THE JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR WELCOMES EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Posted on 17 January 202517 January 2025

Welcoming Expressions of Interests:

The John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Board of Directors, through it Hiring Committee, is leading an Expression of Interest process to identify qualified individuals for the Executive Director of John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. The process to submit your expression of interest is outlined below, including an overview of the Job Profile, key requirements, core competencies, and instructions.

Interested candidates are encouraged to review JHS-NL’s website www.johnhowardnl.ca and our Annual Reports www.johnhowardnl.ca/category/reports-documents

About the John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador:

The John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador (JHS-NL) is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to supporting individuals and families. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, JHS-NL helps people break the cycles of criminal justice involvement, poverty, and homelessness to assist with the transition to a healthy, stable, and independent life.

JHS-NL’s work is deeply rooted in the belief that every person has intrinsic worth and the right to be treated with dignity, equity, fairness, and compassion. We believe that, without  discrimination and with the appropriate supports, individuals can achieve their self-identified goals.

JHS-NL ensures that all its initiatives combine trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and harm-reduction practices with an empowerment philosophy and a Housing First framework. This approach promotes flexibility and innovation to meet individual needs of our participants. Our work is informed by the lived experiences and expertise of our people, feedback from program participants, input from community partners, other John Howard Society’s across the country as well as current research to ensure best practice.

In the past year JHS-NL supported over 1,300 individuals and families, operationalized $5 million in funding, and employed over 100 employees.

Executive Director Job Profile: 

The John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is seeking a new executive director to lead its charitable organization which is comprised of people whose goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime and its consequences, and to work with people who have come into conflict with the law. The Society also reviews, evaluates, and advocates for changes in the criminal justice process, while engaging  in public education on matters involving the justice system.

The Executive Director reports to the John Howard Society’s Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall management and direction of all programming offered through JHS-NL. This role involves providing leadership and collaboration to a well established, impactful organization and to work in partnership with government and other community organizations and stakeholders.

With offices in St. John’s, Stephenville and Corner Brook, the Society fulfills its mission of providing “effective, just, and humane responses to crime and its consequences,” through a wide range of programs and services that focus on prevention, intervention and support for its service users. Steeped in our core values which include the fundamental belief that every person has intrinsic worth and the right to be treated with dignity, fairness and compassion, our services center around the needs of our participants to assist them to become contributing members of our communities. The Society’s services include transitional and supportive housing, criminogenic programs designed to reduce risk, intensive case management, mental health counselling, education and employment services as well as supervision for youth serving Open Custody dispositions and other specialized services.

The Executive Director will provide thoughtful executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering. They will engage in a culture of collaboration, innovative thinking, and performance measurement to analyze and support strategic decision-making. This experienced leader will not only understand current trends in criminal justice but also evidence-based effective program interventions for the Society’s participants.

The Executive Director ensures the fulfillment of the organization’s mission by directing the planning, development, provision, and evaluation of a broad range of supports and services to individuals who are experiencing various degrees of instability in their lives.

The Executive Director works closely with the organization’s leadership team to inspire innovative and participant-centric solutions and services. The Executive Director ensures that the organization is continually well equipped to advance its mission by building a strong leadership team responsible for managing program and business operations on a day to day and mid-term basis in alignment with the mission, core values, operating principles, and cultural commitments.

The Executive Director maintains focus on the organization’s direction and future strategy while empowering the leadership team to deliver programming, services, operations, and performance. They also provide insight into how operational processes affect retention, services, and fundraising for the organization. 

 A more detailed role profile can also be found below. The core requirements and key competencies for this important leadership role are:

• The role requires the successful candidate to be physically located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on a full-time basis.
• Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience in similar senior roles within the non-profit sector.
• Individuals expressing interest in this role will be evaluated based on their qualifications and requirements, experience, along with core competencies specifically in Relationship Building, Strategic and Visionary Leadership, Operational Leadership, Decision Making, and Action and Results Orientation including Continuous Improvement.

Executive Director Job Description  

Objectives of the Role

• Work closely with board directors and the executive team to assess and address issues affecting the organization and its service users.
• Maintain strong relationships among key stakeholders including, service providers, government departments and other community organizations and stakeholders.
• Identify and secure the required funding to operationalize the organization’s objectives.
• Oversee daily operations of the organization in keeping with the organizational strategic plan and priorities as set out by the board of directors.
• Providing executive direction for program strategies and efficiencies, compliance, and quality assurance.
• Identify, recruit, and maintain a strong diverse work culture that attracts and retains employees who are reflective of our communities.
• Increase awareness of the organization by being the main spokesperson and liaison with local media.
• Develop an actionable plan for annual budgets, fundraising and managing monthly cash flow.
• Ensure compliance with all provincial, national and local regulations.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the board of directors, create a business plan for achieving the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Meet aggressive annual funding benchmarks by securing financial support from foundations, corporations, individual donors, and government funding sources.
• Work with staff and board on annual events such as John Howard Society Week and the Annual General Meeting and Conference.
• Oversee all external communications, including website, marketing and social media.
• Serve as the face of the organization and participate in external events to increase visibility, credibility, and market brand.
• Develop strategic partnerships to further increase community awareness and program expansion.
• Build and lead an effective team that is dedicated to the Society’s mission, mandate and core values through the provision of successful evidence-based programs and services.

Required skills and qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in business, human resources, social or behavioural science.
• Minimum of five years of experience in senior management, preferably with a registered charity or nonprofit organization.
• Experience in contract negotiation, financial management, human resources and government relations.
• Demonstrated experience in public relations, marketing, and fundraising.
• Experience with leadership and management principles for nonprofit organizations.
• Proven success working with a board of directors.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
• Innovative mindset and approach to business planning.
• Collaborative professional with strong communication skills, adept at effectively representing the organization to the public.
• Experience negotiating collective agreements and managing in a unionized environment.

Preferred skills and qualifications

• Experience in both adult and youth Corrections
• Experience in media relations.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, empowerment and innovation.

Instructions:

Those interested in this position are required to complete two steps in this application process. Both the Expression of Interest and Resume can be sent to: jhshiring@gmail.com

Step 1:  Submit an Expression of Interest outlining your interests, highlights of your qualifications, detailed relevant prior experience, and alignment with the role, mandate, mission, and vision of JHS-NL.

Step 2:   Send your up-to-date resume/CV.

Both steps are to be completed no later than Friday, February 21, 2025.

While all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents when choosing among candidates of equivalent qualifications, in compliance with Government of Canada Immigration rules and regulations.

JHS-NL strives to foster a culture of inclusion and empowerment, where there is a sense  belonging and safety while prioritizing diversity across the organization, including its Board of Directors, employment practices, staff, policies, program, and services. JHS-NL actively works to support program participants, staff, and volunteers who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized or members of other equity-seeking and/or religious, cultural, and other communities; members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; people with disabilities; and individuals from a variety of social and economic backgrounds.