Executive Director

Executive Director Candidate Brief

Low Entropy Foundation

About Low Entropy

Mission

To empower people by creating opportunities for growth through skill-building, real-world experience, and community connection.

Vision

A world where every person has the tools, confidence, and community they need to thrive and contribute towards a kinder, caring, more compassionate world.

Tagline

Change starts within

Our Values

● Empowerment – Empower, don’t rescue: create opportunities for growth; people change themselves.

● Personal Responsibility – Own your part: take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

● Kindness & Respect – Lead with kindness and respect: treat everyone with dignity; address challenges directly.

● Community Connection – Build community: foster safe, connected, and collaborative spaces.

● Integrity – Act with integrity: honor commitments and align actions with values.

● Growth & Learning – Be growth-minded: keep learning, welcome feedback, and stay open to new ideas.

Our Social Enterprise – Thrift & Fund

Thrift & Fund by Low Entropy Foundation is more than a thrift store:

● A social enterprise that sustains our programs through earned revenue.

● A community hub where over 100 volunteers and interns contribute and connect.

● A training ground for youth, students, and jobseekers to gain real-world experience.

● A welcoming space that reflects our values of connection, empowerment, and kindness.

Thrift & Fund also anchors the Thrift & Thrive Youth Internship Program, offering

youth aged 16–24 hands-on retail experience, leadership training, mentorship, and

financial literacy skills. It further supports placements for post-secondary students and

employment program participants, making it a cornerstone of Low Entropy’s mission.

Our Programs & Impact

● Thrift & Thrive Youth Internship Program – Retail experience, leadership workshops, mentorship, and financial literacy for youth ages 16–24.

● Volunteer Engagement & Mentorship – Training, intake, scheduling, and ongoing support for a large and diverse volunteer team.

● Internships & Work Experience Placements – Partnerships with universities, colleges, and employment programs to provide practical experience.

● Indigenous Programs – Initiatives guided by Indigenous values and practices that support the well-being of vulnerable populations, honor traditions, and foster community connection.

● Community Engagement – Active participation in volunteer fairs, community events, and partnerships that strengthen local networks.

● Women Rising – A leadership program for women, concluding in the current fiscal year.

The Role: Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the Low Entropy Foundation, ensuring the organization fulfills its mission to empower people by creating opportunities for growth through skill-building, real-world experience, and community connection. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the ED leads with vision, integrity, and community focus.

The ED is accountable for advancing the organization’s sustainability, expanding community partnerships, overseeing financial stewardship, and ensuring programs and initiatives reflect Low Entropy’s values. The role also carries responsibility for guiding the organization’s flagship social enterprise, Thrift & Fund, which is both a vital revenue generator and a training and engagement hub for volunteers, youth, and interns.

The Executive Director acts as the primary public representative of Low Entropy, fostering relationships with donors, government, community leaders, and partners. At the same time, the ED cultivates a strong, values-driven internal culture that empowers staff, volunteers, and participants to grow, learn, and thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

● Partner with the Board of Directors to refine and advance the mission, vision, and strategic plan.

● Provide timely reporting, analysis, and recommendations to support effective governance.

● Ensure the organization operates in compliance with CRA charity regulations, employment law, and other policies.

● Anticipate community needs and position Low Entropy as a proactive and innovative leader in empowerment, inclusion, and skill-building.

Fund Development & Financial Sustainability

● Develop and lead comprehensive fund development strategies, including donor stewardship, sponsorships, foundation grants, and government contracts.

● Build and maintain meaningful relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and institutional funders.

● Oversee the preparation and management of the annual budget, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities.

● Identify and pursue opportunities for revenue growth through social enterprise, partnerships, and innovation.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

● Serve as the spokesperson and ambassador for Low Entropy, embodying the tagline “Change starts within.”

● Build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders, including government representatives, educational institutions, businesses, Indigenous and multicultural communities, and grassroots organizations.

● Represent Low Entropy at community events, conferences, and public forums to strengthen visibility and partnerships.

● Champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices across all engagements.

Organizational Leadership & Culture

● Create and sustain a workplace culture grounded in Low Entropy’s values of empowerment, responsibility, kindness, community, integrity, and growth.

● Provide direct leadership to senior staff and managers, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional development.

● Lead organizational HR systems including recruitment, supervision, performance management, and succession planning.

● Model resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Social Enterprise Oversight – Thrift & Fund

● Provide strategic oversight to Thrift & Fund, ensuring its dual role as a sustainable revenue source and a community hub.

● Support store leadership in achieving retail and operational excellence.

● Ensure alignment between the store and program priorities, particularly volunteer engagement, youth internships, and experiential learning placements.

● Monitor and evaluate the social enterprise’s community impact, financial performance, and contribution to organizational growth.

Program Oversight & Impact

● Ensure programs align with the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of the organization.

● Directly oversee select programs or initiatives where senior leadership is required, ensuring high-quality delivery, accountability, and impact.

● Empower program managers and directors to lead other initiatives, offering mentorship, support, and guidance as needed.

● Oversee systems for program evaluation, impact measurement, and continuous improvement.

● Encourage innovation and responsiveness to emerging community needs, particularly those affecting vulnerable or underserved populations.

● Ensure that Indigenous programs are supported in ways that honor Indigenous traditions, practices, and values.

Qualifications & Attributes

Experience & Skills

● Leadership Experience – Significant senior leadership experience in nonprofit, social enterprise, or community-based organizations, with proven ability to inspire, motivate, and guide diverse teams.

● Fund Development – Demonstrated success in fundraising, including grant writing, donor stewardship, sponsorship development, and cultivating long-term partnerships.

● Financial Management – Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and responsible resource stewardship.

● Social Enterprise & Operations – Experience overseeing or collaborating with a social enterprise, retail operation, or earned-revenue initiative; ability to balance financial sustainability with mission delivery.

● Community & Stakeholder Relations – Skilled in relationship-building and public representation, with the ability to engage government, Indigenous and multicultural communities, educational institutions, businesses, and grassroots partners.

● Program Oversight – Experience developing, evaluating, and improving community-based programs, with an understanding of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

● Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, including working respectfully with Indigenous communities and incorporating diverse perspectives.

● Communications – Strong written, oral, and presentation skills, with the ability to share compelling stories of impact and inspire diverse audiences.

● Governance – Experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors, providing clear information for effective governance and accountability.

Personal Attributes

● Values-Driven – Embodies Low Entropy’s core values of empowerment, responsibility, kindness, community, integrity, and growth.

● Visionary & Strategic – Able to see the big picture while translating vision into actionable goals and measurable outcomes.

● Relational Leadership – Builds trust and collaboration across staff, volunteers, participants, and community partners.

● Resilient & Adaptable – Remains steady in the face of challenges, balancing optimism with pragmatism.

● Growth-Oriented – Open to feedback, continuous learning, and personal development.

● Integrity & Accountability – Makes decisions aligned with organizational values and follows through on commitments.

● Inclusive & Compassionate – Treats all people with dignity and respect, while fostering safe, supportive, and collaborative environments.

● Community-Minded – Believes in the power of community connection to create meaningful change.

Why Join Low Entropy?

● Lead an innovative organization that integrates nonprofit programs with social enterprise.

● Join a values-driven team dedicated to empowerment, growth, and community connection.

● Shape the future of a growing foundation with strong roots in the community.

● Contribute to creating a kinder, more compassionate world where change starts within.

Position Details

Position Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia (hybrid)

Start Date: April 1, 2026

Salary: $100,000 annually

Reports To: Board of Directors

Benefits:

● Comprehensive extended health and dental coverage (50% employer-paid, 50% employee-paid)

● Three weeks paid vacation annually, increasing with tenure

● Additional paid time off during December holiday closure

● Flexible scheduling and hybrid work options

● Professional development and training opportunities

● A supportive, collaborative workplace grounded in kindness, community, and continuous learning

Work Environment:

● This is a hybrid role that combines remote work with regular on-site presence.

● The Executive Director works primarily remotely, with regular and as-needed time spent at the Thrift & Fund store in Coquitlam for meetings, community connection, and operational oversight.

● Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required for board meetings, community events, or donor functions.

Leadership Transition

Low Entropy Foundation is preparing for a thoughtful and collaborative leadership transition. Our current Executive Director, Ness Gale, will remain with the organization and work alongside the new Executive Director in a Co-Executive Director capacity for the first three to six months, beginning April 1, 2026.

This shared leadership period will ensure a smooth transition of relationships, responsibilities, and organizational knowledge. Following this phase, Ness will step into a new Director level role focused on volunteer engagement, youth programs, and community connection, areas central to Low Entropy’s mission and impact.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage interested candidates to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The anticipated start date for this position is April 1, 2026.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to: Ness Gale, Executive Director at info@lowentropy.org

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQIA2S+, newcomers, people with disabilities, and others who bring diverse perspectives and lived experience.