Chief Operations Officer November 2023 1
About CARE Canada CARE was founded in 1945, when 22 organizations came together to rush lifesaving CARE Packages® to post-war Europe, ultimately reaching 100 million families around the world. Today, CARE works in over 100 countries. As a dual-mandate organization, CARE is on the frontlines of humanitarian crises and tackles the underlying causes of poverty and injustice to deliver lasting change.
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CARE Canada’s bold Strategic Plan, From Caring Comes Courage (2021 – 2025), sets out CARE Canada’s commitment to bring our resources, talent, and expertise to unlock women’s leadership for a gender-just future. It recognizes that to lead change and realize a better life for herself and her community, every woman needs to be safe, healthy and have a dignified livelihood. It also fundamentally realizes that ‘business as usual’ is no
longer good enough: this Plan challenges us to reimagine how we achieve our mission, inspire Canadian investment, and transform our organization to be future-ready.
The Role Role:
Chief Operations Officer
Location: Ottawa required (Hybrid)
Salary: $160,000 to 180,000 CDN
Travel: 10%, domestic and international
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Job Summary Bringing a values-driven approach, organizational change management and entrepreneurial acumen, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) will lead the functions of Corporate Finance; Information Technology; Business Integration, and People and Culture, to support CARE Canada’s broader strategic ambition and the business transformation that is required to realize our impact of unlocking her leadership for a gender-just future. The COO will provide executive leadership, strategic oversight and ongoing
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performance management and monitoring to the four (4) essential organizational functions listed above. The COO will lead on ensuring strong support for strategic investment opportunities and contemporary, streamlined approaches to adapting and managing corporate processes, systems and functions that support our mission. The role engages in and contributes to the broader CARE
International Confederation in relevant areas and initiatives. As a member of the CARE Canada Executive Leadership Team (ELT) the COO leads organizational change initiatives, nurturing a culture focused on excellence, efficiency, impact, and accountability. This role models our values and principles and exemplifies our commitments to protection and safeguarding, anti-racism, and localization of our work.
Responsibilities Enabling Services and Business Transformation (60%) •
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Oversee, review, and develop core enabling services functions (Corporate Finance, Information Technology; Business Integration; People and Culture), ensuring optimized engagement, departmental integration, that waste and duplication are avoided and organisational impact is maximized. Collaborate with leaders and teams across CARE Canada to analyse and develop financial, business and organizational systems and processes within and across teams to improve organizational planning, analysis and effectiveness, and achieve goals consistent with the Strategic Plan. Oversee risk for the organization through the risk management framework, providing strategic guidance to ensure the effective identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational and financial risks in alignment with organizational objectives. Working with the Director, Corporate Finance, foster a culture of continuous improvement to enable modernization of the Corporate Finance function and provide timely delivery and accurate internal and external financial reporting, data, and information to key stakeholders. Working with the Director, Business Integration, deliver on the organization-wide strategic change program focused on creating a future-ready organization with solid data governance, stakeholder engagement and project management processes, policy governance and alignment, and continuous improvement of processes, including,
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over time, a digitally enabled work environment that enables greater efficiency and productivity. Working with the Director of Information Technology and Security, ensure an efficient hybrid-enabled information management approach and associated training and development, and ensure day to day systems are maintained, updated, and secure from all external and internal threats. Working with the Director of People and Culture, deliver on a comprehensive People Strategy to support an aligned, strong, supportive, innovative and inclusive culture. Oversee the ongoing development and updating of the People Strategy and initiatives to support a hybrid Community of Work. Develop and update organizational policies to be future-ready and enable digital transformation. Work with members of the ELT and organizational leaders to ensure their engagement in these transformations and in the implementation of the Strategic Plan. Work with other members of the Confederation and/or the CARE International Secretariat as appropriate and/or assigned with Executive Leadership Team colleagues and inspire others through role modelling values, a commitment to continuous improvement and supporting and enhancing cross departmental work and shared internal accountability. Lead and/or support change management efforts in pursuit of greater effectiveness and impact, in alignment with operational and strategic directions and ongoing organizational needs.
Communication, Planning, Leadership and Reporting (30%) •
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As a member of the 4-person Executive Leadership Team, contribute to the leadership of CARE Canada, ensuring that the organizational structure and operations are appropriate to achieve our strategic goals and desired impact. Lead the execution and measurement/reporting of Strategy, internally and externally. Provide reporting to the Executive Leadership team for oversight and decision- making on risks through the Enterprise Risk Management Framework. Ensure consistent and effective internal communication on Strategic Plan implementation, activities, achievements, and results. Model strong and effective cross-functional behavior. Remain current and literate in trends in organizational culture and change, impact measurement and reporting, emerging work environments, collaboration, engagement, and international development. Occasional executive lead on special time-bound or organization-wide initiatives as necessary (e.g. Diversity and Inclusion, Green Team) and as assigned by the CEO.
Responsibilities
CARE Canada Board of Directors and CARE International (10%)
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With direction from the CEO, work with the Board of Directors and appropriate Board Committees to keep them apprised of progress on the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the realization of our desired impact. Executive Lead to the Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee of the Board of Directors and represent the Corporate Finance function on behalf of senior Management to the Board of Directors. Review and present financial planning and analysis to identify trends, risks, challenges and opportunities for the organization. One of two Executive Leads to the Governance, Nominating and Human Resources (GNHR) Committee of the Board of Directors, and represent the People and Culture function, on behalf of senior Management, to the Board of Directors. Work with other members of the CARE International Confederation and/or the Secretariat to provide CARE Canada data, perspectives, information and thought leadership as these pertain to Vision 2030 and the achievement of the shared impact goals of the Confederation.
The COO will promote and maintain an organizational culture that advances gender equality, fosters inclusion, trust and safety, and makes clear, through their leadership that there is no room at CARE Canada for abuse of power, inequality or toxic behaviours. The COO must create ensure an environment within the workplaces, programs, and communities where CARE works that is free from sexual harassment, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and child abuse (SHEACA). The COO will ensure high standards of prevention and response measures for SHEA-CA are in place, consistent with the CARE International (CI) Safeguarding Policy and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
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Candidate Profile Required Qualifications
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Proven successful senior executive experience in leading and managing functional units in this portfolio: Corporate Finance; Information Technology; Business Integration, and People and Culture. Strong leadership, project management and people management capabilities and skills, with demonstrated success in managing, inspiring and empowering multidisciplinary teams in changing environments. Proven senior executive experience in complex operating environments with experience developing and implementing innovative and sustainable business systems, procedures, policies, and processes. Demonstrated astute commercial acumen and entrepreneurship. Strong background and experience in developing and implementing organizational change approaches and practices, including workplace culture change and organizational development. Understanding of Information Technology applications and emerging technologies and ability to provide strategic leadership. Experience leading strategic Finance, People, IT and Business Systems Integration functions. Understanding of non-profit financial management, including budgeting and forecasting, audit and reporting, and risk management. Experience presenting comprehensive organizational budgets and financial reports for the Board of Directors of a complex multi stakeholder organization; Demonstrated experience supporting and promoting a workplace that is committed to equity, diversity, belonging and inclusion. Dynamic problem solver with a collaborative leadership style and an ability to generate and obtain organizational ‘buy in’ for new ideas. Demonstrated sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, and a commitment to a workplace that ensures equal opportunities for everyone.
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Excellent judgement, diplomacy, and tact. Keen enthusiasm to be (and a preference for experience as) a non-profit organizational leader in a sector that is going through significant change. Relevant education such as postgraduate qualification in finance and accounting, business management, organizational development, systems theory and change, or a related field or an equivalent combination of experience and education. While a finance designation is not required for this role, it does require proven experience as a senior leader overseeing the corporate finance function and reporting on finances, budgeting, analysis and audit to the Board of Directors and its Committees. Strong English language skills, oral and written. Eligibility to work in Canada.
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Good understanding of the issues facing the Aid /Development / Humanitarian Sector both domestically and internationally, and experience working internationally. Capacity to articulate CARE Canada’s vision and mission and represent the organization publicly. Fluency in French.
Leadership Competencies • • • • • •
Promoting empowerment and trust Vision and goal setting, and well-honed articulation of these Strategic thinking & innovation Decision-making Accountability Planning and analysis
How to Apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document NameDate (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-112023-CARECanada or PatJones-CoverLetter-112023-CARECanada.
Timeline Closing Date: First stage interviews: Final interviews:
22nd November 2023 Mid-December 2023 Mid-January 2024
Selection Process All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.
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Equality Statement CARE Canada is committed to employment equity, welcomes diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified applicants. Recruitment-related accommodations for persons with disabilities are available on request. CARE Canada has a mandatory vaccination policy currently in place with accommodations based on the Ontario Human Rights Code. As part of CARE Canada’s commitment to preventing sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, we conduct reference checks on all final stage candidates in line with the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying to this role with CARE Canada, you are giving us consent to contact your previous employers to seek information in line with this scheme.
Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at care-canada-coo@ oxfordhr.com in the first instance.
About Oxford HR Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purposeled organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals. Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success. Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations. We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.
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