Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services: Executive Director

The Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services catchment area encompasses a broad region in Northeastern Ontario that ranges from Hornepayne to Matachewan First Nation and includes eleven Aboriginal First Nation communities. The Kunuwanimano head office is located on Wahgoshig First Nation with the main office located in the city of Timmins. For more information, feel free to visit: https://kunuwanimano.com/communities/

Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services is an organization that values children and is respectful and sensitive to their needs. Kunuwanimano works collaboratively with First Nations members to ensure that the safety and well-being of children is secured by strengthening, supporting, and encouraging the healthy development of families. They are committed to providing services in a manner that is holistically and bi-culturally appropriate for First Nations peoples.

It is within this context that Kunuwanimano invites nominations and applications for the role of Executive Director, a position that will have an indelible impact on the future of the organization.

The Executive Director provides stewardship to the agency to ensure that its vision, mission and values are implemented and its mandate achieved. Appointed by the Board of Directors, and on their behalf, the Executive Director is responsible for the whole organization and advises the Board of Directors on matters of service, policy, quality, evaluation of risk, and finances, and human resources. The Executive Director works cooperatively with the Board of Directors in the development of strategic plans and acts as representative of the Board and the agency in the community and with government staff.

In addition to supporting the Board, the Executive Director oversees agency strategy and business operations, provides organizational leadership, and has responsibility for external relations, including partnerships with First Nations communities, leaders, organizations, and groups across all sectors in support of the agency’s vision, mission and service objectives.

The Executive Director assumes the responsibilities, powers and duties of a Local Director as required by the Child, Youth and Family Services Act or its successor legislation. In addition, the Executive Director will provide succinct leadership through the Indigenous Worldview as the foundation for models of service excellence.

Qualifications

Among the qualifications being sought in candidates, the incoming leader must have a deep and abiding commitment to advancing reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms and must believe, intrinsically, in the importance of leading with curiosity and welcoming ideas that can later be synthesized and turned into possibility. While all candidates are encouraged to apply and, in so doing, share how they see themselves adding value to the Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services environment, the following credentials and/or experiences are seen as possible markers of the candidates most likely to realize success in the role:

A) Master of Social Work or equivalence. Academic background in Business/HR administration or Public Administration.

B) Ideally 10 years of experience as a Social Work practitioner and 5 years of senior management experience in the social services sector, ideally within a child welfare context.

C) Experience in working with culturally appropriate service models for First Nations people.

D) Sound working knowledge of federal and provincial legislation including the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and other relevant legislation.

E) Commitment and ability to understand and support the structure and operations of the eleven (11) First Nations served within the Agency jurisdictional boundaries (original).

F) Knowledge of both traditional and contemporary healing practices and experience in working with Elders, Healers and contemporary helpers.

G) Possession of a satisfactory “criminal reference check with Vulnerable Sector Screening” certificate

H) Valid “G” Ontario driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with $2 million rider liability

How to Apply

Kunuwanimano Child & Family Services welcomes and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request from candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Given the historical use of child services by the crown and government in the interests of colonization, we are cognizant of attracting candidates who are part of an Indigenous community; please note that preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants.

Kunuwanimano is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that is diverse and is as intersectional as possible. All interested applicants can send their resume to Taq Bhandal by e-mailing tbhandal@bipocsearch.com or apply directly through LinkedIn or the BIPOC Executive Search mobile app.

In accordance with the AODA Act, for applicants living with a disability accommodation will be provided throughout the search process. Should accommodations be required, please make Taq Bhandal aware by using the above address.

We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.