Woolwich Community Health Centre -- Executive Director

Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHC) is an accredited community health organization with three sites serving the rural townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, and Wilmot, and small areas of Perth County/North Easthope. Woolwich CHC was established in 1983 by a group of community residents concerned about health and wellness in St. Jacobs and surrounding communities. It was eventually incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1989. Since then, Woolwich CHC has been serving our catchment area with primary health care and program development, giving priority to populations that may experience greater barriers to health or barriers to accessing health resources. Priority populations collectively include: 

• Seniors (60+) and their caregivers 
• Families with young children (0-6) 
• Farm Families, including those from conservative Mennonite groups 
• Youth (14-19 years of age) 

An active, vital, connected community whose residents enjoy optimal health and well-being in all aspects. 

Our rural, community-governed health centre leads collaboratively in providing culturally sensitive programs and services: primary health care, illness prevention, and health promotion. 

Holistic Approach: We offer comprehensive, integrated and accessible services and programs that focus on the physical, mental, spiritual and social determinants of health. 

Respect and Compassion: We interact with individuals, families and communities in a caring, friendly, inclusive and compassionate manner. 

Partnership:  We build relationships with clients, volunteers, community groups, inter-disciplinary team members and other health care providers. 

Accountability and Responsibility: We are committed to ethical practice and good stewardship of resources – fiscal, human and environmental. 

Communication: We engage clients, staff and the community through listening, information sharing, consultation and outreach. 

To achieve our Mission, we are committed to sustaining and continuously improving the: 

• Quality, safety, and effectiveness of our care
• Competence and expertise of our staff and volunteers in delivering programs and services

The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors of WCHC for the achievement of Board-set goals through strategic priorities, while adhering to Board policies; for the ongoing  administration of WCHC and for ensuring the appropriate allocation, management, and use of financial and human resources; protection of WCHC’s assets; a positive, safe and respectful environment for WCHC staff, volunteers, students, and clients; development of good working relationships between WCHC, its funders, and community partners; regular communication to the Board and staff; and organizational compliance with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal legislation, regulations and standards.

• The Board of Directors

• Director of Clinical Services and Satellite Sites, Program Coordinator, Operations Assistant, purchased Finance Staff (2), and Administrative Secretary (6 staff).
• Indirect supervision of 50+ additional permanent, locum and relief staff.

• Provides assistance to the Board as it develops the Woolwich CHC’s vision, mission, values and strategic goals.
• Provides assistance to the Board as it monitors performance indicators set out in accountability agreements with government Ministries e.g. MSAA.
• Working with the management team and other staff, establishes short-and long-term goals to direct the continual growth and development of the health centre in services, programs, staff, facilities and budget allocation.
• Establishes and implements the Strategic Plan in the daily operations of the organization through sound and progressive operational plans. Oversees the evaluation of the Plan implementation and management.
• Ensures that the Woolwich CHC’s mission and vision are communicated both internally and externally.
• Provides inspirational and strategic leadership to the management team and ensures communication to and engagement of the entire organization.
• Monitors changing trends and conditions in the community as well as government priorities and policies and assists the Board in making changes to health centre mission and vision, as well as board policies and plans.
• Oversees program and service evaluation and development of continuous quality improvement systems.
• Ensures a culture of excellence and best practices in all aspects of the Woolwich CHC programs, centres and operations.
• Working closely with the management team to identify, analyse, and problem solve situations that impact or may affect the organization’s ability to achieve its goals.

• Ensures that operations and activities are carried out in compliance with government laws and Board policies while meeting organizational goals and objectives.
• Ensures that operations meet accreditation standards established by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.
• Maintains an efficient and effective operation of the organization through the management team, ensuring responsibility, accountability and functional coverage of all major aspects of the organization.
• Ensures systems are developed and refined to meet organizational needs and functions that are person-centred.
• Ensures the Board is apprised of all risk management issues and other key issues that may impact the organization.
• Reports regularly to the Board, ensuring that it has all necessary information to meet their governance responsibilities.
• Oversees the development of data collection and retrieval systems and ensures regular reports are provided to internal and external users and funders for program evaluation.
• Oversees the systematic maintenance and confidentiality of records and files.
• Ensures the safety, security and good condition of buildings owned and/or rented by the Woolwich CHC.
• Ensures the proper policies, procedures, control documentation and reports are in place for staff, clients, volunteers and tenants.

• With the management team, sets budgets and ensures budgetary controls, ongoing monitoring and analysis are completed.
• Oversees policy recommendations and ensures timely decisions regarding the budget.
• Provides financial statements and analysis to the Board on a quarterly basis.
• Ensures statements and reports are prepared for auditing purposes.
• Ensures that the Board receives regular financial reports and updates.

• Ensures a strong public image is maintained. Promotes the organization and its programs to external stakeholders to keep them informed of the work being done by the organization.
• Serves as spokesperson and Woolwich CHC ambassador representing the organization in the community and with the media.
• Represents the organization on various community/region-wide committees.
• Actively maintains and fosters positive community relations, responds to concerns and complaints, and provides information and support to community organizations, government and media.
• Ensures systems are in place for timely and appropriate flow of information from the community to the management team, related staff and Board (community engagement).

• Oversees organization wide human resource planning in order to meet operational needs.
• Oversees the development and implementation of all HR policies, procedures and programs, ensuring equity, cost effectiveness and compliance with applicable legislation are in place.
• Supports the maintenance of participatory management and positive employee relations and quality of working life at the Woolwich CHC.
• Supports motivation of employees through establishment of measurable goals and key performance indicators.
• Hires, oversees, and ensures the accountability of all senior managers and provides performance evaluations based on established goals and objectives.
• Provides indirect supervision of all staff.
• Recommends professional development for management.
• Organizes appropriate Board and committee training, development and orientation (largely delegated).

• Provides advocacy and advocacy leadership to the management team and Board.
• Participates in relevant meetings, presentations and related activities in the community.
• Oversees the preparation of briefs and correspondence to government and other relevant constituencies on major issues of concern.

• Oversees and ensures compliance with all aspects of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Ensure the physical structure and equipment of Woolwich CHC is sound and safety is maintained.
• Ensures that initiatives are in place that support employees' psychological health and safety.
• Ensures that efforts are made to meet standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

• Provides leadership to the management team and Board in establishing the partnerships, alliances and networks necessary to successfully deliver on expected results.
• Engages key community stakeholders to build support for plans and actions focused on the social determinants of health in a manner consistent with the centre's mission, vision and values.

• Master’s degree in Health Administration, Business or Public Administration or the equivalent, or a combination of an undergraduate degree with significant management experience in the above areas.
• Ideally 5- 8 years of progressive management experience, preferably in the community health/social service sector.
• Knowledge of the community health centre model of care.
• Experience working with people who experience barriers to service including those from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Sound knowledge of the social determinants of health.
• Experience working in a values-based organization.
• Experience leading a combined interdisciplinary professional and community-based services team.
• Experience leading a management team.

• Ability to facilitate participatory decision making.
• Ability to determine and direct the organization towards organizational priorities.
• Provide inspirational and strategic leadership to staff.
• Motivates management, staff and Board to work in a team-oriented environment.
• Assesses systems and develop structures to accomplish goals.
• Experience working with a policy Board
• Has a clear understanding of trends and issues impacting organizational goals.
• Sound knowledge of change management.
• Knowledge of best business practices in operations, finance, and human resource management.
• Experience in strategic and operational planning.
• Experience in program monitoring and evaluation.
• Promotes the organization to external stakeholders at the executive level.
• Demonstrated leadership and advocacy skills in working with government departments.
• Ability to build mutually beneficial relationships and networks between internal staff teams and external partners and funders to support organization’s goals.
• Capacity to lead the management team to plan, implement and evaluate strategy.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legislation affecting community health services.

• Ability to provide motivational, enthusiastic leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to lead inclusive, participatory teams.
• Demonstrated experience responding to and working with external stakeholders.
• Ability to impact and influence change.
• A strategic and visionary thinker.
• Natural relationship builder and networker.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrates diplomacy and tact and respect when working with others.
• Demonstrates initiative and identifies opportunities for improvement.
• High level of organizational ability.
• Passionate believer in community health care and the role of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to multitask and manage shifting priorities.

To explore this opportunity further, please email your resume (filename: "Last name, First name - CV”), with "Woolwich” in the subject line, in confidence to Larry Sartor at larry@sartorandassociates.com.