Executive Director

Executive Director

Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Hours: Up to full-time hours (40 hours per week)

Compensation: $35–$40 per hour

Reporting Relationship: Reports directly to the Board of Directors

About the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDC) works alongside community partners to advance equity, strengthen community voice, and address systemic issues including poverty, housing insecurity, and social exclusion. SDC brings together research, advocacy, and community engagement to support a more just and inclusive Waterloo Region.

The Opportunity

The Executive Director provides organizational leadership and direction while creating the conditions for staff to do their best work. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director works in partnership with staff, community partners, and the Board to advance SDC’s Mission and priorities. This is a role for someone who leads with integrity and humility, brings clarity to complex situations, and understands that in community-based work, the emotional dimensions of the job are as real as the operational ones.

Key Responsibilities

People & Culture

• Fosters a positive, inclusive and safe work environment that supports wellbeing, accessibility and psychological safety
• Provide leadership that empowers staff autonomy while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and removes barriers to delivering on strategic priorities
• Support staff development, and collaboration across the organization

Strategy & Communications

• Work collaboratively with staff and the Board to develop, refine and articulate SDC's strategic priorities
• Translate organizational values and strategy into clear operational direction for the team
• Serve as a credible external voice for SDC with funders, government, media, and community partners
• Build and maintain strong relationships across the community, strengthening SDC’s visibility, credibility, and impact

Operations & Finance

• Strengthen internal systems, policies, and infrastructure to ensure staff have the tools and processes needed to work effectively
• Ensure organizational compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards, including taxation, employment standards, and maintaining charitable status and standing within provincial registries
• Oversee financial management and reporting, including providing regular budget and operational updates to the Board of Directors
• Lead the development and implementation of SDC’s fundraising and revenue strategies in collaboration with staff and the Board.
• Manage and support fiscal sponsorship arrangements, including financial oversight, reporting, and relationship management with sponsored projects
• Bring experience with, or a willingness to learn, fund-based accounting principles within a nonprofit context.

What We're Looking For

How You Lead

• A leader who defines success as enabling and empowering others
• Embodies a deep commitment to anti-oppression practice and passionate about social justice
• Demonstrates a reflective leadership practice including a commitment to self-awareness, learning and growth
• Comfort with shared decision-making and adapting to changing circumstances
• The ability to hold tension: between moving fast and building consensus, between funder needs and community accountability

What You Bring (Experience & Skills)

• Strong financial management skills, experience overseeing organizational budgets, monitoring expenditures, and maintaining fiscal accountability
• Experience in strategic planning, developing, communicating, and operationalizing organizational priorities
• Organizational and coordination skills: you can hold multiple workstreams, track timelines, and help teams stay aligned without losing sight of the bigger picture
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience engaging with funders, government, and community stakeholders
• Deep familiarity with the social issues SDC works on such as; housing, homelessness, poverty, tenant rights, community development and the systemic forces that drive them
• Experience working alongside people with lived experience of poverty, homelessness, or other forms of marginalization, with an understanding of power dynamics and how to centre community voice

Assets (Not Required, But Welcome)

• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit or community sector leadership, including managing staff teams and organizational operations
• Direct experience working in Waterloo Region's social sector or community initiatives
• Experience in fund development, grant writing, or government relations
• Lived experience connected to the the issues SDC works on resolve

Working at SDC

SDC is a small, dedicated team that cares deeply about its work and each other. The organization values inclusive processes and prioritizes equity and belonging. The incoming ED will work alongside staff who bring remarkable commitment and expertise.

This role offers flexibility in hours, ranging from a minimum of 25 hours per week up to fulltime (40 hours per week), depending on organizational needs and candidate availability.

SDC is located at 23 Water Street North in Kitchener, ON and offers a flexible, hybrid work environment. Compensation is commensurate with experience and sector norms. SDC is committed to equitable hiring practices and strongly encourages applications from people with lived experience of the issues the organization works on, BIPOC candidates, 2SLGBTQ+ candidates, people with disabilities, and others from equity-deserving communities.

How to Apply

Please submit your application on the Application Form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the hiring process.