Overview
THE OPPORTUNITY
Ontario Nonprofit Network has been supporting, inspiring, and advocating for nonprofits across the province since 2007. A nonpartisan, cross-sectoral organization, ONN focuses on building the tools, conditions, networks, resources, and advocacy Ontario nonprofits need to thrive. Our mission is to connect, strengthen, and advocate with and for the nonprofit sector in Ontario. We pride ourselves on our boldness, creativity, and commitment to nonprofit advocacy.
As we move into our next phase, we seek a dynamic and inspiring Executive Director to lead the way. This new leader will build upon a healthy organizational foundation to have a major impact on the future of the Ontario nonprofit sector as a whole. Working closely with a passionate and engaged team, they will liaise with community and political leaders across the spectrum, and advocate and support the network of 58,000 organizations. As the face of ONN, the Executive Director will be both an experienced champion of the nonprofit sector and a courageous voice for its future.
ABOUT ONTARIO NONPROFIT NETWORK
ONN works to create a public policy environment that allows nonprofits to thrive. We engage our network of diverse nonprofit organizations across Ontario to work together on issues affecting the sector and channel the voices of our network to governments, funders, and other stakeholders. We are incredibly proud of the significant work we have achieved as an organization.
Read more about our history, accomplishments and core beliefs on our blog.
Equity is central to and underpins all our work. As settler-led nonprofit organizations, we need to name the active role we play in perpetuating colonization and white supremacy through historic and current policies and practices and take action to challenge it. At ONN, we believe that as nonprofits, we must take this role seriously and actively work on meaningful ways to dismantle the systems that enable violence and oppression toward communities that have been historically and are currently under-served.
THE ROLE
We’re looking for a bold leader who will build upon our solid foundation and continue to evolve the vision, strategic direction, objectives and impact of the network. They will meet regularly with organizations, politicians, and changemakers across the province, acting as a nonpartisan spokesperson and advocate for the nonprofit sector as a whole. They will encourage and develop shared solutions for the sector, including social enterprise opportunities for the network. In this unique role, they will shape the organization and have the opportunity to influence the future of nonprofit policy in Ontario.
Initial priorities
In this role, you will be building on top of solid groundwork, rather than starting from scratch. In your first year, we expect that you will:
Learn the organization. Deeply understand the network, its mission, and current and upcoming strategic initiatives.
Learn the role. Though we expect you will have a strong background as a leader and connector, you will learn the ins and outs of this unique role by understanding its objectives, measurements, and success factors from the perspective of the Board of Directors, the staff, the network, and other partners and stakeholders.
Build relationships and team trust. As ONN’s new leader, building trust across all levels is key. Using a curious and transparent approach, you will build authentic connections with ONN’s network, Board, and internal team.
Execute on ONN’s strategic framework and operational plan.
About you
You are an advocate and spokesperson who loves public policy and is inspired by the opportunity to have a huge impact on Ontario’s nonprofits. You have extensive and wide-ranging experience as an Executive Director which gives you the high amount of context needed for this unique role. With a breadth of policy, communications, and nonprofit operational knowledge, as well as a strong understanding of networks, you are passionate about the idea of connecting and representing the diverse interests of nonprofits across all sectors.
You are a bold, innovative and strategic thinker; but more than anything, you are a connector. You build relationships on multiple levels: individually, locally, regionally, provincially, and even federally. You move seamlessly through working with activists, politicians, and people with a wide variety of perspectives, building and maintaining nonpartisan relationships for a stronger nonprofit sector. You leave people feeling heard and inspire a sense of collective possibility.
Your leadership style could be described as “leading with”. You have a strong sense of community and humility and seek to listen deeply and authentically before decisions are made. You are open to ideas beyond the tried and true, and empower your team to seek creative solutions. That said, when it is time to take action, you commit to a bold path and inspire confidence from a diverse group of stakeholders, even when consensus seems challenging.
This role requires a strong commitment to and experience leading social justice, anti-oppression, and decolonization work. You have an intersectional viewpoint and are open to growth and feedback, understanding that the nonprofit sector itself is founded in a colonial system and that we operate as a settler organization.
Core qualifications and competencies
- Minimum seven years in an Executive Director role, or roles at a similar level
- Experience leading and managing government relations at the most senior levels of government
- Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of strategic planning, theories of change, and operational planning
- Knowledge and experience leading policy and research initiatives
- Knowledge and competencies in supporting effective governance, to support both ONN’s Board of Directors as well as the sector
- Knowledge of the landscape of laws, policies, and regulations that affect Ontario’s nonprofit sector and that inform ONN’s public policy agenda
- Experience building relationships with strategic partners such as peer networks, nonprofit networks, service providers/vendors, funders, financial partners, etc.
- Educational and/or related work experience in political studies, public policy, public administration, nonprofit management, or related field
- Knowledge of and commitment to decent work and modern human resources practices
- Demonstrated commitment and experience that will build ONN as an equity-responsive, anti-racist organization.
Reporting
The Executive Director reports to the ONN Board of Directors.
Location, travel, and flexibility
The successful candidate will have the flexibility to plan their schedule, but we expect them to be a regular presence at our Toronto office at Yonge and St. Clair and able to attend meetings at Queen’s Park. Travel outside the GTA is required several times per year, to meet with network members across Ontario and attend events as needed.
Accessibility
Our office is wheelchair accessible, including subway access. Disability related accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in our hiring process. Please contact Nicole Farrell at nicole@theonn.ca with your needs or any questions you may have around this.
Land acknowledgement and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
You can view ONN’s full land acknowledgement and commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. We acknowledge that we operate on traditional Indigenous territories across Ontario, with our office at Foundation House, recognized by Elder Pauline Shirt as “Sitoskatsewin”, which means “balancing one another”. It is located on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Mississaugas of the Credit under the Dish with One Spoon Treaty. This territory is also covered by the Upper Canada Treaties. We express gratitude to Indigenous Peoples, and commit to confronting colonial legacies, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and fostering settler-Indigenous reconciliation and partnership, while striving for racial justice and accountability.
In tandem with working in right relations with our Indigenous community and partners, we are also committed to creating a work environment informed by racial justice and truth and reconciliation. We encourage Black, Indigenous, and racialized candidates, and those from equity-deserving communities to apply for this position. For more information around resources we have created and followed as an organization, please see our website.
