Chief Operating Officer Jobs

Position: Chief Operating Officer (Full Time, Permanent)

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (100% on site)

The Vision of Free Play is a community where every kid can play, belong, and grow.

Our Mission: Free Play provides programs and spaces that are safe, accessible, and inclusive; where kids and their communities are empowered through play.

Free Play for Kids is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, equity and inclusion. Free Play welcomes applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Position Overview:

Free Play is searching for a “get things done” personality. We want someone with deep experience in professional and human resources management. We want someone who sees the potential of combining a charitable cause with sport and play. We want someone who will support the CEO’s vision, which is that women’s sport and recreation is the future and where Free Play belongs. The COO will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will lead the following areas:

• Programming
• Finance
• Training and Development
• Human Resources

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Inspire and motivate staff to reach organizational goals and achieve the Free Play mission.
• Develop, manage, and maintain productive working relationships with the Board of Directors, participants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Advise the Chief Executive Officer on any risks and ensure agreed mitigation plans are in place and actioned.
• Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer to manage all of the day-to-day operations of Free Play for Kids.
• Seek out ways to continuously improve and participate enthusiastically and positively in improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership ensuring a positive enabling culture is established.

Management

• Implement, manage, and evaluate working schedules and locations for all staff which enables effective and efficient performance.
• Communicate regularly, honestly, and positively with all staff
• Recruit, retain and develop a strong and effective team that excels in the delivery of results aligned with Free Play’s mission and vision.
• Coach direct reports to become excellent leaders and managers themselves
• Develop and promote a positive and collaborative approach – often across multiple programs and under pressure-filled circumstances

Staff Operations, Administration and Infrastructure

• Provide strategic leadership to ensure effective delivery of services and efficient administration in support of the organization’s objectives
• Assess and lead the continuous improvement of all internal processes, systems, tools and administrative needs to meet the demands of a growing organization
• Oversee the overall daily office operations and the development and implementation of office operating policies and procedures
• Oversee participant registration alongside the Office and Registration Coordinator
• Advise on procedural matters relating to governance and compliance with legal/reporting requirements
• Ensure that the organization is operating with a sound financial plan and with processes, disciplines, and timely reporting that will support the stability, sustainability, and future growth of the organization

Cultural Enhancement

• Establish Employee engagement, recognition, and training/development opportunities
• Tools and Templates in place to assist
• Establish HR initiatives to further enhance and provide staff at Free Play for Kids with valuable resources such as:
• Lead the development and execution of programs related to recruitment, contracts, retention, and performance reviews
• Foster an open, inclusive and positive culture where the input from all Free Play for Kids staff is encouraged, and differences are resolved constructively.
• Ensure the maintenance of appropriate professional conduct and ethics, knowledge and standards within the team.
• Ensure all HR Policies and Practices are up to date and consistently reviewed
• Onboarding and off boarding programs
• Foster a culture that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism and reconciliation.

Planning

• Support the development, execution, and monitoring of the strategic plan
• Allocate the necessary human and financial resources to achieve strategic goals.
• Ensure there are effective reporting tools and accountability measures
• Creates and helps to implement the approved annual operations plan
• Prepares reports for the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors and Annual Report/Annual General Meeting based on key performance indicators

Other Tasks

• Oversee and implement best practices and technologies for the organization.
• Actively participate in Board meetings and/or Committee meetings, when requested, and ensure appropriate and timely staff follow-up to implement Board policies.
• Carries out additional duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Qualifications

Education, Experience and Skills

• Commitment to the mission and vision of Free Play for Kids.
• Experience working with socially vulnerable youth or social work experience, such as schools, after-school programs, day homes or summer camps is considered an asset.
• Programming experience such as logistics and transportation coordination or inventory procurement is considered an asset.
• Experience running professional sport organizations.
• Previous experience in managing a budget of a comparable size to Free Play for Kids.
• Previous experience in managing diverse staffing requirements including full-time, part-time, seasonal, student placements.
• Undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an accredited post-secondary institution and a minimum of 7 years’ experience in a management or leadership position or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Previous experience managing an organization or department and a thorough knowledge of not-for-profit or charity management principles and governance practices.

Skills & Knowledge

• Respect for, and understanding of cultural diversity and other identity factors
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Creativity
• Continuous learner
• Strong administrative and program management skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Strong oral and written communication
• Honesty and Integrity
• Adaptability and problem-solving skills
• Leadership

Additional requirements

• High level of computer literacy (GSuite, Zoom, etc.)
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Ability to travel around Edmonton
• Clear Criminal and Vulnerable Sector check.

Compensation

Salary: $70,000

Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package is available

Please submit your resume to: [email protected]

Please note that only those candidates selected for a potential interview will be contacted.

Free Play for Kids respectfully operates on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Dene, Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our community.