Job Opportunity

Join our team! We’re hiring an Executive Director

Title of Position: Executive Director
Organization: Living Lakes Canada
Location:  remote, anywhere in Canada

Reference No: 2608
Term of Employment: Permanent
Salary: $110k - $130k or commensurate with experience and based on full time equivalent (FTE)
Hours: 0.75 - 1.0 FTE (30 - 40 hours/week)
Deadline to Apply: October 21, 2026

Submit Application to: Human Resources: hr@livinglakescanada.ca . Please mention you saw this at rcen.ca or goodwork.ca.

About our Organization

Living Lakes Canada’s science-driven, community-based not-for-profit water monitoring, assessment and restoration programs bridge the gap between science and action to foster freshwater stewardship. Our mandate is to increase public knowledge of watershed health and empower Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada to protect freshwater sources.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel valued and respected. We actively promote equal opportunities and strive to build a team that reflects the richness of perspectives and experiences of people across Canada.

Job Summary

The Executive Director (ED) of Living Lakes Canada (LLC) will provide dynamic and visionary thought leadership; steward the organization’s budget; lead and engage the Living Lakes team while building and strengthening the organization’s relationships with partners, including Indigenous Peoples, government, community organizations and donors. This role will ensure the ongoing sustainability and success in delivering on the strategic priorities outlined in our strategic plan. The ED will be the public face representing LLC when advocating for progressive policies that support healthy watersheds and ecosystems, which our collective well-being is dependent upon.

Core Competencies:

• Ability to formulate and articulate a future vision and translate it into strategies and action plans that will enable LCC to achieve its strategic objectives.
• Work collaboratively with a team to shape the future of LLC and pursue excellence on an organizational level.
• Ability to articulate LLC’s mission and vision toward developing a strong sense of common purpose in the organization.

• Inspires, collaborates, and builds relationships to ensure successful fundraising campaigns to secure sustainable, ongoing revenue.
• Strong interpersonal skills that inspire commitment, collaboration and teamwork.
• Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing, with diverse audiences and the media.
• Adaptable, strategic thinker with the capacity to manage and lead change.
• Capacity to identify shared interests, build inclusive and effective networks, and negotiate solutions across diverse stakeholder groups to advance organizational goals. Results-oriented skills with the capacity to identify and act on funding opportunities.
• Models, inspires and nurtures staff learning and empowerment.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Provides visionary leadership to the organization, setting strategic goals in alignment with the organization's mission and values.
• Develops and leads comprehensive strategic plans to deliver LLC’s programs both independently and with partners.
• Strategically raises the LLC profile with Indigenous Peoples, Government, major donors, partners, and the conservation community in support of the LLC mission.
• Oversees and supports LLC program managers in their cultivation and maintenance of relationships with Indigenous Peoples, government agencies, community partners, funders and other stakeholders, to enhance collaboration and support for LLC projects.
• Collaborates across the organization to leverage cross-functional work for increased efficiency and synergies while avoiding internal siloing of the work.
• Builds relationships to seek and leverage opportunities to grow the organization for funding security and to increase our mission’s reach in serving civil society.
• Sits on the LLC Board of Directors as a non-voting Director; presents regular strategic reports to the Board; is the main conduit between the organization and the Board.

Coaching & Team Building

• Strategically oversees a multidisciplinary team and encourages cross-functional collaboration.
• Challenges, coaches, and supports Senior Leadership Team (SLT) members to reach their full potential, strengthen their contribution to the organization, and pursue appropriate opportunities for professional and skills development.
• Communicates effectively to ensure the Senior Leadership Team understands its role and contribution in relation to LLC’s vision and strategic plan.
• Regularly connects with the Deputy Director on progress to goals.

Fundraising and Financial Management

• Guides LLC’s overall fundraising and revenue development strategy, including grant applications, private and corporate donor cultivation, major gifts and endowment development, strategic partnerships, new program opportunities with strong funding potential, and appropriate fee-for-service models to support long-term organizational sustainability. Seeks out and leads fundraising initiatives with federal and provincial governments
• Reviews financial management and financial philosophies in tandem with the Board.

Advocacy and Public Relations

• Represents LLC in public forums, media and with government agencies.
• Supports senior staff in government relations and outreach.
• Oversees the building and maintaining of a positive public image for the organization.
• Builds relationships with sectors outside ENGOs for joint projects.
• Guides the development of a communication strategy in collaboration with the SLT and the Communications Team Lead.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of proven organizational leadership in an ENGO or related setting
• Educational requirement: University undergraduate and/or graduate degree in a related field, or equivalent work or volunteer experience
• Reliable, self-motivated and independent with a demonstrated ability to collaborate well within a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to support multiple projects, set priorities, meet deadlines and facilitate others to do the same
• Understanding of NGO operations, including fundraising, finances, administration, human resources, strategic planning and team building
• Highly proficient written and oral communication skills
• Experience working with and communicating through various media outlets
• Commitment to Living Lakes Canada’s mission

Other Requirements

• Have a valid Class 5 driver’s license
• Able to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends and evenings
• Work from home setting
• Willing to provide a Police and Vulnerable Sector Check
• Permanent resident of Canada

Benefits

• Paid vacation days, equivalent to 20 paid vacation days annually, prorated for term of employment
• Flexible working hours
• Digital allowance

• Health Spending Account
• Paid winter holiday Closure
• Professional Development Allowance

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter with three listed references as one PDF document to hr@livinglakescanada.ca no later than October 21, 2026 by 5:00pm Pacific Time.

Please include the job reference number (2608) in the subject line of your email.

Please mention you saw this at rcen.ca or goodwork.ca.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Link to job description on our website.