EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 Are you an inspiring and motivating community leader with the ability to meaningfully connect and engage with members and stakeholders in a well-established not-for-profit organization?  If so, this role may be perfect for you!

The Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) is a non-profit Calgary based member-owned funeral planning cooperative serving Albertans since 1964. Our focus is on providing affordable funeral arrangements, pre-planning services, and consumer advocacy.  The CMS is dedicated to ensuring every Albertan has access to dignified end-of-life services through our network of locally-owned funeral homes. Our mission is to empower our members with education, support, and fair pricing.

The Board of Directors is seeking the first ever Executive Director to work with the Board in helping us deliver our mission to support Alberta individuals and families. This role offers the opportunity to be the face of CMS to our 28,000+ active members, to develop strategic partnerships to benefit members’ funeral planning, and to support members’ other end-of-life decisions. The Executive Director will broaden our reach so that more Albertans take advantage of the tools and services we make available to them.

The Board is seeking responses from independent contractors based on a 1-year service contract of 20-25 hours per week.

Key service areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Governance:

• Develop and implement a strategic plan that achieves the ends (aims) statements set by the Board
• Provide information and tools to the Board to enable them to oversee progress and fulfill fiduciary responsibilities
• Oversee Board logistics (meetings, agendas, minutes, meeting materials, maintain Directors Handbook and roster, Board calendar, motion log, Director bio information)
• Facilitate Board development and training and Director onboarding

Note:  CMS is transitioning to a policy governance model from an operational governance model. The leader we seek will have the skills and knowledge to support the Board’s work to move to policy governance.

Financial Planning & Management

• Maintain CMS’s fiscal integrity and viability
• Prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board and ensure accurate/timely recording of transactions and filings
• Prepare financial statements and work with the auditor to ensure the timely preparation of annual financial statements and annual tax filings

Membership Management

• Develop and execute a strategy for onboarding new members and informing them of resources available to them
• Ensure accurate and timely responses to inquiries, processing of membership applications and statistics, distribution of membership packages, and maintenance of membership database

Stakeholder Relations

• Develop and implement a strategy to engage funeral service providers that will expand the geographic reach throughout the province
• Develop and implement a strategy to grow membership numbers
• Represent CMS with funeral service providers and other partners, other cooperatives, and regulatory agencies
• Act as CMS’s spokesperson, and generally be the face of the organization
• Maintain open communication with stakeholders to keep them informed of our work and to identify changes in the end-of-life sector

Communications & Marketing

• Develop and execute a communications plan to achieve member and stakeholder goals
• Develop, implement, and maintain brand standards
• Create print materials, brochures, presentations, and actively seek opportunities to reach prospective members and partners
• Act as webmaster and social media coordinator (create content, update/maintain website and digital platforms)

Management & Administration

• Handle all day to day affairs
• Create and implement operational policies
• Establish operational committees as needed; recruit volunteers (Board and non-Board)
• Maintain Google Workspace and support users

The successful contractor will have:

• University degree in nonprofit management, business, or related discipline (asset)
• Five years of progressively senior management experience, ideally in the social sector
• Previous experience with board governance transitions will be an asset
• Experience developing and executing strategic and operational plans
• Knowledge of the Cooperatives Act, sector, and principles
• Expertise using Google Workspace (Google Drive, Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides)

1-Year Service Contract Conditions:

• Option to provide services from the CMS Calgary office, remotely, or hybrid
• Must reside and be able to travel within Alberta and utilize own tools
• Must own and properly register and insure own vehicle
• Possess a valid Alberta Class 5 driver's license with a clean driver’s abstract

Service Contract Highlights:

• 20 – 25 working hours each week
• Hourly rate: Between $38 and $50 per hour (plus GST), dependent on experience