Executive Director

Position Type: Full-time permanent, transition period to begin Monday, February 23rd. Official start date Tuesday, April 7th, 2026.

Summary: The successful candidate will supervise full and part-time staff of the students’ union and provide advice, support and assistance to a management team made up of five elected Executive members. The Executive Director will be responsible for developing policy and procedures, long-range planning, setting annual goals and objectives, designing community services, communications and outreach programmes to meet future needs of the YFS’s members and advising the elected Executive and Board of Directors, with a specific emphasis on the YFS’s campaigns, advocacy and media strategies. In addition to overseeing the general direction of this non-profit membership-driven students’ union, the Executive Director will, in particular; oversee the financial protocols and accountability measures of the corporation, aid with day-to-day supervision of internal operations, finances, and services, the development and implementation of membership awareness and outreach strategies that promote and defend the needs of a diverse student population, and aid with event programming and representation. The position will be supervised by the President and Vice President Operations in conjunction with the Executive Committee.

Compensation: $85,000 per year with extended health benefits

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Assist, advise, support and counsel the Executive, Directors, committees of YFS and any subsidiary of affiliate organisations.
2. Assist the Executive, Board of Directors, committees and staff in the maintaining and improving the organisation’s responsiveness to, advocacy for, and representation of its membership.
3. Assist the Executive, Board of Directors, committees and related staff members in the development and implementation of communications, media and government relations strategies to promote the organisation to its members and to defend the interests and rights of students.
4. Assist the Executive, Board of Directors, committees and related staff members in the preparation of annual budgets and in maintaining the responsible fiscal management of the non-profit corporation.
5. Direct, oversee and monitor all financial matters, including liaising with the corporation’s auditor throughout the annual audit of revenue and expenses.
6. Assist with, direct, oversee and act as a resource for the YFS communications and member outreach programmes, including but not limited to: the Members’ Handbook and Dayplanner; the YFS website; promotional materials; and social and educational events.
7. Supervise a unionised staff complement of nine direct reports, and a non-unionised complement of fifty to eighty part-time staff and casual workers, in conjunction with the elected Executive members.
8. Advise, support and provide recommendations to members of the Executive in the area of labour relations and collective agreement negotiation and administration and to draw up employment contracts with all staff.
9. Develop and implement office policies to aid in the day-to-day operations and service delivery of both the YFS central office and any service centres.
10. Assist with, direct, oversee and act as a resource for YFS services, including but not limited to: Community Service Groups, YFS businesses, and the health and dental plans.
11. Advise, support and provide recommendations to members of the Executive in all areas of governance, including but not limited to: reviewing and revising bylaws, coordinating general meetings of the members, and otherwise responding directly to the members.
12. Assist with, direct, and oversee volunteer recruitment, supervision and training.
13. Attend regular meetings of the Executive, Board of Directors, and various committees.
14. Assist with the orientation of incoming Executive and Board members and all new staff on all aspects of member-driven representation and advocacy, with particular focus on the democratic structures of a students’ union, the administrative structures of the University, and other decision-making bodies and representative groups within the University community.

Qualifications:

• College diploma or University degree, or commensurate experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team, supervising, supporting, motivating and directing full and part-time employees and student volunteers.
• Familiarity with working within a post-secondary students’ union, or similar non-profit organisation will be considered an asset.
• A strong understanding of the aims and goals of students’ unions and the student movement.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, events and campaigns planning, government relations and media outreach.
• Familiarity with basic office software in a Google Workspace platform environment.
• Experience in dealing with sponsorship, contract negotiations and media relations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of reading and understanding constitutions, by-laws and election procedure codes.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills and a demonstrated ability to problem solve and work well under pressure.
• Dedication, commitment and a willingness to work overtime and flexible hours.
• An understanding of the dynamics and diversity of an urban university.
• Superior oral and written communication skills in English. French is an asset.

Please submit your resume and cover letter by Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 4:00pm to: president@yfs.ca with the subject line: Application for Executive Director

The York Federation of Students (YFS) is the students’ union representing almost 50,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students on all three campuses of York University. Advocating on their behalf, YFS represents students to ensure that their diverse needs are heard and addressed. The union plans and executes dozens of events each year - including social events, educational seminars, awareness campaigns, and political demonstrations. YFS operates a range of services for students, to help make their lives at York University healthier, safer, easier, and more enjoyable. The union is represented on a number of committees and bodies within and outside of the University. The union also supports the efforts and activities of a number of on-campus clubs, college and faculty councils. For more information, please see: www.yfs.ca

We will be conducting rolling interviews. The York Federation of Students is an employment equity employer. Applications from all qualified candidates are welcome; in particular, applications are encouraged from racialized people, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, members of the queer and trans community, and women. Any expressed interest will be kept strictly confidential. While we thank all candidates, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please note: YFS is an independently incorporated students’ union working within the York University community. This position is NOT a York University staff position. External candidates will not be considered before internal candidates.