Executive Director, Water Environment Association Of Ontario

The Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) is seeking an Executive Director. WEAO’s next Executive Director will bring an understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the work of professional associations. Individuals who have an exemplary record of achievement in member service and engagement, enabling volunteer success through governance best practice and committee support, and operational excellence, will be an ideal fit for this role. This opportunity arises due to the retirement of the incumbent.

WEAO is a membership organization comprising a diverse, passionate group of technical and professional individuals working to ensure the future of Ontario’s water and environment industries. The members work in several sectors, primarily municipal and regional government, consulting engineering, manufacturing, and equipment suppliers to the industry. Students and young professionals are also an integral part of WEAO’s activities.

As Ontario’s water sector leader, WEAO connects members, the industry, and the public through education, training, and networking, to collectively ensure a resilient water environment and accomplish better water management. A robust committee network develops compelling programming to inform and engage members.

Executive Director Responsibilities

WEAO’s Executive Director is responsible for resource management and operational excellence. They will provide leadership to the Board by providing research-based recommendations and supporting strategic planning. WEAO staff at the direction of the Executive Director will drive execution in areas including event management and committee support (committees focus on technical outputs; staff enable their functioning).

The Executive Director must have a proactive, strategic focus with experience leading in an association. Two-way communication to share ideas, gather proposals, inform members, and engage stakeholders is essential.

The Executive Director motivates and serves members. Serving a diverse audience, the Executive Director must be empathetic, team oriented, patient, attuned and responsive to member needs, and demonstrate emotional intelligence. As conditions and therefore plans will change, the Executive Director must be adaptable.

While members and committees will apply technical expertise to the work of the association, the Executive Director will have a working knowledge of the industry or the capacity to acquire it.

What The Executive Director Does

-Governance and volunteer management

• Proactive resource to committees.
• Board support.

-Staff management

• Responsible for resource management including identifying staffing gaps and/or required 3rd party service providers.
• Performance management including delegation, supervision, and coaching.
• Workload/task management.

-Liaison and relationship building with other organizations (WEF, CWWA, OWWA, OPCEA, OMWA).

-Association management.

• Meeting logistics/event management.
• Develop and monitor document management policy and procedure
• Oversee financials, records, contracts, membership, administration.

-Policy, Program, Activity Consistency.

• Help to instill an accountability focus across the organization.
• Maintain momentum.
• Develop and execute strategic operational plan.
• Document performance including KPIs.
• Lead initiatives.
• Consistency in and continuous improvement of governance and operational (incl. committee) policies and procedures.
• Coordinate strategy development and prioritization.
• Monitor changes.
• Execute strategic plan.

-Strategic communications – internal and external.

• Other associations (WEF, CWWA, OWWA, OPCEA, OMWA).
• WEAO membership, committees, and volunteers.
• Identify strategic partnerships to improve WEAO presence and increase member value.

-Be the information hub and resource for WEAO members.

-Industry representation.

• Knowledge of the water environment industry preferred.
• Knowledgeably speaks on behalf of the membership.

Additional Responsibilities & Expectations

• Coordinate the work of member groups and provide functional support, including the onboarding of committee chairs and communication of expectations.
• Awareness of program and plan status, especially how the work of the association (e.g., committees) is progressing.
• Knowledge of and compliance with association policies and procedures, and skilled in developing/writing policies and procedures that reflect best practices.
• Governance knowledge (better practices) and experience supporting the evolution of a governance model.

What the Executive Director Will Bring

• Communication skills
• Association management experience
• Financial aptitude
• Membership management (engaging, solution-driven, meeting needs)
• Governance knowledge and experience
• Strategic and operational planning and execution experience; instilling accountability
• An enabler of people – staff and volunteers – and performance excellence

Applicants should note that WEAO operates virtually, and employees will work from their home. The Executive Director needs to be based in the GTHA region to attend meetings as required. Meetings with staff and volunteers will be in-person from time to time, and the executive director also has travel commitments that are approximately four times per year within North America and Europe.

Interested and qualified individuals are invited to apply to:

The Portage Group, Attn: Jack Shand, FCMC, Executive Partner

Email: [email protected]

Please include a résumé and a cover letter addressing fit to the role. A more detailed job description is available. Applicants are invited to identify their salary expectations. Of note, the compensation range is consistent and competitive with comparable (size, scope, etc.) membership organizations at the chief staff officer level (reference: annual compensation research of the Canadian Society of Association Executives).

WEAO is strongly committed to employment equity and diversity and welcomes applications from all with the experience the position requires.

Consideration of candidates will begin immediately and continue until a hiring decision is made. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

For more information about the organization, including the strategic plan and annual report, please visit www.weao.org.