CanWIT CEO (volunteer) Request for Interest

Position: CEO (volunteer)
Reports to: Chair of the Board
Type of Position: Volunteer position
Hours of Work: Approx. 5 hours per week working virtually (requires minimal national travel per year)

Organization Information:

About Canadian Women in Technology (CanWIT)
CanWIT, a Division of CATAAlliance, is a Canadian organization that strives to attract, develop, and retain women within Canada’s advanced technology sector. CanWIT provides a National forum of support for women in tech, National and Regional events and programming focused on professional development, mentorship, networking, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. CanWIT, through its partnerships with organizations such as Springboard Enterprises, Maple Leaf Angels, Gemini Performance Solutions, and i-CANADA, offers the premier platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to support and help grow women-led businesses. CanWIT also hosts Canada’s first e-Mentorship platform specifically for women in technology. Find out more about us at www.canwit.ca

Position Summary:

Make a difference!! Become the CEO of CanWIT and experience exciting challenges of a growing organization.

The CEO role is a volunteer position (1 year with option to renew). The CEO is accountable for all organizational performance and exercises all authority delegated by the CanWIT Advisory Council. This includes strategic planning, oversight of paid p/t staff (2), in addition to assisting the volunteer team to build engagement and capacity in our organization. Leadership at CanWIT is a shared responsibility between paid staff, the volunteer executive team and the national advisory board.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following;

• Provides effective guidance and a strong working relationship with the CanWIT Advisory Board (CAC) including attending Board meetings.
• Provides oversight to 2 paid p/t staff including the Project Manager/accounting contact as well as the Communications (web & print) staff.
• Works alongside and acts as liaison for CanWIT vision, strategies and issues to parent affiliation Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA)
• The executive team (4) will co-manage key areas with oversight by the CEO
• Balance of Management & Operations to ensure implementation of ideas, effective operations and quality control of advice up & down action (ideas are solidified & implemented by team members)
• Partnership builder (along with Exec team & relevant CAC portfolios) and act as liaison to other organizations
• Strategic Direction-collaboratively setting a direction for the organization that reflects our members’ needs
• Resource development-work alongside relevant portfolios to develop financial resources that support program activities
• Financial accountability-manage financial resources that ensure honesty and cost-effectiveness. Ensures monthly financial reports prepared by AP/AR & Bookkeeper are sent to the Governance Committee, Executive Team and Chapters in a timely manner.
• Leadership development-developing the senior team resources that lead the organization today and in the future including evaluating the effectiveness of program initiatives, collaborations and team members.
• Works alongside Governence Committee to ensure organizational risk assessment practices and procedures are followed

You bring to the table:

• Ability to navigate and respect for the distinctions of roles-Chair, Board members, Executive Team and paid staff including a collaborative style of leadership
• Forthright, candid, transparent communication with internal team, CanWIT members, media and external stakeholders.
• A desire to work together for the good of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) industry and in particular; women in tech
• Senior leadership in a STEM role (min 5 years)
• Experience as a senior team member in the non-profit industry (board or executive level), ideally overseeing multiple Chapters
• Ability to work virtually (Ottawa location preferred but not necessary)
• High organizational ability with the ability to juggle multiple functional areas
• Can-do, positive attitude-we’re all here because we love CanWIT’s goal of ensuring attraction, retention and leadership for women in tech.
• Recognize that there may be some travel required such as conferences, chapter visits, executive team meetings (<6 trips a year - expenses covered )

Please email your cover letter and resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by February 29, 2014. No phone calls please. CanWIT thanks all applicants for their interest, however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Feel free to find out more about CanWIT at www.canwit.ca