Executive Director

Position Details

Indefinite-term contractcompetitive salary with extensive benefits.

About the RIA

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable non-profit organization that enhances the quality of life and care of older adults through partnerships in research, education, and practice. The RIA leads practice-relevant research and real-world application, informing programs, education and training, and influencing practice and policy.

Primary Purpose

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for the RIA, a research intensive and program-delivery focused organization. The Executive Director oversees all operations and ensures accountability of the RIA with a dedicated senior leadership team. Aligning people, structure and strategy, the Executive Director supports team success in organizational goals, staff well-being, and leadership development. The Executive Director plays a major role in fostering key partnerships, building the organization's profile, managing the organization’s financial health, and leading the entire team to achieve strategic goals. The Executive Director has a passion for and deep interest in enhancing the quality of life and care of older adults and those who care for them.

Key Accountabilities

1. Strategic Leadership: Provide visionary leadership to advance the organization's mission and strategic goals. Provide leadership to the creation and execution of the strategic plan. Identify and pursue opportunities to maximize RIA’s impact in alignment with the changing landscape in aging research, program development, and practice.
2. Organizational Leadership: Provide high-level leadership to RIA operations. This includes cultivating a positive and supportive culture that empowers a large team of over 70 professionals. Mentor and work alongside the senior leadership team to foster individual growth, optimize performance, and facilitate a collaborative environment. Champion the organization’s research agenda by leading a diverse team of Schlegel Research Chairs, Specialists, and Scientists. Monitor and evaluate the research programs led by the Research Chairs and Specialists annually, ensuring the research conducted is impactful and aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities.
3. Governance: Support the Board of Directors and Board Chair to ensure effective and efficient governance. Accountable to the Board on financial performance and progress toward annual operational and five-year strategic targets. Identify, assess, and inform the Board of internal and external issues that could affect the organization, and collaborate to develop and implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
4. Financial Oversight: Responsible for the organization's financial health, which includes monitoring current and future financial positions. Provide high-level oversight of contracts and collaboration agreements. Ensure good stewardship of RIA funds by identifying revenue opportunities through donations, grants, and contracts.
5. Partnerships: Lead efforts to strengthen and grow RIA’s organizational partnerships, including maintaining and fostering positive relationships with founding and key partners. This includes maintaining and expanding productive relationships with founding partners, Conestoga College, Schlegel Villages, and the University of Waterloo, and several other key partners and funders. Champion community engagement and fundraising development work.
6. Outreach and Profile: Lead the growth of RIA’s profile locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. Position the RIA as a global asset by championing the organization at strategic community, academic, and professional events.

Position Requirements

Education:

Masters, PhD, or equivalent experience.

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of executive or senior leadership experience in a dynamic, growth-oriented organization with a track record of building, coaching, and empowering high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a Board of Directors, overseeing strategic planning and managing organizational risks.
• Demonstrated success in financial stewardship including overseeing large contracts and budgets.
• Demonstrated experience in oversight of processes associated with a variety of funding bodies such as Tri-Council agencies, government, industry, and charitable donations.
• Demonstrated success in advancing an organization’s profile at local, provincial, national and global levels.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to cultivate and manage partnerships with diverse partners, including academic institutions, government bodies, and donors.
• A deep understanding and familiarity of aging research and the health systems that support older adults.
• An understanding and familiarity of knowledge mobilization and in facilitating the translation of research into practice and policy.
• An understanding and familiarity of non-profit operations and fundraising initiatives.

Additional Requirements: Fluency in English. Fluency in French is an asset but not required. Must have a valid driver’s license and be available for occasional to frequent travel. Eligible to obtain a clear police background and record check. Eligible to work in Canada.

How to Apply

RIA invites applications (cover letter and resume) to be submitted by email to applications@the-ria.ca. Please include the job title in the subject line of the email.