General Manager

Employment Opportunity – General Manager

The SSGF is looking for a self-motivated and results-driven General Manager to direct and manage the Foundation’s business activities and to develop and implement effective business strategies and programs. Duties for the general manager will include supporting the work of the Board and committees, allocating budget resources, formulating policies, coordinating business operations, monitoring and overseeing the work of the staff, managing operational costs, improving administration processes, overseeing contracts and agreements, identifying business opportunities, and monitoring financial activities.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) is a producer-led charitable foundation and land trust focused on supporting Saskatchewan landowners, ranchers, and their communities. SSGF’s work advances conservation through flexible, working landscape focused approaches that support grazing and range health. Conservation is achieved through Term Conservation Easements with a minimum of 25-year commitment and Conservation Agreements that restore habitat, fund infrastructure development and reward biodiverse ranching landscapes. Perpetual easements will be considered if through donation.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is a recent entrant in the land trust field. Achieving our charitable status six years ago, we have brought many fresh rancher led innovations to Saskatchewan. Our main goal is preserving the prairie landscape for future generations. The vast majority of these lands are entrusted to and managed by men and women whose livelihoods depend on healthy grasslands. Healthy grasslands are a necessity for the whole ecosystem. Offering programs which benefit the environment and concurrently benefit the viability of the livestock operation is our main thrust.

In our six years of operation, we have influenced the management of hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and have been awarded in excess of $15 million for conservation projects and easements. Much of our work has been in the south-west and south-central areas of the province. We are now actively growing to take in all of the province’s grasslands.

Skills and Experience
The successful candidate for this role should possess excellent communication skills, superior knowledge of governance and business functions, exceptional budgeting and financial management skills with strong leadership qualities. The General Manager will report directly to the Board of Directors and will be accountable for all business activities, ensuring organizational efficiencies, maintaining relationships with staff, board members and key stakeholders, enhancing the Foundation’s image and meeting overall growth objectives. Knowledge and experience in conservation of rangelands and working with the ranching community is important due to SSGF focus in those areas. Proven experience managing or leading a non-profit organization with an understanding of policy development and organizational governance would be an asset. Flexibility is needed as the position will require evening work with board and committee meetings and some travel is a necessary requirement.

• Providing leadership and support for the Board and Board committees
• Lead the organization in human resource planning including overseeing SSGF staff and
  contractors
• Be the lead contact with SSGF retained accounting and law firms
• Overseeing daily business operations
• Developing plans and implementing strategies
• Develop and maintain budgets while optimizing expenses
• Analyzing accounting and financial data
• Evaluating and improving operations and financial performance
• Managing operational costs
• Improving administrative processes
• Identifying business opportunities
• Develop draft conservation easements for client review and submission to law firm for finalization, and ultimately complete signing of easements with clients.
• Providing the “public face” for the organization by attending various meetings,
  conferences and participating in committees.
• Developing and implementing a fundraising program for private donors
• Completing funding proposals and meeting reporting requirements of donors

The Board of Directors envisions this as a full-time position but would consider a three-quarter time position if the ideal candidate requires this kind of flexibility. This is an independent contractor position within the organization. The successful candidate will work virtually as the Foundation does not have a