Executive Director, One City Peterborough

Job Advertisement: Executive Director, One City Peterborough

One City Peterborough is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Executive Director.

Overview

The Executive Director (ED) is the senior staff leader of One City Peterborough (OCP) and is accountable for stewarding the organization’s mission, vision, and values in partnership with the Board of Directors. The ED provides strategic leadership, organizational oversight, and external representation, ensuring that One City delivers programs and advocacy that respond to immediate community needs while advancing long-term systemic change.

The ED leads through complexity. This role requires strong judgment, values-based decision-making, and the ability to translate strategy into clear priorities, sustainable operations, and shared accountability across the organization.

This is an opportunity to lead an organization with deep community roots, a clear values framework, and a strong commitment to learning, equity, and shared leadership. The Executive Director will join One City at a moment where thoughtful leadership can meaningfully shape its future impact, sustainability, and influence.

OCP Mission: To journey together as a community that promotes housing and shelter, community safety, and social inclusion in the City of Peterborough by responding to immediate needs, breaking down barriers among us, and advocating for systemic change.

OCP Vision: Everyone belongs and together we flourish.

OCP Values: Belonging, Dignity, Trust, Courage, Love.

Reports to: Board of Directors, One City Peterborough

Primary areas of focus

The Executive Director’s role centres on high-leverage leadership activities that integrate strategic thinking with hands-on organizational leadership. While the ED does not personally manage every operational detail, they are expected to remain closely connected to operations, to engage directly where judgment, leadership, or accountability require it, and to step in as needed during periods of complexity, risk, or transition.

Activities include:

• Strategic judgment, sense-making, and proactive identification of opportunities, risks, and emerging issues in a complex and evolving environment.
• Leading the implementation and ongoing stewardship of organizational strategy, including bringing forward strategic considerations to the Board and translating strategy into clear priorities.
• Ensuring effective leadership structures, systems, and risk management across all operations, with active involvement in operational details when required.
• Stewardship of key relationships, and organizational reputation with staff, program participants, funders, government, and the broader community.
• Supporting strong governance through a collaborative, transparent partnership with the Board of Directors.

One City values leadership that is thoughtful, accountable, and adaptive. The Executive Director is trusted to exercise judgment, act within their scope, and bring forward matters to the Board when governance-level consideration is needed.

Who would thrive in this role

This role will be most fulfilling for a leader who is motivated by purpose, complexity, and shared responsibility. The Executive Director at One City Peterborough is someone who:

• Is deeply values-driven and finds meaning in leading work that is grounded in dignity, belonging, and community accountability.
• Enjoys operating at the intersection of strategy and operations, and is comfortable moving between big-picture thinking and hands-on leadership when needed.
• Brings strong judgment and curiosity to complex environments, and is energized by navigating uncertainty with care and clarity.
• Values collaboration and shared leadership, and sees their primary role as enabling others to do their best work by building strong teams, systems, and relationships
• Is reflective, self-aware, and open to learning, feedback, and growth.
• Is motivated by long-term impact and sustainability, and understands that meaningful change takes time, patience, and trust.

Leaders who thrive here are those who want to steward an organization with deep community roots, contribute to systemic change, and lead in a way that is both principled and pragmatic.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership and organizational direction

• Provide regular, clear reporting to the Board on organizational performance, risks, and emerging issues.
• Translate strategic priorities into annual goals, organizational plans, and resourcing decisions.
• Identify and communicate organizational capacity limits, risks, and trade-offs in a timely and transparent manner.

Values, equity, and community accountability

• Champion One City’s mission, vision, and values across all programs and decisions.
• Provide leadership on equity, anti-oppressive practice, harm reduction, and transformative justice, ensuring these commitments are embedded in organizational culture and systems.
• Ensure meaningful engagement with people who have lived and living experience, and that their insights inform programs, policies, and advocacy.
• Support and advance advocacy efforts aligned with community needs and organizational values.

Organizational oversight and risk management

• Ensure that effective systems, policies, and structures are in place to support safe, compliant, and sustainable operations.
• Oversee organizational risk management, including operational, financial, legal, reputational, and safety risks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, funding agreements, and governance policies.
• Provide senior leadership during critical incidents or emerging crises, ensuring coordinated response and communication.

People and culture

• Lead, support, and supervise Program Directors and senior staff, fostering accountability, growth, and shared leadership.
• Ensure effective human resources systems are in place, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and staff wellness.
• Support a workplace culture that is trauma-informed, inclusive, values-aligned, and attentive to staff safety and sustainability.
• Ensure systems exist for meaningful feedback, complaints, and participation from staff, volunteers, and program participants.

Financial stewardship and sustainability

• Provide strategic oversight of the organization’s financial health and long-term sustainability.
• Work with the Board’s Finance Committee and staff to develop, monitor, and revise annual budgets.
• Ensure strong financial controls, accurate reporting, and timely completion of audits and funder requirements.
• Collaborate with Program Directors and development staff on fundraising, resource development, and donor stewardship.
• Alert the Board to financial risks, opportunities, and emerging revenue needs.

External relations and representation

• Serve as a primary spokesperson and ambassador for One City Peterborough.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, government partners, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure funder relationships and reporting obligations are met accurately and on time.
• Support strategic communications and public engagement that align with organizational values and advocacy priorities.

Board partnership and governance

The Board is committed to clear governance, thoughtful oversight, and a collaborative relationship that supports strong executive leadership.

• Support the Board’s visioning, strategic planning, and governance responsibilities.
• Prepare and present clear, relevant materials for Board and committee meetings.
• Ensure appropriate staff support to Board committees where required.
• Support succession planning for senior leadership roles to ensure organizational continuity.

What success looks like

In the first 6 months

• Strong, trust-based relationships are established with staff, the Board, and key partners.
• The ED develops a deep understanding of One City’s programs, culture, and community context.
• Governance and operational roles are clearly understood, aligned, and functioning well.
• Organizational priorities are clarified and early progress is made on agreed strategic goals.

In the first 12 months

• The Strategic Plan is developed and used to actively guide decisions, priorities, and resource allocation.
• Program Directors feel supported, accountable, and empowered in their leadership roles.
• Financial oversight, reporting, and planning practices are reliable, timely, and support informed decision-making.
• Staff experience One City as a values-aligned, trauma-informed, and sustainable workplace.

In 18–24 months

• One City demonstrates strengthened financial sustainability and resilience, with systems and relationships that support long-term stability and adaptability.
• Advocacy efforts are coordinated, strategic, and aligned with community priorities and organizational values.
• Organizational systems and structures enable staff to work effectively and collaboratively.
• Decision-making is proactive, strategic, and grounded in shared priorities.

Ongoing

• Decisions consistently reflect One City’s values.
• Trust with staff, program participants, funders, and the community is actively stewarded.
• The organization remains financially sustainable and resilient
• Leadership is shared, supported, and sustainable over time.

Qualifications and experience

• Demonstrated commitment to One City’s mission and values.
• Senior leadership experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization of comparable complexity.
• Experience overseeing multi-departmental operations, budgets, and teams.
• Strong financial literacy and experience with funding stewardship and fundraising.
• Demonstrated understanding of equity, anti-oppressive practice, and harm reduction.
• Experience working alongside individuals and communities impacted by homelessness, poverty, criminalization, or social exclusion.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and judgment skills.
• Ability to lead in high-risk, high-complexity environments.

Equivalent combinations of lived experience, professional experience, and leadership development will be considered.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $95,000 annually.

One City Peterborough also offers a total compensation package that includes:

• Comprehensive benefits and health spending account
• OPTrust Group Pension Plan with a 3% employer matching contribution
• Free onsite parking
• Casual dress

Additional benefits. Details of benefits and other forms of compensation will be shared with candidates during the recruitment process.

Working conditions

• Work on-site across multiple sites and community locations in Peterborough and surrounding areas.
• Opportunities may arise to work remotely occasionally.
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends as required.
• Exposure to complex and potentially hazardous environments, including crisis situations.
• Commitment to following organizational safety protocols and trauma-informed practices.

Equity and accessibility

One City Peterborough is committed to inclusion and equity and strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of our community. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, persons involved in the criminal legal system, and those who identify as women and/or 2S LGBTQ+. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but do not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

Accommodations will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Executive Director may perform other related duties as required to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are invited to submit applications in a single PDF document by email to Bon Scott at One City Peterborough (bscott@onecityptbo.ca), specifying “Executive Director Application” in the subject heading. Applications are due by March 27th, 2026. Applications should include a cover letter and a curriculum vitae; and the names and contact information of three (3) references who may be contacted to support the application. One reference must be someone to whom the candidate reports. Applicants are encouraged to include a self-identification statement as part of their application package in the cover letter. Receipt of applications will be confirmed by email.