move comfortably between strategy and execution. You will be expected to translate organizational priorities into focused, achievable plans, ensuring strong performance across distributed operations while building the systems, processes, and culture needed for long-term success. Working within a federated national structure, you will collaborate closely with colleagues across Canada, contributing to broader initiatives while advocating for the needs and opportunities within BC and the Yukon.

As the public face of the organization, the CEO will build and maintain trusted relationships with government, partners, donors, and community leaders. Internally, you will foster a high-performing, inclusive environment that supports staff and volunteers to do their best work in service of a shared humanitarian mission.

This is an opportunity to lead a respected, mission-driven organization with a long history of service, and to shape how it evolves to meet the needs of communities today and into the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction

• Lead the development and execution of SJA BCY’s strategic plan, setting a clear, forward-looking vision that strengthens both mission impact and financial sustainability
• Translate strategic priorities into focused, measurable plans, ensuring alignment across operations, community programs, and revenue-generating activities
• Identify and pursue new opportunities for growth, innovation, and service expansion, leveraging emerging trends, partnerships, and evolving community needs
• Contribute to and influence national St. John Ambulance priorities, working effectively within a federated structure to advance both regional and national objectives

Operational Excellence & Performance

• Ensure strong, consistent performance across all business lines, including first aid training, product sales, and community services
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, driving accountability and continuous improvement across the organization
• Oversee the development of scalable systems, processes, and infrastructure to support efficient, high-quality service delivery
• Balance strategic leadership with operational oversight, ensuring day-to-day excellence while building for long-term success

Financial Stewardship & Growth

• Provide overall financial leadership, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational assets
• Drive revenue growth and diversification across training, products, partnerships, and philanthropy
• Identify opportunities to optimize financial performance while maintaining alignment with the organization’s mission and values
• Work closely with the Board to ensure transparency, strong governance, and long-term financial sustainability

External Relations & Ambassadorial Leadership

• Serve as the primary representative and ambassador for SJA BCY, strengthening relationships with government, partners, donors, and community leaders
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships that enhance reach, reputation, and impact
• Advocate for the role of St. John Ambulance in advancing community health, safety, and emergency preparedness
• Contribute to national and, where appropriate, international conversations that shape the future of the organization and its services

Governance & Board Partnership

• Work in close partnership with the Board of Directors to support effective governance, strategic decision-making, and organizational accountability
• Continue momentum toward organizational ends the Board of Directors seeks to achieve
• Provide timely, accurate reporting on organizational performance, risks, and opportunities
• Support Board engagement in fundraising, advocacy, and strategic initiatives

People, Culture & Volunteer Engagement

• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and values-driven organizational culture that supports staff and volunteers to succeed
• Lead, mentor, and develop a capable senior leadership team, building depth and succession across the organization
• Champion volunteerism as a core strength of SJA BCY, strengthening engagement across Brigade, Therapy Dog, Cadet, and community programs
• Ensure alignment between people, structure, and strategy to enable effective delivery of organizational priorities

Risk, Compliance & Organizational Integrity

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, legal, and organizational requirements, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability
• Identify and manage organizational risks, implementing appropriate mitigation strategies
• Uphold and model the values of St. John Ambulance in all aspects of leadership and decision-making

This portfolio reflects a CEO who not only sets direction, but actively enables the organization to grow, adapt, and deliver meaningful impact across the communities it serves.

Qualifications and Skills

Education & Executive Experience

• Post-secondary education in business, public administration, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of senior leadership experience and demonstrated impact will be considered
• Significant executive leadership experience, ideally as a CEO or in a senior role with full organizational accountability, including strategy, operations, and financial performance
• Experience leading within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment such as a non-profit, social enterprise, association, or federated organization
• Familiarity with health, safety, emergency response, fundraising, training, or community-based service environments is an asset

Strategic & Business Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to set vision and translate strategy into clear, executable plans that deliver measurable results
• Strong business acumen, with experience driving growth, diversification of revenue, and long-term sustainability
• Track record of leading organizations through change, transformation, or modernization, including building systems and infrastructure that support scale
• Ability to think broadly and act decisively, balancing long-term direction with immediate operational needs

People Leadership & Culture

• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing senior teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• A values-driven leadership style, with a strong commitment to inclusion, respect, and building a positive organizational culture
• Experience working with and supporting volunteer-based models, recognizing the unique role and contribution of volunteers in mission delivery
• Skilled at aligning people, structure, and priorities to achieve organizational goals

Relationships, Influence & Communication

• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with Boards, government, partners, donors, and community leaders
• A credible and compelling communicator, comfortable representing the organization publicly and contributing to sector-wide conversations
• Strong interpersonal judgment, with the ability to navigate complexity, build consensus, and influence across diverse stakeholder groups

Operational & Personal Leadership

• Sound judgment, integrity, and a high degree of personal accountability
• Agile, adaptable, and resilient, with the ability to lead through ambiguity and evolving priorities
• Results-oriented, with a disciplined approach to execution and performance management
• Deep alignment with the mission of St. John Ambulance and a genuine commitment to serving communities with compassion and impact

Other

• Willingness to travel throughout British Columbia and Yukon as required
  
  

Why Join St. John Aambulance BCY?

At SJA BCY, we are dedicated to building a collaborative and supportive workplace. We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer opportunities for professional growth and development. By joining our team, you will be able to strengthen your skills while contributing to a positive and team-oriented environment.

A career with SJA BCY also provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community. Our employees play an important role in promoting health and safety, supporting volunteers, and serving communities across BC and the Yukon. Every day, your work directly contributes to the well-being of the people and communities we serve.

We also offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including:

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Generous pension plan with employer matching contribution program
• Paid vacation, sick and personal days
• Extended health, dental, and vision coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  
  

How to Apply

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter that outlines your interest in the role and explains how your experience and qualifications align with the position to bcy.hrteam@sja.ca.

SJA BCY is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know.

St. John Ambulance is committed to building diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible working environments. St. John Ambulance welcomes those who would contribute to the further diversification of staff including, but not limited to, women, racialized persons, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to apply.

We thank all candidates for applying; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.