Job: Director of Operations, Canada’s National Observer (CNO)

Hxjzlw; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sun Life extended health package

Employer matching RSP

One month of vacation, personal and S/

Job summary

Canada’s National Observer seeks a Director of Operations to lead HR, administration, and financial coordination from our Vancouver office. The role drives organizational effectiveness, staff support, and operational systems for a growing newsroom.

Reporting to the Publisher/CEO, you will manage grants, budgets, partnerships, and executive support while upholding independent journalism values.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years experience in HR, admin, and financial coordination.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive financial and personnel data with discretion.
• Strong communicator with internal stakeholders and leadership.

Responsibilities

• HR, labour relations and employee support.
• Grants, funding applications and management.
• Business administration & finance oversight.
• Institutional partnerships & revenue development.
• Executive support to senior leadership.

Skills

HR management

Labour relations

Communication

Discretion

Education

Post-secondary degree in business administration, communications or related field

Job description

Job: Director of Operations, Canada’s National Observer (CNO)

Canada’s National Observer is hiring a Director of Operations

Reports to: Linda Solomon Wood, Publisher/CEO
Compensation range: $90,0000 – $100,000 annually
Location: Vancouver
Term: Full-time, permanent
Status: Management role in a unionized workplace (this position is excluded from the bargaining unit)

About Canada’s National Observer

What began at a dining room table in Vancouver in 2008 is now one of Canada’s most decorated independent newsrooms.

Observer Media Group launched Vancouver Observer first, then Canada’s National Observer in 2015, betting that excellent reporting and accountability journalism could thrive outside legacy media.

In 2017, CNO became the first digital-only publication in Canadian history to win a National Newspaper Award and receive a Michener citation for public service journalism. “The little engine that could,” then-Governor General David Johnston called it.

Today, CNO covers Canada’s changing climate from newsrooms in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, with more than 35,000 articles published. Last year we launched Civic Searchlight — our popular “superpower for democracy” — and earned ten new journalism award nominations this spring alone, including the inaugural Hinton Award for AI Safety Reporting from the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

The Role

Canada’s National Observer seeks a Director of Operations with the management and operational expertise to support the next phase of our award-winning journalism.

This is a role for someone who values independent media and takes pride in building the kind of steady, well-run organization that lets our journalists focus on their work.

The Profile

• You have a post-secondary degree in business administration, communications or a related field
• You have a genuine interest in the future of Canadian journalism and the climate transition
• You have 5-7 years experience working in HR, admin, and financial coordination
• You are a clear, effective communicator who can handle formal reporting and internal team needs with equal professionalism
• You handle sensitive financial and personnel data with absolute discretion and attention to detail

Core Responsibilities

• HR, labour relations and employee support
• Grants, funding applications and management
• Business administration & finance
• Institutional partnerships & revenue
• Executive support

What we Offer

• Sun Life extended health package
• Employer matching RSP
• One month of vacation, personal and sick days and equipment allowance

This post will remain open until we find the right candidate.

Canada’s National Observer is committed to building a team that reflects the country we cover. We actively welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, and racialized candidates, women, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities.

Our Vancouver newsroom is located on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and the land we live on inspires the work we do.