Outdoor Youth Programs

Position: Executive Director
Organization: Project Canoe
Location: Project Canoe has shared facilities at the Centre for Social Innovation at 720 Bathurst Street, in Toronto. The team works in a hybrid model for most of the year, with the spring and summer having a higher need for in-person work.

• Start Date: March 17th, 2025, which includes a transition period with the current Executive Director.
• Salary: The salary will be in the range of $75,000 - $85,000 per annum, plus comprehensive benefits, commensurate with qualifications.

Basic Description

Project Canoe is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to provide strong and passionate management and leadership for its mission of helping youth facing barriers to create experiences rooted in the outdoors. The position of Executive Director is a full-time permanent position, with a 3 month probation period.

Established in 1977, Project Canoe is a registered charity that offers outdoor programming to youth facing personal challenges and systemic barriers. We use the outdoors, including wilderness canoe trips, to create a transformative environment in which our youth develop life skills, social competencies, and resiliency, thereby fostering their own personal success. We partner with our youth, supporting them as they carry these skills and successes forward to manage the complex challenges of their lives. Wilderness canoe trips have been our core summer program element for over forty years, and we have since expanded to provide a variety of year-round opportunities through our Urban and Local Explorer programs. Project Canoe’s programs have a consistent track record of creating positive life outcomes for youth participants. Since our inception, close to 5,000 youth have benefited from Project Canoe’s unique programs, including our low staff to youth ratio. Our program staff receive broad and deep training in safety, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and trauma-informed practice.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED of Project Canoe assumes the role of managing and leading this vital youth development organization. Your responsibilities and opportunities include:

• Organizational Administration
• Fund Development
• Staff Leadership and Training
• Community Partnerships and Alliance Building
• Strategic Planning
• Program Support
• Board Reporting

Skills and Qualifications:

• 3-5 years leadership experience – with some in the not-for-profit sector
• Proven fundraising experience with government, foundations and corporations
• Experience with marketing to grow brand awareness
• Talent for recruiting, engaging, coaching and developing staff
• Track record of developing and leading high-performing teams and volunteer committees with both a strong team culture and high productivity
• Administrative competencies including financial, technology and policy management
• Experience working collaboratively with a Board of Directors
• Knowledge and passion for youth development and our target population is desirable
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed practice
• Understanding of and interest in canoe tripping/camping or other outdoor activities

Requirement and procedure:

• Submit a resume and cover letter to the Project Canoe Hiring Committee
• Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with the Hiring Committee
• Finalist with be required to submit 3 references and agree to a Criminal Record Check

Please submit your cover letter and resume in a single pdf document by email to the Hiring Committee (hiring@canoe.org) by 5pm on January 17, 2025.

More information about Project Canoe is available at: canoe.org

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