Social Planning Toronto (SPT) is seeking a dynamic, enterprising, and creative leader with a passion for equity and significant experience in community capacity building to lead the organization through its next phase of growth and development. This individual will play a critical role in achieving SPT’s organizational vision — mobilizing our research and community planning expertise and wide network of community partnerships to advance social justice, racial equity, and civic engagement; advocate for progressive systems change; respond to changing social policy, funding, political, and economic environments; enhance the capacity of the community services sector; leverage learnings from COVID-19; and strengthen opportunities for all Toronto residents.  

SPT is committed to building a "Civic Society," one in which diversity, equity, social and economic justice, interdependence, and active civic participation are central to all aspects of our lives. Through independent research, policy analysis, community planning and capacity building, SPT mobilizes action to improve the quality of life of all Toronto residents. Working with partners across the community service sector, we strive to build a strong, healthy, equitable, and vibrant city.

The Position

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the overall strategic and operational leadership of the organization. As an advocate for an equitable and vibrant city, the ED ensures that community relationships, partnerships, institutions,  staff, volunteers and funding all work together to successfully engage the community in transformative initiatives that effectively address equity, inequality, and critical needs of the most marginalized groups in our city. An active listener, the ED leads a collaborative and dedicated staff team, giving focus and direction to SPT’s social research and community planning work. 

Specific Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for the development and implementation of the vision, mission, values, and strategic plan to achieve desired outcomes for SPT and its stakeholders
• Ensures data, trends, insights, and strategies are available to demonstrate organizational impacts and emerging needs for SPT that align with strategic priorities
• Leads systems change and mobilizes the community sector to advocacy and action on critical issues in our city
• Communicates with key stakeholders to identify the changing needs and conditions of communities, and SPT’s role in addressing those needs
• Champions anti-racism/anti-oppression, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organizational culture and applies this intersectional lens in all aspects of SPT’s work
• Leads and encourages team building by listening and facilitating open communication and positive working relationships among staff, volunteers, community organizations, and partners
• Promotes a positive labour relationship within a unionized environment, including collective bargaining
• Provides leadership in identifying key social policy, advocacy, research, and social reporting opportunities
• Ensures SPT delivers rigorous, effective, evidence-based research, policy analysis, advocacy, and civic mobilization
• Builds and leverages relationships with other research and planning organizations and partners to optimize impact
• Demonstrates high degree of flexibility in managing a diverse portfolio that is responsive to social, political, and environmental shifts and community needs
• Acts as an advocate for the organization and communicates its vision and role in the community
• Leads the development and maintenance of effective media relations
• Develops and implements effective outreach strategies engaging non-traditional, marginalized, and equity-seeking groups
• Understands the policy development process and is able to identify policy windows for action
• Mentors, monitors, motivates, evaluates, and supports the development of staff individually and as a team
• Secures, prioritizes, and allocates resources to achieve organizational goals according to its financial policies and procedures and approved budget

Education, Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• Master’s degree or equivalent mix of managerial experience and post-secondary education in a field relevant to the work of social planning
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in progressively senior management positions in a nonprofit organization
• A strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and experience
• A strong understanding of the importance of the governance role and the relationship between the Executive Director and the Board of Directors
• Demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, decision-making, and problem solving
• Ability to establish and maintain a productive working relationship with other community agencies, boards of directors, and funders
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, evaluate, support, and develop staff in a collaborative team environment
• Familiarity with and sensitivity to cultural difference in the workplace and within the community
• Demonstrated experience working within an anti-racist/anti-oppression analytical framework
• Demonstrated track record of financial competency
• An exceptional networker and connector who brings the experience and ability to establish and build relationships with key stakeholders
• An articulate communicator (written and verbal) with highly effective presentation and public speaking skills
• Demonstrated experience as an effective and enthusiastic media spokesperson for an organization and in fostering media relations
• Demonstrated leadership and strong commitment in promoting social justice and racial equity
• A strong understanding of the changing culture of Toronto
• A proven track record of engaging diverse voices
• Highly knowledgeable in community organizing, building coalitions, and designing and delivering campaigns
• Experience in an advocacy role, demonstrating the ability to influence local and other levels of government
• Strong understanding of the public policy process — how policy is developed, implemented, and influenced by external actors
• Understands and demonstrates experience in dealing with varying levels of government, government policy, and management processes
• Experience and understanding of policy analysis with a strong equity lens
• Ability to work in complex settings and with diverse community groups and organizations
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the communities served by SPT and the role of social planning councils

How to Apply

Social Planning Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from the full diversity of our community.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and covering letter outlining how they meet the above criteria to:

Hiring Committee
Social Planning Toronto
1001–2 Carlton Street
Toronto, Ontario  M5B 1J3
e-mail: [email protected]

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 26, at 12:00 p.m. Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.

Salary range: $100,000–$115,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package