Help Shape the Future of Hospice and Palliative Care on Nova Scotia’s South Shore

The South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society (SSHPCS) is a community‑founded, donor‑supported charitable organization advancing compassionate, accessible end‑of‑life care for residents of Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Through the generosity of donors and in partnership with the Nova Scotia Health Palliative Care Services team, they support and promote compassionate care for individuals and their loved ones who are living with a life-limiting illness.

Through sustained grassroots leadership and community support, SSHPCS has played a pivotal role in improving access to palliative and hospice care, most notably securing five designated hospice beds at Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital.

SSHPCS is now entering a pivotal new chapter and is focused on expanding palliative and hospice bed capacity across the South Shore and advancing toward a future freestanding hospice facility, a transformational opportunity that will reshape end‑of‑life care in the region. To lead this next phase, SSHPCS is seeking its first Executive Director.

This newly created role offers a rare opportunity for an experienced, community‑centred leader to help evolve a highly effective volunteer‑driven organization into one with the systems, partnerships, and advocacy capacity required for long‑term impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the organization’s senior executive leader and primary ambassador. This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring both strategic vision and operational execution within a small, growing organization.

You will guide SSHPCS through a period of growth and increasing system‑level influence by strengthening organizational infrastructure, advancing partnerships with Nova Scotia Health, community, and government, building the organization’s public profile, and supporting long‑term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic and operational leadership aligned with SSHPCS’s mission and strategic priorities
• Advancing advocacy and planning for expanded palliative care beds at South Shore Regional and Queens General Hospitals and a future freestanding hospice
• Serving as a visible ambassador for hospice and palliative care across the South Shore
• Building and sustaining strong relationships with health system partners, government, donors, and community
• Supporting and enhancing fundraising activity and the diversification of revenue streams
• Ensuring sound financial stewardship and accountability to donors and funders
• Supporting Board effectiveness through strong governance partnership
• Remaining deeply connected to community context, culture, and evolving needs
• Managing day-to-day operations and staff

Ideal Candidate Profile

As the ideal candidate, you are a grounded, community‑oriented leader with experience guiding small or growing organizations, ideally in the non‑profit sector, through periods of transition. You understand complex systems and are comfortable navigating multi‑layered decision‑making environments such as government with patience, persistence, and diplomacy.

You bring strong business and financial acumen, enabling you to establish sound operational foundations while partnering with a Board to shape long‑term strategic direction. You bring experience in managing teams and creating a working environment that is supportive and transparent. Experience with governance, board relations, funding structures, and the legislative context for charitable or non‑profit organizations in Canada is an asset.

You are equally comfortable setting strategy and executing in a hands‑on, resource‑conscious environment. A builder by nature, you bring demonstrated fundraising experience, including donor relations, grant development, and partnership‑building, and are prepared to support revenue diversification and future capital campaign readiness.

You are a confident communicator and credible ambassador, comfortable representing the organization with government, health system partners, donors, media, and community stakeholders. Above all, you lead with humility and respect for local culture, valuing listening, learning, and relationship‑building as the foundation for trust and impact.

How to Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply online at http://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17763581720410000008wFu. For more information or to ask any questions, please contact Daniella Sam at , Katherine Risley at , or Erin MacDonald at .

Diversity and Accessibility Statement

The South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society (SSHPCS) is committed to being an organization where diversity and different perspectives are valued. They strive to be an organization that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the communities and organizations they serve and encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of a traditionally marginalized community.

KBRS will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact or communicate your needs to our team.