Executive Director

Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC) invites an experienced Executive Director to lead the organization from its Edmonton office. This role oversees day‑to‑day operations, governance, budgeting, stakeholder relations, and advocacy to support post‑secondary students across Alberta.

The successful candidate will have at least 5 years in nonprofit leadership, strong financial literacy, proven relationship building, and the ability to work in‑person three days a week.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Minimum 5 years of nonprofit leadership experience post-graduation.
• Strong financial literacy and budget experience are essential.
• Proven relationship-building skills across diverse groups.
• Commitment to ASEC values and professional reputation.
• Eligible to work in Canada and able to travel within Alberta.
• Ability to work in Edmonton in‑person at least three days per week.
• Proficient with Google Suite and hosting online meetings.

Responsibilities

• Governance: support board relations and ensure bylaws alignment.
• Lead day-to-day operations and staff oversight.
• Oversee budget development and financial management.
• Plan and coordinate events, conferences, and meetings.
• Manage sponsorships, partnerships, and fundraising.
• Collaborate with members, partners, and government stakeholders.
• Drive strategic planning and implementation with the Board.
• Represent the organization in coalitions and advocacy work.

Skills

Financial literacy

Relationship building

Communication

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

On-site work

Travel willingness

Eligibility to work in Canada

Google Workspace

Professionalism

Education

5+ years nonprofit leadership experience

Post-secondary education degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: Executive Director

Location: Edmonton – Hybrid; office located at 10055 106 Street

Hours: 37.5 hours/week; evenings, weekends, and some travel will be required

Compensation: $80,000 – $90,000 annually with employer-paid health and dental benefits, employee-paid STD & LTD, and an RRSP matching program

Reports to: ASEC Board of Directors through Chair of the Board Closing Date: Open until filled

About the Job

The Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC) empowers and unites student leaders to advocate for the best interests of post‑secondary students in Alberta, ensuring high‑quality, accessible, affordable advanced education and quality of life for students. We do this by ensuring student leaders have the skills, knowledge, confidence and opportunities to be best‑in‑class advocates for students of today and generations to come. We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, member organization representing over 133,000 post‑secondary students from 16 Member Students’ Associations across Alberta, including colleges, polytechnics, and universities. ASEC’s core values co‑created with Members are: student led, transparency, accountability, respect, equal opportunity, and forward thinking. ASEC currently has a Board of 8 student leaders and 2 staff advisors located across the province. The organization has 2 staff members who are located in Edmonton.

Position Summary

ASEC is seeking a dynamic and strategic Executive Director to lead the organization in fulfilling its mission. The Executive Director serves as the administrative leader of ASEC, responsible for oversight of all elements of day‑to‑day operations, organizational relationships, and Board engagement. This includes organizational governance, HR and staff oversight, budget development and financial management, event and conference planning and coordination, partner and Member relationships, regulatory adherence, and supporting advocacy and lobbying activities. The ideal candidate is a seasoned nonprofit or advocacy leader with a basic understanding of Alberta’s political and public policy landscape and strong relationship building abilities. The candidate should have a proven track record when it comes to financial management, consensus building, and working with both Members and Boards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Governance & Board Relations
2. Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and ASEC operations.
3. Support the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities by providing regular reporting, strategic insight, and clear communication.
4. Ensure that ASEC’s policies and practices align with its bylaws and strategic goals.
5. Provide orientation to Board Members, as well as ongoing mentorship and support to ensure their success and preparedness for their roles.

Organizational Leadership & Operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of day‑to‑day operations, including staff supervision and ensuring organizational excellence through procedure development and adherence.
• Uphold a high‑performance, inclusive, and respectful organizational culture that reflects ASEC’s values.
• Lead recruitment, training, and development of staff to ensure a motivated and effective team.
• Identify key areas for organizational growth or efficiency through relationships, partnerships, and/or program expansion or improvement.
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of ASEC events, conferences, meetings, and other organizational activities in collaboration with staff, Members, and external partners.

Member Engagement & Accountability

• Support engagement with member organizations, lead onboarding and maintain consistent communication to ensure member value.
• Foster strong relationships with student leaders across Alberta, ensuring their voices are reflected in ASEC’s advocacy work.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for membership growth by recruiting new Member organizations and building lasting relationships that demonstrate the value of Association membership.

Strategic Planning & Implementation

• Lead the execution of ASEC’s multi‑year strategic plan, aligning activities with long‑term goals and Member expectations.
• Monitor progress and adapt strategies as necessary to ensure continued relevance and impact.

Financial Oversight & Planning

• Lead budgeting and financial planning to ensure financial health and sustainability of the organization.
• Work with the Finance Committee and Board to manage financial risk, ensure compliance, and uphold financial accountability.
• Manage and steward existing sponsorships and partnerships as appropriate, while potentially identifying further sponsorship opportunities at the direction of the Board.

Stakeholder/Partner Relations & Advocacy

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with other student organizations, post‑secondary institutions, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and sector stakeholders.
• Represent ASEC in coalitions, working groups, and public forums to strengthen the organization’s presence and advocacy impact.
• Identify areas for growth in ASEC’s partner network and advocate for ASEC’s inclusion in new spaces.
• Support staff and Members in established advocacy priority identification processes and oversee the development of all related advocacy resources.
• Foster collaboration and consensus among Members to advance advocacy objectives.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of strong relationships with elected officials, government departments, regulators, and key external stakeholders, as directed by the Board.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

• A completed diploma, degree, or equivalent from a recognized post‑secondary institution
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience post‑graduation in nonprofit leadership or a related field
• High financial literacy: experience with financial management and budget preparation
• Demonstrated track record of relationship building among diverse groups
• An alignment and commitment to ASEC’s organizational values
• A high degree of professionalism and experience upholding organizational reputation
• Legally able to work in Canada
• Ability to work in‑person at ASEC’s Edmonton office at least three days per week
• Access to transportation to facilitate travel within Edmonton and willingness to travel within Alberta as required, with reimbursement aligned to ASEC policies
• Ability to work in a digital environment using Google Suite and hosting online meetings
• Exceptional communication, consensus building, negotiation, and interpersonal skills

Assets

• Proven track record in executive or senior management roles within a nonprofit organization
• A high degree of political acumen and/or understanding of Alberta’s post‑secondary landscape, student governance and affiliated government systems, or lived experiences of post‑secondary students in Alberta.
• Demonstrated experience working with Boards and reviewing policies and/or bylaws.
• Demonstrated success in managing staff and operations in a small organization
• Understanding of lobbyist and nonprofit reporting requirements

ASEC is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment.

We welcome applications from all qualified persons and encourage those with values of inclusion, accessibility, and equity to apply.

Should you require any accessibility support through the application process please include your needs in your application.