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Director of Development
Location: Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver (multi-location)
Compensation: $62,000 – $65,000 (commensurate with experience)
Hours of Work: ~40 hours per week
Start Date: March 24th 2025
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2025 at 11:59pm
About Embark Sustainability
Embark Sustainability is a resource hub empowering SFU students on their sustainability journeys through dialogue and transformative action. Our mission is to empower and resource SFU students and allies in their sustainability journeys. We serve transformative communities by centring anti-oppression, decolonization, and equity in impactful programming, events, and initiatives. Through this work, we spark dialogue and drive action to dismantle oppressive frameworks within institutions and our interconnected climate and food systems.
Our Work Culture
At Embark Sustainability, we strive to support staff in being themselves and exploring what that means within the context of our work. We do this by fostering a work culture that enables self-expression and exploration, honouring individuals’ understandings based on the combination of their background, claimed and unclaimed identities, and experiences. This is important because we believe perspectives that forward multiple truths will strengthen sustainability solutions while challenging normative assumptions of who possesses knowledge and which approach is best. We assert that systems change requires various ways of thinking. If you share these values, we strongly encourage you to apply to join our team.
About the Role
The Director of Development is responsible for the management and development of Embark Sustainability’s broadscope relations, general goodwill and financial health. The Director of Engagement approaches staffing, funding, public relations and community development with an intersectional and equity-focused lens. The Director of Development acts as a mentor and is responsible for the growth and development of the Communications Manager and development-related student coordinators. It’s important that you have strong interpersonal skills and to first and foremost lead with empathy. The Director of Development will be at the forefront in bringing to life Embark Sustainability’s Theory of Change in advancing food justice and climate equity through the exploration of partnerships, funding and curricular opportunities as well as general network development in the community at large.
This position leads the organization in collaboration with the Director of Engagement. As co-director of Embark Sustainability, this position collaboratively oversees the strategic direction, operations, stewardship and overall management of Embark Sustainability while keeping in line with the vision and mission of the organization and the Theory of Change as laid out by the Board of Directors. The Director of Development approaches leadership with a strong understanding of justice and equity that is practiced internally in organizational culture and in relationship with community, seeking varied perspectives so that Embark Sustainability can continually evolve to most effectively serve its members.
This role is well-suited for a strategic, driven, and detailed leader with strong people skills. If you find yourself often thinking big picture and bringing people together over shared interests, we’d love to hear from you.
Perks
Benefits package including medical, dental, and more
Health spending account
2-zone Metro Vancouver Transit Pass
12 paid health and wellness days
Hybrid work environment
A team that protects work-life balance and sees staff as unique individuals
Professional development opportunities
Autonomy to be creative and develop new projects
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- In collaboration with the director of engagement and the board, develop a vision and strategic plan to guide the organization
- Facilitate the co creation of an operational plan that advances the strategic direction set by the board
- Provide leadership and advocate on critical issues affecting food and climate equity for SFU students
- Conduct official correspondence on behalf of or jointly with the board
Board Relations
- Foster effective teamwork between the board and co-directors and between the co-directors and staff. Act as a professional advisor to the board of directors
- Identify, assess, and inform the board of relevant internal and external issues
- Draft and revise policies with the board, review and recommend changes as needed
- Assist the board chair and secretary in preparing meeting agendas, motions, and supporting materials
- Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of board meetings, Finance, Governance and Relations committees or task forces
Operations
- Oversee our involvement in university-led operational sustainability initiatives
- Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the organization’s offerings. Collaborate with the director of engagement to facilitate team annual operational planning and goal setting
- Provide insights, advice, and recommendations as needed in developing student-centred offerings that enact the organization’s Theory of Change
- Administer Embark Sustainability’s financial accounts, act as a signing authority and a legal representative of the organization
Financial Management
- Prepare an annual budget for approval by the board of directors
- Oversee expenditures, administer the funds of the organization according to the approved budget and monitor cash flow
- Develop and implement fundraising and grant seeking plans where appropriate
- Ensure that sound bookkeeping and accounting procedures are followed
- Report regularly to the board of directors on the society’s financial management
- Ensure that the organization complies with all legal regulations and requirements and successfully completes an annual third-party audit
- Administer employee benefits, approve employee timesheets and liaise with our payroll management firm to ensure remittances and benefits are appropriately issued and recorded
HR and Team Management
- With support of the director of engagement, determine staffing requirements for organizational operations and oversee recruitment and hiring processes
- Continuously work to improve employee satisfaction and foster a healthy workplace environment at Embark Sustainability. Work closely with Embark Sustainability staff to embed a culture of continuous learning
- Directly supervise the position of Communications Manager and development-related student coordinator positions
- Manage the employee life cycle for those under your supervision (i.e., recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and offboarding), including but not limited to:
- conducting performance evaluations;
- supporting staff with planning, organization, and execution of activities;
- supporting JEDDI literacy and professional skills development; and
- assessing and approving vacation requests.
Community and Public Relations
- Draft press releases and maintain a database of media contacts and press releases
- Liaise and maintain good working relationships with news media organizations and act as Embark Sustainability’s media contact
- Provide a written summary of impact and activities for our annual report
- Raise Embark’s social capital through various avenues including speaking engagements, networking opportunities, and developing strategic partnerships
- Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of the organization and to identify changes in the community served by the organization
- Establish effective and collaborative relationships with partner organizations, student societies, funders, and SFU departments, including SFU Sustainability
Risk Management
- Identify and evaluate the risks to the society’s people (members, staff, volunteers), property, finances, goodwill, and image and implement measures to control risks
- Ensure that the board of directors and the organization carries appropriate and adequate insurance coverage
- Ensure that the board and staff understand the terms, conditions and limitations of the insurance coverage
Collaboration and Accountability
- Develop a role work plan with SMART goals, maintain timesheet
- Plan and participate in regular team meetings and frequent one on one collaborations with the director of engagement
Desired Qualifications
- Transparent and high-integrity leader with at least two years of cumulative experience in organizational and/or financial management
Direct financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting - Knowledgeable in board governance and able to advise, develop, and collaborate with student and alumni board directors
- Organizational or staff management experience, with a track record of supporting individuals and teams in acquiring new skills
- An excellent facilitator and charismatic communicator comfortable with public speaking, connecting with people from different backgrounds, and holding space for complexity
- Well-versed in the breadth and depth of climate and food work, including the nuances of centring equity and justice in dialogue and building towards solutions
- Understands how climate and food justice intersect with other forms of justice, and thinks critically about the ways traditional environmental spaces often alienate Indigenous, Black, racialized, immigrant and refugee youth among other equity-deserving groups
- Self-motivated, takes initiative, and works effectively and within a team
- Detail-oriented, organized, and able to set and meet deadlines
- Responsible, reliable, and consistent in carrying out work duties
- Interested in working within a student learning-oriented organization
- Collaborative and enjoys working with individuals and groups with diverse interests
- Comfortable navigating Google Drive, G Suite, Zoom, Slack, and other online platforms to enable collaboration
Application Process
Please submit your application information using the form on this webpage. If we can take further action to make our application process accessible to you, please contact info@embarksustainability.org. Examples of accommodation include, but are not limited to:
- Application deadline extension
- Alternative application method (email)
- Alternative interview times or formats (online, in person, etc)
Screening
Embark anonymizes all applications prior to being screened by the hiring committee. Personal details such as name, email, and addresses are removed to help reduce bias. Educational credentials, job/volunteer titles or descriptions of experience are not removed. As this role supports Embark Sustainability’s membership to explore anti-oppressive approaches to systems change, lived experience navigating systems of oppression is of high relevance and value to the work at hand. We encourage you to include lived experience in your application if you would like it to be brought into consideration. Only applicants invited to interview will be contacted.
Interview
Successful candidates will be invited to interview with the hiring committee composed of two Embark staff members and one board member. The interviews will be conducted online unless otherwise requested. All candidates who participate in the interview stage will be contacted on whether or not they are still being considered.
Selection
Candidates who make it on as finalists will be asked to provide two references, with at least one being a professional reference. References will be asked to have a short call or answer a brief email questionnaire. If you require accommodation when navigating the application process, please contact info@embarksustainability.org.
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