Executive Director

Who we are:

Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS) was founded in 2005 by and for immigrant and refugee families. Eighteen years later, MFRS is uniquely positioned to meet the needs and build on the strengths of newcomers who are experiencing high vulnerability in Edmonton.

We (currently 23 highly skilled, experienced, and passionate staff) explore the potential of new models of holistic settlement and integration services while focusing on building the capacity of newcomer households and designing programs that respond to the needs and strengths of participants from newcomer communities. We bring our learning (and unlearning) to collaboratives and sector initiatives, while learning from others and integrating that into the promising practices of MFRS.

What we do:

To achieve our mission and vision, we work interdependently. We see other organizations as potential partners rather than competitors in the complex work of dismantling inequities. As a staff team, we recognize that the wellbeing of each other is the key to delivering creative, flexible, and high-quality programs and services. We also work with systems to transform them (when they need to be refreshed). And we take action to stay accountable to the communities that our mission and vision are designed for.

As a values-driven organization, MFRS is grounded in the following principles and committed to continually learning about and incorporating anti-oppressive approaches. Our principles are: Rational, Participant Driven, Empowerment, and Culturally Responsive

What we can offer you:

Salary between $85,000-$90,000/year
Health and dental benefits after successfully completing probation period
4 weeks of vacation/year

Who you are:

You are an inclusive, approachable leader with experience working with ethnocultural, equity seeking communities and a passion for collaborating for equitable system change. You are able to build relationships, apply intercultural and anti-oppressive principles, and have outstanding organization and management skills. As a credible champion for our communities' participation in social, economic, and civic life, you will be committed to MFRS' mission of offering holistic services and building the capacity and amplifying the collective voice of these communities.

In the first year as the ED, you will focus/deliver on the following:

Maintaining and building a staff culture that is aligned with the MFRS principles (relational, empowering, culturally-responsive, and participatory)
Build meaningful and reciprocal relationships with funders, partner organizations within and external to the sector, and members of the organization
Establish a programming model for 2024 with a strategy to maintain or increase funding in subsequent years based on opportunities available, community needs, and alignment with the mandate of MFRS [knowing that 2023 has sufficient funding for the ED to take the time to learn and appropriately plan for 2024 with full community and staff engagement]

What a day in the ED’s life could include:

Relational:

Build meaningful connections across staff, families, communities, organizations, and government so that communities can inform and lead positive change
Respond to requests or questions from the community about the organization and its programming
Create safe spaces to learn of the changing needs and assets of the the communities served by the organization by tapping into staff, community, and partner organization wisdom
Promote a positive and safe working environment that values teamwork, trust, vulnerability, professional growth and commitment to the MFRS mission and principles
Establish respectful and reciprocal relationships with MFRS stakeholders (staff, community, and partner organizations) to build a shared understanding of newcomer communities’ challenges and strengths and how MFRS and community resources might be appropriately leveraged

Empowerment:

Establish and nurture partnerships and working relationships with community groups, funders, Multicultural Health Brokers Co-Operative (MCHB), and other organizations to support our mission and vision
Complete clear language annual reports that are accessible to the community served by MFRS and the public
Advocate for program needs and realities of immigrant and refugee families in Edmonton
Lead an equitable recruitment and selection process for staff and contractors aligned with MFRS’ principles to help further the organization’s mission
Ensure all new staff and Board members receive an orientation to the organization

Participant Driven:

Oversee the funding, planning, implementation and evaluation of MFRS programs and challenge these processes against MFRS’ mission, vision, and strategy
Ensure that MFRS programs contribute to the organization's mission
Ensure that MFRS programs reflect the priorities identified by the communities we serve and our program participants and remain relevant to their realities

Culturally Responsive:

Work with MFRS staff to adapt MFRS programming, policies and engagement strategies to match the current cultural, political, social, economic, and technological context of the communities we serve
Review existing policies on an annual basis to ensure they are relevant, equitable, and appropriately protect MFRS from undue risk and ensure our accountability to community and recommending changes to the Board as appropriate

Ideal Candidates have the following:

Key Behavioural competencies:

Life-long learning - A commitment and desire to invest in the development of the long-term capacity of yourself and others; creating a safe environment where learning is considered a shared experience and where people can continue to develop new skills
Embedding Equity into Organization Leadership - Embracing a model of sharing power with team members, using power for creating more equity, rather than holding power over others; valuing of collective knowledge and its application to management responsibilities
Strategic Thinking - Work collaboratively and build consensus with MFRS stakeholders to use a wide range of strategic tools and tap into different sources of knowledge to adapt to the current context in the midst of ambiguity, identify key strategic priorities, effectively take meaningful action on this direction and critically reflect and learn from any mistakes made in that process

Experience:

Experience in a senior leadership role within the non profit sector including supervising staff and managing programs
Experience in establishing and maintaining formal and informal partnerships with other service providers and stakeholders,
Experience in independently writing funding proposals with a proven track record of grants being awarded to an organization
Skilled in listening, asking questions, deepening understanding of diverse experiences and perspectives
Public speaking and facilitation experience
Experience working in services that directly support refugees and immigrants
Understanding of the range of lived experiences of refugees and newcomers
Appreciation for both the strengths and needs of newcomers
Deep commitment to building capacity for social integration and overall thriving

Skills, and Attribute:

Relational: A way of interacting with and within the community in which we take time to listen, care, connect and love to build mutual support hand in hand.
Culturally Responsive Management: Ability to multitask/prioritize in this position, and thrive in a working environment with multiple demands, including working with ambiguity and uncertainty, while respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and honouring multiple perspectives.

Other Requirements:

Able to work some evenings and weekends
Valid Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle
Criminal Record Check and Child Welfare Intervention Record Check (findings are reviewed on a case by case basis)

Please submit your application by May 1 at 5:00 PM MST. Your application will be assessed based on how strongly your identified qualifications meet the criteria in the job posting.

We anticipate the interviews for this position will take place between May 8-12, 2023.

Only those applicants who best demonstrate how they meet the qualifications outlined in the job posting will be contacted to advance to the next phase via e-mail or phone once the posting has closed.
How to Apply

Please submit your complete résumé along with a cover letter to the HR Consultant at HR@mfrsedmonton.org

In your cover letter, please explain which two of MFRS’ principles guide you as a leader in your professional work and you embody in your personal life. Please indicate in your resume any educational experiences you have had in any context that contribute to the execution of this job. We thank all applicants but only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted. Résumés without a cover letter will be deemed as an incomplete application and will not be accepted.