Chief Operating Officer

November 2024

The Canada West Foundation produces evidence-based research and practical recommendations that have a powerful impact on the policy process and ensure that Western perspectives are heard and understood. We are the only policy organization that focuses on the issues that matter most to the West. We are an independent, non-partisan, registered charity, based in Calgary with interests and board members from all four western provinces.

We produce thoughtful, trusted, useful ground-breaking research. CWF brings together political, government, academic, business and community leaders in seminars, forums, conferences and round tables. We get people talking about how to create a better and more secure West.  Our ideas make news. Through research publications, op-eds in major Canadian newspapers, interviews on radio and television, blogs and social media, our work reaches millions of readers each year.

Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the COO will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to shaping public policy, informing and encouraging public debate and helping to ensure the long-term prosperity of Western Canada and the country as a whole.

The COO will be someone who is passionate about the West and skilled at engaging the public, donors, sponsors and governments to improve Canada through research, convening and communicating.

The position is full-time, located in the Calgary office, with some travel required.

 Responsibilities

• With the leadership of the CEO, develop/Implement/manage strategy that aligns policy research with communication, with an emphasis on engagement to ensure that our work is trustworthy, relevant, pragmatic, useful, fundable and accessible to broad audiences.
• Liaises closely with VP research and research directors on policy research initiatives to provide active guidance and assistance to assure projects align with goals and strategic plan of the organization (i.e. projects fall within CWF’s key policy themes) and assure that deadlines, reporting and other project administrative matters are done on time and projects are on budget.
• Bridges the communication/political aspects of the work with the science/rigour of the research (ensures alignment with the broader goals of the organization for independent trusted work)
• Manages “engagement support” for the organization: engagement, communications, events, relationship management, fundraising, (including event and project sponsorship)—fundraising is a big part of this.
• Oversees, and coordinates grant and funding applications (including picking up the pen on occasion)  with the VP research and directors as well as the fundraising and engagement team
• Provides support to CEO for the Board of Directors
• As the “2ic” – the COO will oversee (and where required) act as the approval authority for core operational support functions (finance/HR/IT/facilities), liaising as required with the “director-level” position who is responsible for execution
• Ensures financial performance of the organization (i.e. we don’t do things we aren’t funded for, we manage the funds we have for maximum impact, etc)

Essentially, we want someone who can ensure that internal operations of the organization fulfill its mission in a way that is consistent with the organization’s values.

Competencies

We need a “Second in Command” who can ensure the alignment of our outreach activities (communication, engagement and fundraising) with our research and policy work. They:

• Coordinate, align, and collaborate across specialist functions to ensure that the organization efficiently and effectively executes strategy
• Collaborate, lead, inspire specialist staff, manage/oversee multiple activities: they can maintain the focus and effectively delegate tasks and ensure accountability.
• Apply effective business management processes to coordinate the work of multiple specialty functions in the achievement of corporate strategic goals, as outlined in annual plans
• Understand Western Canada and appreciate the strategic economic challenges facing the Western provinces
• Are a big picture thinker who is also capable of managing details and implementation, with proven experience in strategic planning and forward thinking

Skills

Planning

• As part of the senior management team, contribute to the development articulation of strategic plans aligned to organizational mission/vision
• Translate strategic plans to executable operations plans, including the development and tracking of “Objective/Key Result” (OKR) metrics to ensure organizational alignment to plans
• Develop top-level organizational budgets to ensure effective and sustainable funding for the organization

Operations Management

• Manage the activities of specialist functions (comms, events, fundraising, customer relations) and works with VP research to ensure OKRs for each function are achieved
• Oversee and approve financial transactions IAW with the established budgets, policies and regulations
• Ensure alignment of outreach activities to the policy research of the specialist centres (that is, for any specific research project, that the necessary support infrastructure is in place, that the “Day 1” communications and marketing functions are planned and resourced, and that these activities are undertaken with a view to increase the impact, visibility and relevance of the organization with our stakeholders, funders, potential funders and the public)

Fundraising

• Takes an active role in overseeing, and where necessary executing, activities aimed at generating operational funds, including:
  • grant writing
  • proposal writing (for projects)
  • donor appeals
  • paid events
  • sponsorships, etc.
• Report on fundraising activities and results against budget requirements and plans

Business Acumen

• Manage operations, both research/policy and engagement, as a business
• Establish and maintain structures and protocols to ensure visibility, viability and control over the business
• Apply a “business lens” to day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness

Policy Acumen

• Must be passionate about the west and its place in Canada
• Not necessarily a “policy wonk” but someone who understands how policy making works, the protocols for government and governance, and especially how policy can be “pulled” through the system and not just “pushed”

Personal/Professional Characteristics

Leadership

• Creates an environment of trust and recognition that inspires high performance from their direct reports and rest of the organization
• Acts with integrity in all internal and external dealings
• Entrepreneurial spirit and approach, creative, and encourages ideas from others

Communication

• Effective verbal and written communication for a variety of audiences – government, private sector, communities, various publics as well as internal communications with staff and the board
• Proven ability to deliver complex ideas and strategies clearly and concisely

Personal Management

• Organized
• Manages time and tasks effectively
• Disciplined curiosity
• Balances passion and commitment with a calm and reasoned manner, able to deal with controversial issues and debates

Mentoring/Coaching

• Able to provide guidance and assistance to staff to ensure their growth
• Meets regularly to review results, address concerns, ensure job satisfaction in alignment with organizational objectives

Political Acumen

• Is politically aware, maintains a “pulse” on stakeholder concerns, knows how to “read the room”, and is able to provide feedback on how organizational activities will “land” with different stakeholders
• Must be able to work with all political parties and people who hold diverse political views to advance good public policy
• General knowledge of government and most basic diplomatic protocol

Collaboration/Teamwork

• Seeks (but does not require) consensus vertically and laterally in the organization
• Ensures that information is shared across the organization
• Leads teams (where appropriate)
• Contributes meaningfully to cross-functional teams by applying specific knowledge, skills, experience
• Contributes to effective group problem solving and decision making

Problem solving

• Can take a systems view of problems and apply effective problem-solving processes based on the level of complexity and number of factors/agents involved
• Articulates courses of action and ensures solution implementation

Experience that would demonstrate above competencies: 

• A senior (ADM) in a public administration role (federal, provincial, municipal)
• Someone who has managed a cross-functional organization in a large non-profit/NGO
• Someone who has led a “headquarters” function in the military
• Managing partner / director role in GR, PR or consulting firm or GR unit within a company or University

The Canada West Foundation is an employer of talented and diverse individuals.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, please visit: www.cwf.ca

Submit your letter of interest and resume to:
Colleen Collins, Vice President
Canada West Foundation