Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

The Organization

Women Building Futures (WBF) is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve economic security of unemployed and under-employed women by providing industry-recognized training, support, and mentorship to women entering the trades and transportation sectors. WBF is committed to breaking down employment barriers for women in careers where women are under-represented and fostering an inclusive workforce.

WBF's mandate is to provide women with the education, skills, and opportunities to achieve long-term employment success in predominantly male industries. Through strategic partnerships, funding support, and an emphasis on high-touch, resource-intensive training, WBF has grown into a well-respected leader in workforce development.

The organization is driven by a strong mission to support economic advancement for women through quality education, hands-on training, and career readiness programs. WBF envisions a world where women have equitable access to meaningful and well-paying careers. Core values include integrity, health & safety, courage and compassion.

Mandate

The President & CEO will lead WBF in fulfilling its mission by being a skilled and visible ambassador for the organization and by overseeing the organization's strategic direction, financial sustainability, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement. This role requires an experienced leader with exceptional stakeholder and communication skills to cultivate meaningful partnerships across government, industry, and the community. Strong, strategic acumen, and the ability to direct and lead staff in a complex and fast-moving environment is also necessary.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Partnerships & Community Impact

• Serve as WBF's chief ambassador, articulating the vision and impact to diverse stakeholders
• Build and nurture executive-level relationships across government and private sectors
• Strengthen industry partnerships to enhance employment outcomes for graduates
• Lead media relations efforts and represent WBF at high-profile sector events
• Negotiate and secure strategic partnerships that advance the mission

Team Empowerment & Cultural Leadership

• Inspire and develop a high-performing leadership team that embodies organizational values and drives innovation
• Create an inclusive, collaborative culture where diverse perspectives are valued and team members can excel
• Provide meaningful mentorship and growth opportunities that strengthen organizational capabilities
• Foster productive relationships between management and Board members
• Embody organizational compassion by nurturing inclusion, teamwork and service to others

Board Partnership & Governance

• Work in close partnership with the Board Chair and Committee Chairs to ensure effective governance
• Provide comprehensive, timely updates on organizational performance and risk management
• Communicate effectively with the Board and its committees, enabling informed decision-making

Visionary Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Champion WBF's mission by developing and executing a bold vision that empowers women and drives sustainable growth, working closely with the Board to turn ambitious goals into reality
• Spearhead comprehensive strategic planning, business planning, and budgeting processes that position WBF for long-term success and meaningful impact
• Lead strategic expansion into new geographic areas while ensuring core values and quality standards remain paramount
• Create and nurture an organizational culture where innovation thrives and the mission resonates in every decision
• Demonstrate courage in driving organizational innovation as well as sustainable growth

Financial Growth & Innovation

• Build and maintain diverse funding relationships across government, industry, and philanthropic sectors to ensure robust financial health
• Develop innovative approaches to revenue generation that strengthen sustainability and expand capacity to serve

Operational Impact & Excellence

• Drive exceptional program outcomes that successfully prepare women for rewarding careers in trades and transportation
• Champion health, safety, and environmental best practices throughout the organization
• Lead the strategic integration of technology to enhance program delivery and operational efficiency
• Advance initiatives to engage Indigenous women in trades and transportation, ensuring culturally appropriate and effective programming
• Maintain rigorous quality standards across all operations and programs

First Year Deliverables/ Measure of Success

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

• Build strong relationships with external partners, the Board of Directors, and WBF staff.
• Renew critical Alberta government partnerships and funding agreements and look towards increasing industry investment in WBF.
• Strengthen relationships with industry stakeholders to improve employment placement rates for graduates.
• Oversee critical success factors on efforts to establish operation of WBF's mission outside of Alberta.
• Increase public awareness and advocacy efforts to further WBF's mission.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

• A post-secondary education in business, engineering, education, the skilled trades, or another relevant field.
• A graduate degree or equivalent leadership development experience would be an asset.
• A commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

Experience:

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience, ideally in an industry-aligned organization, social enterprise or workforce development.
• Experience managing complex, multi-functional teams across geographic regions.
• Proven success in securing and managing diverse funding sources, including government grants, industry partnerships, and philanthropic contributions.
• Strong knowledge of workforce development, trades, or transportation sectors is an asset.
• A history of building high-performing teams and fostering a positive, mission-driven culture.

Competencies and Attributes:

• Exceptional communication skills; a natural storyteller and ambassador.
• Effective relationship-building skills with government, industry, and community stakeholders.
• A results-driven, solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Commitment to empowering and developing their team.
• Strategic and visionary leadership with the ability to drive innovation and change.
• Strong financial acumen and business management skills.
• Empathy, integrity, and a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Lived experience in an environment where women are underrepresented is welcomed.
• A safety mindset.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Women Building Futures has served > 3000 very diverse women during their 27 years of operation. They are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. Applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies are valued. They especially welcome applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

If this position excites you, please send an application to connect@mullenleadership.com including a resume and cover letter with the position title and organization name in the subject line of your email.

See the job posting through Mullen Leadership Recruitment here:

https://mullenleadership.com/opportunities/chief-executive-officer/