Chief Executive Officer

Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association; Calgary; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) in Calgary seeks a strategic CEO to lead the next chapter, building on a strong mission to empower immigrant and refugee women and families. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will guide strategic planning, financial stewardship, fundraising, and program oversight, while fostering equity, inclusion, and collaboration across staff and volunteers.

Based in Calgary, CIWA offers a competitive total rewards package and opportunities to deepen impact in a

Qualifications

• A relevant university degree or an equivalent combination of education and leadership experience.
• At least ten years of progressive senior leadership experience.
• Experience leading a complex organization with people, budgets, programs, and strategy.
• Strong financial acumen, grants, compliance, risk, and contracts.
• Proven record in fundraising and revenue generation.

Responsibilities

• Lead CIWA’s strategy and operations across people, finances, programs, facilities, and systems.
• Develop and steer the next strategic plan aligning resources with impact.
• Oversight of fundraising, government relationships, and partnerships.
• Ensure accountability, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Model inclusive leadership and strengthen relationships with funders and community networks.

Skills

Strategic vision

Financial judgment

Fundraising

Revenue diversification

People leadership

Communication

Board collaboration

Education

University degree

Job description

For more than 40 years, the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) has empowered immigrant and refugee women and their families to settle, integrate, belong, and contribute to Canadian life. A leader in gender-specific settlement services, CIWA supported 26,772 clients and family members from 139 countries in 2024–2025, with more than 200 staff and an annual budget of approximately $16 million.

CIWA is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and commercially astute Chief Executive Officer to lead its next chapter. Building on a respected brand, strong workplace culture, and talented team, the incoming CEO will strengthen organizational focus, diversify revenue, and position CIWA for sustained impact in an evolving funding environment.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO provides strategic and operational leadership across CIWA’s people, finances, programs, facilities, and systems. The CEO will lead the development of the next strategic plan, ensuring resources are directed toward the areas of greatest impact and mission alignment.

Key priorities include:

• Advancing proactive fundraising and revenue diversification through foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, government relationships, and earned-revenue opportunities.
• Providing strong financial stewardship and business judgment, including oversight of significant facility, lease, and investment decisions.
• Reviewing programs, organizational structure, and leadership capacity to strengthen effectiveness, accountability, and succession planning.
• Partnering with the Board to establish clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustainable plans.
• Sustaining a culture of trust, equity, inclusion, and collaboration through visible, accessible leadership.
• Championing CIWA’s mission and building relationships with funders, government, community partners, and sector networks.

The Ideal Candidate

• You are a values-driven executive who combines strategic vision with sound financial judgment and the ability to turn plans into results. You bring:
• A relevant university degree or an equivalent combination of education, leadership experience, and demonstrated achievement.
• At least ten years of progressive senior leadership experience, including significant executive responsibility in the private, public, or nonprofit sector.
• Success leading a complex organization or major portfolio, with accountability for people, budgets, programs, operations, and strategy.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including oversight of nonprofit finances, grants, compliance, risk, and significant contracts or commercial decisions.
• A proven record in fundraising, revenue generation, relationship development, and organizational change.
• Highly developed communication, advocacy, decision-making, and people leadership skills, grounded in integrity, cultural humility, and compassion.
• Experience with a volunteer Board, the settlement sector, or IRCC-funded programs is an asset. Leaders from business and adjacent sectors are encouraged to apply. Lived experience of immigration, personally or through family, is strongly valued.

Location and Compensation

Based in Calgary, the CEO will maintain a visible, everyday presence in the office and community. Candidates outside Calgary must be prepared to relocate upon commencement. CIWA offers a competitive total rewards package.