Executive Director, Development and Peace - Canadian Regions

Executive Director, Development and Peace – Canadian Regions

1. General Information

Title: Executive Director
Term: Five years, renewable once
Start Date: February 2027
Work Location: Montreal or another major Canadian region

The organization’s head office is located in Montreal. Applications are welcome from candidates residing in other major regions of Canada, provided they are able to travel regularly to Montreal and throughout the territories served by the organization, as required by the position.

2. About the Organization

Development and Peace — Caritas Canada, the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada, is a democratic solidarity movement guided by the Church’s social teaching.

It addresses the root causes of poverty, oppression and inequality by working with partners in countries of the Global South and mobilizing Canadians for justice and dignity. It supports women and social movements as agents of lasting change.

The organization brings together four inseparable dimensions:

• A Catholic organization rooted in the Gospel and the Church’s social teaching, called to live out and express its mission within the Church and in the public sphere.


• A professional international development and humanitarian assistance organization built on partner-led relationships. It is the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.


• A democratic, national, grassroots, bilingual and intergenerational movement with 13,000 members across Canada.


• A charitable, unionized organization governed by a volunteer National Council (Board of Directors).

“ Bring to life a mission of justice, solidarity and hope!”

The organization is seeking an experienced individual with strong spiritual grounding and excellent interpersonal skills to serve as Executive Director. This person will ensure organizational stability while guiding its evolution and development in keeping with its mission.

This is an opportunity to lead a national democratic movement and a professional international solidarity organization at a pivotal moment in its history.

4. Position Summary

Reporting to the National Council and working closely with the President, the Executive Director provides strategic, operational and relational leadership for the organization. They ensure the fulfillment of its mission, achievement of its strategic plan objectives, and sound management of its human, financial and organizational resources.

The Executive Director embodies and promotes the organization’s mission, vision, values and approaches. They serve as an ambassador and exercise synodal, participatory, unifying and empowering leadership that fosters engagement, collective discernment and shared responsibility.

They also ensure rigorous operational management based on planning, accountability, risk management and results, while supporting the development of the organization, its partnerships and its movement to ensure long-term sustainability.

5. Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Advise the National Council and implement its adopted directions and decisions, while respecting the respective roles of governance and management.


• Work with the President to identify matters that must be brought before the National Council or Executive Committee, and support the effective preparation, participation and follow-up of governance meetings.


• Translate the directions established by the Orientation Assembly into strategic priorities and oversee their implementation from a sustainable development perspective.


• Ensure comprehensive accountability to the National Council and the organization’s various governing bodies.


• Oversee integrated risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, and the protection of individuals, personal data, assets and the organization’s reputation.

Organizational Leadership

• Guide and support the management team in achieving the organization’s objectives and ensure the effective functioning of day-to-day operations.


• Foster a healthy, inclusive, motivating, safe and respectful workplace that encourages collaboration, professional development and staff engagement.


• Ensure sound human resources management and labour relations in compliance with the collective agreement and organizational policies.


• Encourage collaboration across departments, accountability, succession planning and leadership development throughout the organization.

Organizational and Financial Management

• Ensure the effective and responsible management of the organization’s financial, material and information resources.


• Support the organization’s long-term financial sustainability by promoting revenue growth and diversification, as well as the development of strategic partnerships.


• Make philanthropy a shared organizational responsibility by strengthening fundraising campaigns and relationships with donors.

Partnerships, International Solidarity and Advocacy

• Develop and maintain lasting relationships of trust with partners in the Global South, the Caritas Internationalis network, national and international networks, and other stakeholders.


• Ensure that the realities, needs and priorities expressed by partners and local communities guide programming, advocacy and public engagement initiatives.


• Support the implementation of development and humanitarian assistance programs in accordance with the organization’s commitments and the standards of the networks and bodies to which it belongs, particularly Caritas Internationalis.


• Guide and support the organization’s advocacy activities with governments, institutions and relevant networks.


• Maintain strategic and constructive dialogue with funding agencies, governments, networks and allied organizations to advance the organization’s mission.

Movement, Church Relations and Representation

• Promote the organization’s values, vision and positions in forums for dialogue and influence, with a focus on social justice, solidarity and the Church’s social teaching.


• Maintain relationships of trust and collaboration with members, diocesan councils, local communities, bishops, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and other Church stakeholders, through dialogue, listening and synodality.


• Support the development, renewal and mobilization of the movement, particularly through the participation of young people and diverse communities.


• Serve as the organization’s chief spokesperson and ensure clear, prophetic, consistent and inspiring communication, both internally and externally.

6. Desired Competencies

• Commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, values, approaches and Catholic identity.


• Strategic vision and the ability to translate strategy into action.


• Synodal, mobilizing, unifying and empowering leadership.


• Sound judgment, discernment and managerial courage.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.


• Ability to build partnerships and develop influential networks.


• Integrity, transparency and credibility.


• Ability to manage complexity, change and sensitive situations.


• Political acumen.


• Commitment to collaboration and teamwork.

7. Experience and Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as administration, management, international development, social sciences or a related discipline.


• Relevant graduate-level education; a master’s degree is considered an asset.


• Other relevant professional training.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written French and English is essential.


• Knowledge of Spanish or a third language is an asset.

Experience and Knowledge

• Five to ten years of management experience in a comparable senior leadership position.


• Experience working with a board of directors.


• Relevant experience in international development, humanitarian assistance, advocacy, citizen mobilization or the nonprofit sector.


• Knowledge of the Church’s social teaching and an understanding of the realities of the Catholic Church in Canada.


• Knowledge of issues relating to social justice, international solidarity and humanitarian assistance.


• Knowledge of best practices in governance, strategic planning, risk management, human resources and financial management.


• Knowledge of Caritas Internationalis and of ecclesial, community-based and international networks relevant to the organization’s mission.


• Experience in a unionized environment and participatory labour relations is an asset.


• Experience in philanthropy, fundraising or revenue diversification is an asset.

8. Specific Requirements of the Role

• Availability for regular travel within Canada and internationally.


• Occasional availability to work evenings or weekends.

10. Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Protection

Development and Peace — Caritas Canada is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices. It encourages applications from all qualified individuals who share its commitment to social justice, international solidarity and human dignity.

The organization is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment, free from all forms of exploitation, abuse, harassment and mistreatment. To this end, it follows responsible recruitment practices designed to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals.

Anyone offered a position will be required to sign the organization’s Code of Conduct and undergo relevant background checks appropriate to the nature of the position.