Climate Change, Climate Action

Position: Managing Director
Organization: Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada (CAN-Rac)
Location: remote anywhere in Canada (or Ottawa office)

Join Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada (CAN-Rac) team as their new Managing Director!

CAN-Rac has hired Evenings & Weekends Consulting to conduct the recruitment process for their new Managing Director. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Laëtitia Eyssartel, Co-Managing Director at Evenings & Weekends Consulting, by email at laetitia@eveningsandweekendsconsulting.com or submit your application here. Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

** Pour la version en français, cliquez ici.

About the Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac)

Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada builds social consensus for bold climate action by nurturing a diverse network of passionate organizations.

Canada’s primary network of organizations working on climate change and energy issues, CAN-Rac is a coalition of over 180 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our members include major Canadian environmental organizations, local volunteer-run organizations, and organizations of all sizes and scopes in between. While Climate Action Network nodes exist all over the world, Canada’s is unique in that it brings environmental NGOs together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, international development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives. For over 35 years, CAN-Rac has been the only national organization with a mandate to promote the interests of the Canadian climate movement as a whole, rather than any one individual organization.

You can meet our team here.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to help lead and support a passionate, dynamic, and values-driven team who is actively combatting climate justice.

As the Managing Director, you will oversee day-to-day operational elements of the organization, ensuring that our values are reflected in all aspects of our internal policies and practices, and provide support and guidance to the management and staff team.

You will oversee all aspects of our internal operations, lead organizational planning and performance, ensure strong financial and HR systems, and help foster a resilient, inclusive workplace culture. You will work closely with the Executive Director and the Managers to ensure that collectively we can advance our vision and mission. In collaboration with the Executive Director, you will support a team of 20+ staff, including 6 direct reports.

The successful candidate will be part of the leadership team and report to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership & Strategy (30%)

• Act as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, providing leadership on operational planning, organizational development, and implementation of the strategic plan
• Support a culture of cross-team collaboration, and ensure adequate resourcing and alignment across programs, campaigns, communications, and network engagement
• Attend and present at Board meetings as required

People Operations (HR) Leadership and Management (35%)

• Manage people operations policies, procedures, and plans to foster a positive, collaborative, accessible, and welcoming work environment
• Ensure that the organization's structure supports advancing CAN-Rac strategic goals and priorities
• Oversee all aspects of the life cycle of employees from the development and execution of recruitment, retention, compensation & benefits, training and development, recognition and evaluation strategies
• Work with the Executive Director to provide strategic guidance and mentorship to the management team
• Ensure that equity, justice, and well-being are centered in the workplace culture and the way the team operates and collaborates

Operations and Administration (25%)

• Develop and refine organizational policies, procedures, and risk management frameworks
• Manage administrative and IT functions, supporting a hybrid/remote workplace environment
• Provide oversight and management of the facility and assets
• Oversee health & safety activities to ensure a safe work environment
• Act as the Privacy Officer and oversee the management of obligations under its Personal Information Protection Policy in accordance with government legislation

Financial & Grant Management (20%)

• Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with the Manager of Finance, the Executive Director, and other Managers
• Support fundraising efforts and funder relations led by the Executive Director, and manage CAN-Rac’s grant writing and report writing process, including mobilizing various team member inputs as relevant
• Work with the Manager of Finance to ensure that the day-to-day financial operations of CAN-Rac effectively support the overall functioning of the organization
• Track submission of grant deliverables and reporting, using software tools as appropriate, and monitor CAN-Rac’s access to grant portals
• Support audit process, and ensure compliance with bylaws, policies and all other statutory and regulatory requirements and identify and manage risks to organizational health

Job Requirements:

• Prior experience working as an operations manager or managing director, including overseeing the operations of a small to mid-size nonprofit or similar structure
• Prior experience overseeing the human resources and benefits functions for a team of 10+ staff

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to assess challenges, develop solutions, and mitigate risk
• Experience with overseeing grant writing and/or fundraising
• Demonstrated success in managing budgets, operations, and teams in a mission-driven environment
• An ability to think strategically and implement plans to advance organizational priorities
• Excellent project management, interpersonal, and communication skills (English)
• A track record of building inclusive, equitable, and collaborative workplace cultures
• Highly developed leadership, interpersonal, mentorship, and coaching skills with an ability to navigate sensitive and/or difficult conversations with tact and empathy
• A strong work ethic and high level of integrity

Assets

• Bilingual (French and English) or a willingness to learn French
• A passion for climate change, environmental justice, and social justice
• Experience working with coalitions, alliances, or network-based organizations
• A good sense of humour

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Salary range: $95,325 - $101,221* (CAN-Rac currently observes a four-day work week, with our office closed on Fridays) *Salary will be adjusted within the range based on the successful candidate’s skills and relevant experience.

Benefits: Comprehensive extended health benefits package (at start), matching RRSP plan (up to 6%) and vacation/personal/paid-sick days entitlements (3 weeks of vacation per year at start; 2 week closure at the end-of-year; 12 paid sick days)

Location: CAN-Rac is a remote-first workplace, with team members across the country and an office in downtown Ottawa. This position is open to candidates based anywhere in Canada. Occasional travel may be required for team meetings and events (approximately 2 weeks a year).

Term: Full-time Indefinite

Posting Details

The posting closes on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10 a.m. EST.

CAN-Rac aims to strengthen justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across the organization, and welcomes applications from candidates belonging to equity-seeking groups. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on indigeneity, race, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by Ontario law.

If you don’t tick all the requirements outlined above but are deeply excited by this role, we would still love to hear from you.

If you require any accommodations for the job application process, do not hesitate to contact laetitia@eveningsandweekendsconsulting.com .

The Selection & Interview Process

Please submit your application through our portal here. You will be asked to submit the following:

• Your resume
• A letter of interest, which should include:
  • What motivates you to join CAN-RAC
  • The relevant experience and/or skills you can contribute to the organization
• You will also be asked to answer some questions through the application portal, including:
  • Your postal code
  • If you are able to hold conversations in French
  • If you identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, a Person of Colour, Newcomer, Immigrants, and/or a Person Living with a Disability

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Candidates will be pre-screened by Evenings & Weekends Consulting, which may include scheduling a short introductory call with prospective candidates. A shortlist of up to 10 candidates will then be presented to CAN-Rac’s hiring committee.

Successful candidates will be invited to join a virtual first round of interviews in early June 2025. A second round of interviews may be held if necessary.

Preparing for an interview takes time and labour, so candidates who interview for this role will be compensated by Evenings & Weekends Consulting at a fixed rate of $100 per interview. Questions will be provided ahead of time, so candidates are able to prepare for the interview as they see fit.

Note: Evenings & Weekends Consulting and CAN-Rac may only be able to meet with applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process, but Evenings & Weekends Consulting will provide an update on the outcome of the process to all applicants.

 

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About Evenings & Weekends Consulting

Evenings & Weekends Consulting was created to support emerging organizations, activist groups, charities, labour unions, academic institutions, and community groups by combining our experience and expertise with theirs, as we work together to solve problems, seize opportunities, and make good change happen.

As a values-driven consultancy, we are committed to advancing equity, justice, and social change through ongoing collaboration.​

We recognize that every situation, campaign, initiative, and project is different, so we approach each with the uniqueness and curiosity that it deserves. Our clients get innovative and effective solutions tailored to their specific needs.