Senior Project Executive, Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA)

March 25, 2016

UPDATE (2016-03-31): The job posting originally published on March 25 (based on The Partnership Job Board ad) has been replaced by a version based on the ad at CharityVillage.

As noted in the update from the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), one work package for the founding board of directors is the hiring of contract resources to bring CFLA to operational readiness.

Senior Project Executive – Canadian Federation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA/FCAB)

This is a 12-month contract position/project at an estimated average of 3 days per week initially, with room for additional time as the project gets underway.

CFLA/FCAB seeks a senior project executive to bring the new vision and organization to fruition. There is a road‐map (noted in the report referenced below) along with strong support among library leaders across Canada. The objective is to bring the new organization to operational readiness by February 2017. Are you the person who can make this plan a reality?

Library associations from across Canada have come together to create a new federation of library associations to fulfill the mandate of a national voice for Canadian libraries, previously provided by the Canadian Library Association (CLA).  In January 2016, the membership of CLA voted to dissolve the association and support the establishment of the new federation of library associations. The history of this decision and the framework for the new association can be accessed at:

http://cla.ca/final-proposal-toward-a-federation-of-library-associations-in-canada/

The inaugural Board of the new federation formed in March 2016.  The planned first Annual General Meeting of the Organization will take place in February 2017.  The role of the federation is to be the national voice of Canada’s library communities. Its purpose will be to:

• Advance library excellence in Canada.
• Champion library values and the value of libraries.
• Influence national and international public policy impacting libraries and their communities.

The new organization will be federally incorporated. The inaugural board is in place and a framework for governance and membership has been developed. CFLA/FCAB needs an Executive to lead the project through the next phase where: detailed plans and actual operational issues are addressed and key partnership/service agreements are established.

Upon completion of creating and establishing this new organization in conjunction with the board, the senior project executive will have the option of applying for the position of executive director.

Responsibilities for the senior project executive include:

• Formalizing the governance model.
• Support to the board of directors.
• Establishing financial and operational processes.
• Further developing the financial model (revenue generation).
• Researching and working with financial models and funding bodies.
• Develop a multi-year business plan.
• Where appropriate, establishing advisory committees.
• Deploying an effective and thorough communication strategy to stakeholders, libraries, end-users, and government, including the establishment of a web presence.
• Establishing procedures for items, such as in‐kind contributions from libraries (service level agreements, etc.)
• Ensuring that CFLA/FCAB demonstrates effective operations to build support for the new organization.
• Determining, in consultation with the board, what former CLA programs will be taken on and grown.

This position will report to the inaugural Board of Directors (list available upon request) and will be responsible for the overall strategic direction and implementation of the project. Candidates should possess a suite of senior leadership attributes, with demonstrated success in delivery of large organizational projects. Some of the most important attributes include:

• Strong communication skills, oral and written;
• Strong collaborative leadership skill;
• Proven diplomacy and consensus building skills;
• A spirit of entrepreneurship and understanding of organizational development;
• Solid negotiation and partnership/service agreement experience;
• Proven effective project management skills;
• Government Relations experience and knowledge of relevant legislation;
• Familiarity with governance models, association/non-profit operations and management;
• Preferably bilingual.

It is anticipated that, once established, CFLA/FCAB will be located in Ottawa. For this interim contract position, the successful candidate may work either from home, or, if available and preferable, from an office location of a CFLA/FCAB member organization or affiliation.

Interested Candidates are to submit resume and cover letter, or in the case of consultant or management firms, proposals, to jobs-emploi@carl-abrc.ca by April 18, 2016.