Executive Director at Pivot HR Services

Pivot HR Services is pleased to be hiring for the Executive Director role on behalf of our valued client, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation.

About The Organization

The Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, originally founded in 2000 as the Pacific Parklands Foundation, is dedicated to the protection and preservation of our region's precious parks and natural spaces. We believe that parks play a vital role in the quality of community life, offering places for inspiration, outdoor learning, and experiences that benefit both mental and physical health. In partnership with Metro Vancouver, we work to welcome people, improve parks, and nurture nature. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we support projects that connect people to nature while protecting sensitive ecosystems and wildlife, ensuring these ecological treasures are stewarded for the future.

The Foundation has a management agreement with CTS Youth Society. Each year, a percentage of the ED’s time will be committed to directly working with CTS in accordance with the agreement.

About The Role

The Executive Director (ED) is the senior leader of the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, responsible for guiding its strategic direction, ensuring financial sustainability, and maximizing community impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED champions the Foundation’s mission to support and enhance regional parks for generations to come. The role provides both strategic and operational leadership and oversees three direct reports: the Director of Philanthropy & Project Development; Marketing and Communications Manager; and the CTS Program Manager. The ED dedicates a portion of their time to supporting CTS Youth Society’s mission by mentoring and providing leadership guidance to the Program Manager, who is employed by CTS and collaborates closely with the Foundation through a partnership agreement.

This role requires a dynamic and experienced leader who is a passionate and successful fundraiser. The ED will personally drive the Foundation's financial growth by designing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, cultivating relationships with major donors, securing foundational grants, and developing robust planned giving and stewardship programs. Alongside these critical fundraising duties, the ED serves as the primary advocate and spokesperson for the Foundation, building authentic relationships with government partners, community stakeholders, and local First Nations.

As a skilled operational manager and people leader, the ED will directly oversee a team of staff and volunteers, empowering them to excel in their roles, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability, and ensuring the effective delivery of programs that connect people with nature.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Board Relations

• Facilitate Board strategic planning and update orientation and policy manuals.
• Lead the organization in maintaining its focus on accomplishing the direction set out by the Boards of Directors in a manner that inspires confidence and trust.
• Lead the Foundation’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by actively building and nurturing respectful, long-term relationships with local First Nations on whose ancestral lands the regional parks are located.
• Champion initiatives and projects that will help the Foundation and the Society achieve their objectives.
• Champion and embed principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the organization, ensuring an awareness of positionality is central to all youth-facing programs and services.
• Cultivate a strong, supportive, and transparent relationship with the Boards and report to them on a timely basis regarding strategy, operations, financial performance, project effectiveness, and all relevant matters needed to carry out their legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Strengthen collaboration between the Foundation and CTS Youth Society by aligning resources, communications, and fundraising strategies that advance both organizations’ missions.
  
  

Operations & Risk Management

• Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of operations, administration, and facilities.
• Drive programmatic innovation by identifying and developing new initiatives that connect communities with nature, and establish clear metrics to measure and communicate the Foundation's impact to stakeholders, donors, and the public.
• Coordinate practical, operational partnerships, including supply rentals and in-kind donations from local community groups.
• Provide general oversight of records management systems and maintain operational excellence to meet stakeholder expectations.
• Develop and oversee comprehensive risk management policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks, including clear protocols for direct communication with parents during serious incidents and established feedback loops to communicate incident outcomes to Program Managers.
  
  

Fundraising & Donor Stewardship

• Plan, develop, implement, and promote all fundraising initiatives and related budgets.
• Develop, launch, nurture, and expand Major Gifts and Foundation Grants Programs.
• Develop, manage, and evaluate Donor Recognition Programs, activities, and stewardship.
• Facilitate and oversee Special Events and Campaigns.
• Develop and oversee a Planned Giving Program.
  
  

Community & Partner Relations

• Promote and maintain the profile of the Foundation and the Society in the community, acting as a key public-facing representative at booths, festivals, and other on-the-ground community events.
• Serve as the lead advocate and spokesperson for the Foundation's mission, strategically engaging with municipal and regional governments, policymakers, and community leaders to advance the cause of regional parks.
• Oversee the communication, marketing, and social media plan.
• Engage and build key stakeholder relationships with regional partners, including Metro Vancouver and community partners.
• Submit written reports and presentations to the Regional Parks Board.
  
  

Financial Planning & Management

• Ensure financial sustainability through strategic revenue development and prudent financial management.
• Provide active leadership in fund development, including the creation of development plans, donor solicitations, grant applications, and fundraising campaigns.
• Develop and manage annual operating plans and budgets, maintaining fiscal prudence and serving as the staff lead for the Society and Foundation annual audits.
  
  

Human Resources Planning & Management

• Design and implement effective employee relations practices to foster a culture of collaboration and high performance.
• Recruit and develop a skilled team of employees, with a strategic focus on providing dedicated communication, engagement, and support for the seasonal workforce.
• Develop and champion a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy that focuses on recruitment, recognition, and retention, ensuring the volunteer program is a robust, sustainable, and core pillar of the Foundation's community-building goals.
• Champion and implement structured, robust onboarding and training programs for all staff as a leadership priority.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by providing direct mentorship, coaching, and role-specific feedback for all staff.
• Establish a safe and positive work environment in compliance with legislation, including the development and delivery of conflict resolution training, especially for managers of seasonal staff.
• Ensure all HR policies and procedures, including those related to criminal record checks, are applied with transparency and communicated clearly to all staff.
• Provide mentorship and strategic guidance to the CTS Youth Society Program Manager, supporting their professional growth and ensuring alignment between CTS programs and the shared goals of the Foundation partnership.
  
  

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years of senior leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, including direct accountability to a volunteer Board of Directors.
• A university degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required; certification in fundraising (e.g., CFRE) is a strong asset.
• A proven track record of fundraising success, with direct, hands-on experience in developing and executing strategies for major gifts, corporate partnerships, and planned giving programs.
• Demonstrated experience in building respectful and collaborative relationships with First Nations, and a deep commitment to advancing the principles of Truth and Reconciliation.
• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing, collaborative teams of staff and volunteers.
• Comprehensive experience in human resources management, including recruitment, staff development, performance management, and fostering a safe, inclusive, and positive work culture.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, with experience acting as a primary spokesperson and advocate to government, media, and community partners.
• Excellence in strategic planning, financial management, and operational management within a not-for-profit context.
• A high degree of professionalism, adaptability, and initiative, with the ability to translate strategic vision into tangible action and results.
• A genuine passion for and understanding of the role parks and protected areas play in building healthy, resilient communities.
• Class 5 Driver’s License with access to a vehicle.
• This position works with youth; a criminal record check is required.
  
  

Work Environment

• Primary office located in an award-winning heritage home on the east side of Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
• This is a hybrid position combining remote and in-office work.
• Requires attendance at donor meetings and events across Metro Vancouver, including locations from Vancouver to Bowen Island to Aldergrove.
• At times, requires attendance at events and meetings outside of normal workday hours (evenings and weekends).
  
  

How to Apply

On behalf of The Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, Pivot HR Services invites interested candidates to submit their resume and cover letter no later than January 20, 2026.

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience as outlined in the position requirements section above. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be assessed on the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as outlined in the above job description.

Pivot HR Services is an equal opportunity recruitment partner. We value diversity and inclusion in all our hiring practices and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from equity-deserving communities.