Executive Director

Mullen Leadership Recruitment; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC) in Edmonton, AB invites applications for Executive Director to lead through a critical transition, uphold stability, and advance the strategic plan. This role calls for a trusted, people-centered leader who can guide staff and partners while engaging with funders and the broader seniors-serving sector.

The Executive Director will strengthen funding diversity, champion advocacy, and serve as a visible ambassador for ESCC, building credibility across

Qualifications

• Proven executive leadership experience at the executive director level or in a comparable senior role within a mission-driven environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing budgets and funding models in complex settings.
• Experience working with a Board, governance, accountability, and stakeholder dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and sustain organizational strategy, ensuring focus and long-term impact.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across a member-driven network and partners.
• Provide counsel to the Board, balance independence with collaborative execution, and ensure transparent reporting.
• Foster staff development, transition stability, and effective cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Executive leadership

Financial acumen

Governance & board engagement

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Advocacy & partnerships

Education

Post-secondary degree in a relevant field

Commitment to lifelong learning

Equity, diversity, inclusion training (asset)

Job description

Search Profile

Executive Director

Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council

Spring 2026

The Organization

The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC), established in 2005, is a collaborative organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults in Edmonton. Bringing together leaders across health, housing, social services, and community sectors, ESCC serves as a connector, convener, and catalyst driving more coordinated, responsive, and inclusive support for seniors.

Through research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, ESCC identifies emerging needs and advances solutions that enable seniors to live well, safely, and with dignity. The organization is recognized for bringing together diverse perspectives, informing policy and planning, and elevating the voices of seniors in community and government discussions.

Operating in a complex and evolving landscape, ESCC plays a critical role in aligning efforts across the sector to strengthen impact and reduce fragmentation. With a strong reputation and nearly two decades of experience, it continues to shape a more age-friendly Edmonton, often serving as the backbone for initiatives where seniors are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Website link: https://seniorscouncil.net/

The Opportunity

Reports to:

Board Chair (Board of Directors)

Direct Reports:

(7) Coordinated Programs & Social Prescribing Manager, Communications Manager, Administrative & Office Manager, Learning & Evaluation Facilitator, Strategic Manager, Equity Coordinator, EDI Engagement & Research Coordinator.

Provides leadership and coordination to staff and consultants working across shared service functions (i.e. Bookkeeper, Human Resources)

Location:

Edmonton, AB

(Based in a shared partnership environment with external organizations.)

Mandate

The Executive Director will lead Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council through a pivotal leadership transition, ensuring stability, continuity, and renewed momentum following the retirement of a long-tenured and highly respected leader. Building on a strong foundation, the Executive Director will maintain what is working well while guiding the organization through a period of change bringing clarity, focus, and confidence to both the team and Board. This leader will support an engaged and capable staff group, foster alignment with a renewing Board, and serve as a visible and credible ambassador within the seniors-serving sector and broader community.

Looking ahead, the Executive Director will position the organization for its next phase of impact and sustainability. This includes advancing the strategic plan, strengthening financial independence through diversified funding, and exploring innovative approaches to capacity-building across a growing and complex member network. Success in the role will require a confident, thoughtful, people-centred leader who can build trust quickly, generate followership, and balance strategic vision with practical execution while championing advocacy and partnerships that support seniors living independently in the community.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Sustainability

• Advance and operationalize the strategic plan, strengthening organizational focus, capacity, and long-term impact.
• Provide steady leadership through transition, maintaining what is working while repositioning the organization to respond to evolving sector and provincial dynamics.
• Drive financial sustainability through diversified funding strategies to better support the community-based seniors serving sector and identify new revenue opportunities and innovative approaches to capacity-building.
• Balance strategic vision with execution, ensuring the organization is well-positioned for future growth and relevance.

Member, Sector & Interested Party Engagement

• Build and sustain strong, trusted relationships across a member-driven network of organizations, enhancing engagement and alignment.
• Serve as a visible, credible, and influential ambassador, representing the organization with partners, funders, and across the seniors-serving ecosystem.
• Champion advocacy efforts that advance the needs of seniors and support system-level impact.
• Strengthen partnerships and collaboration to expand reach and support for members and the broader community.
• Ensure accountability to current funders and partners, maintaining stability in funding streams.

Board Partnership & Governance

• Foster a strong, transparent, and collaborative relationship with the Board during a period of significant renewal.
• Support effective governance through clear communication, strong reporting, and the ability to simplify complex issues.
• Provide thoughtful counsel and leadership, balancing influence with independence and the ability to stand firm when needed.
• Ensure alignment between Board direction and organizational execution.

Team Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead, support, and empower an established team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture.
• Build followership and maintain team stability during transition, providing clarity of priorities and expectations.
• Further strengthen internal systems, communication, and operational effectiveness to support delivery and impact.
• Model a people-centered leadership approach grounded in compassion, respect, and strong communication.

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the organization, its operating environment, and the seniors-serving sector, positioning ESCC to confidently move forward with focus and clarity.
• Advance and build momentum on the 4-year strategic plan (2025), ensuring priorities are actionable, aligned, and supported by the team and Board.
• Establish credibility and followership with the team by providing steady, people-centred leadership, clear direction, and a strong sense of stability during transition.
• Serve as a confident and visible ambassador for the organization, strengthening its presence, relationships, and reputation across the community and sector.
• Bring forward new ideas and opportunities that reflect an entrepreneurial mindset, supporting innovation, capacity-building, and long-term sustainability for the organization and its members.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant field (e.g., social services, public administration, community development, or related discipline); a combination of education and equivalent experience will be considered.
• Commitment to lifelong learning, with ongoing professional development in leadership, governance, or sectorrelated areas.
• Training or demonstrated knowledge in equity, diversity, and inclusion is considered an asset.

Experience:

• Proven executive leadership experience, ideally at the Executive Director level or in a comparable senior leadership role within a complex, mission-driven environment.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, funding models, and complex financial environments.
• Demonstrated experience within the seniors-serving sector, broader social services, or a related community-based ecosystem.
• Experience working with or reporting to a Board, with an understanding of governance, accountability, and stakeholder dynamics.
• Track record of building and sustaining relationships across organizations, partners, funders, and community parties.
• Experience leading through change, growth, or organization evolution, with the ability to adapt and respond to shifting priorities.

Competencies and Attributes:

• People-Centred Leadership: Compassionate, approachable, and values-driven, with a genuine commitment to community impact and those served.
• Strategic & Forward-Thinking: Visionary leader with the ability to think big picture while translating strategy into action.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Brings initiative, creativity, and a solutions-oriented approach to growth, sustainability, and innovation.
• Relationship Builder & Communicator: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and build trust across diverse groups.
• Confident & Grounded Leadership: Demonstrates confidence, sound judgment, and the ability to stand firm while remaining collaborative and flexible.
• Collaborative & Inclusive: Fosters a culture of inclusion, respect, and diversity of thought; works effectively across teams, stakeholders and the seniors’ sector as a whole.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Able to evolve with the organization, navigate complexity, and lead through ambiguity and change.
• Passion & Purpose: Deep commitment to the mission, with energy, authenticity, and a drive to make a meaningful difference.
• Operational & Organizational Effectiveness: Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, bring clarity to complexity, and ensure effective execution.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Mullen and Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.