CMOS Executive Director

CMOS; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) seeks an Executive Director to advance the organization’s mission and strategy. You will lead programs, people, partnerships, fundraising, governance, and administration while stewarding resources responsibly.

The role requires a collaborative, bilingual leader who can translate strategy into action, build trusted relationships, and represent CMOS with credibility across stakeholders in Canada and beyond.

Qualifications

• Bilingual fluency in English and French is required.
• Post-secondary education in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong leadership experience in not-for-profit, charitable, or public sector settings.
• Experience with governance practices, fundraising, budgeting, and organizational operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the strategic plan aligning mission, programs, resources, and outcomes.
• Support Council governance through meeting prep, information flow, and recommendations.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, risk management, and performance monitoring.
• Lead or support fundraising, donor stewardship, grants, sponsorships, and revenue strategies.
• Represent CMOS as a spokesperson and ambassador to members, donors, funders, and partners.

Skills

Bilingual: English/French

Leadership

Relationship building

Microsoft Office / Video conferencing

Education

Post-secondary education in a relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Video conferencing

Job description

The Executive Director is the senior staff member of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) and is responsible for advancing its mission , strategic priorities , operational effectiveness, financial sustainability, and public profile. Reporting to the CMOS Council, the Executive Director provides visionary and practical leadership across programs, people, partnerships, fundraising, governance support, and administration.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, bilingual, values-driven leader who can translate strategy into action, build trusted relationships, steward resources responsibly, and represent the organization with credibility among members, donors, partners, funders, government, academia, and the broader community.

Reporting Relationship

The Executive Director reports directly to the CMOS Council through the CMOS President/CMOS Council Chair and works closely with standing committees, staff, volunteers, contractors, and external stakeholders. The Executive Director is accountable for implementing Council-approved strategy, policies, budgets, and organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the implementation of the organization’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment between mission, programs, resources, and measurable outcomes.

Governance and Council Support

• Support the Council in fulfilling its governance responsibilities through meeting preparation, timely information, thoughtful analysis, and sound recommendations.

Operations and Administration

• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring effective systems, processes, risk management, and performance monitoring.
• Work with the Council Treasurer and finance staff and/or contractors to prepare and manage annual budgets, financial reports, forecasts, and audits or reviews.

Fund Development and Revenue Generation

• Lead or support fundraising, grant development, donor stewardship, sponsorships, earned revenue, and other revenue strategies appropriate to the organization.
• Recruit, supervise, coach, and evaluate staff, contractors, and volunteers as applicable.

External Relations and Advocacy

• Serve as a primary spokesperson and ambassador for the organization, representing its mission, values, programs, and priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of both English and French.
• Canadian Citizenship or landed immigrant status and eligible to work in Canada.
• Strong knowledge of business software (e.g. Microsoft Office, video conferencing, etc.)
• Leadership experience in a not-for-profit, charitable, membership, public sector, or mission-driven organization.

Additional Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a Council/Board of Directors and support strong governance practices.
• Experience in strategic planning, financial management, budgeting, reporting, and organizational operations.
• Proven ability to build relationships with volunteers, members, funders, donors, partners, government, and community stakeholders.
• Strong people leadership skills, including supervision, coaching, performance management, and team development.
• Knowledge of not-for-profit governance, compliance, fundraising, grant management, and risk management practices.
• Post-secondary education in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education, professional development, and experience.

Core Competencies

• Mission-driven leadership and sound judgment
• Strategic thinking and practical execution
• Financial acumen and responsible stewardship
• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement
• Inclusive, collaborative, and ethical leadership
• Clear communication and public representation
• Adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving

Position Type: Full-time, permanent

Location: Primarily remote

Start Date: January 2027