Jane’s Walk – Director, Fixed-Term October 2011
What is Jane’s Walk?
Jane’s Walk, a Project of Tides Canada Initiatives (TCI), celebrates the ideas and legacy of urbanist Jane Jacobs by getting people out exploring their neighbourhoods and understanding how their communities and cities work. Its signature event – free walking tours held on the first weekend of May each year – gives locals a platform to tell stories of their neighbourhoods, encourages conversations about who plans and builds them and the experience of those who live there, and in the process, inspires people to come together to make them more walkable and liveable.
On the first Jane’s Walk weekend in May 2007, 1,000 people took part in 27 walks in Toronto. Since then, the event has inspired walkers everywhere, and the Toronto-based initiative has seen explosive growth in activity during the annual weekend.
During the fifth anniversary Jane’s Walk weekend in May 2011, 20,000 people strolled in 500+ free, volunteer-led walks in 75 cities across 15 countries worldwide, including in Berlin, Dublin, Goa, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manhattan, Montreal, New Orleans, Tel Aviv, Whitehorse, La Paloma, Uruguay and Wuhan, China!
Job Description
Jane’s Walk seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial individual to provide strategic and operational leadership as Director. This person will be interested in guiding the initiative through its next stage of evolution, and will be excited by the challenge of establishing its long-term financial sustainability.
This is an extraordinary time in the evolution of Jane’s Walk. As local participation and global interest are at all-time highs Jane’s Walk faces the core challenge of developing a long-term financially sustainable model for delivering the initiative. The Director has an exceptional opportunity to turn a strong and promising initiative into a truly sustainable, global phenomenon.
The Director works closely with, and is answerable to, an Advisory Committee of committed volunteer members and to Tides Canada Initiatives (TCI), which acts as financial and legal trustee.
Position Responsibilities
- Collaboratively lead Jane’s Walk stakeholders to develop short, medium and long-term strategies for the organization
- Ensure the successful delivery of the 2012 Jane’s Walk in Toronto, and support the delivery of the 2012 Jane’s Walks across Canada and worldwide
- Develop and implement initiatives that contribute to long-term financial sustainability, including sponsorships, global licensing models, government grants, foundation grants and earned revenue
- Assume overall leadership, with the support of the Advisory Committee, to position Jane’s Walk on a long-term path of growth and success
- Represent the initiative and related advocacy issues and programming with an array of stakeholders including the Advisory Committee, sponsors, media, governments, volunteers and a broader public audience
- Be responsible for the complete financial, statistical, accounting and HR records of the Project, and ensure the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of all activity, financial, and other reporting to TCI and other stakeholders; lead the preparation of the annual budget for Advisory Committee and TCI approval and prepare regular budget updates
- Ensure that Jane’s Walk activities comply with the Project’s description and all policies and procedures of TCI
- Supervise all Project staff, volunteers and contractors; report vacation liability to TCI HR; ensure performance evaluations carried out for Project staff; advise TCI HR of any personnel issues
Position Requirements
- Experience leading substantial projects and/or organizations
- Strong entrepreneurial bent with experience and interest in revenue-generating strategies for non-profits
- A proven fundraising track record
- Experience preparing grant proposals and regular activity reports
- Exceptional communication skills (writing, speaking, presenting) and ability to convey ideas and stories in both traditional and social media
- An excellent networker and facilitator with experience managing volunteers and working collaboratively
- Familiarity with, and passion for, a broad range of issues related to vibrant cities, urban planning, design, and literacy, civic engagement, and walkability
- Ability to manage a small office in a cost-efficient manner, providing or supporting operational requirements at all levels (IT, communications, etc.)
- Familiarity with preparing and monitoring budgets and reviewing financial statements
The annual compensation range is $65,000 to $80,000 commensurate with experience. A term contract will be negotiated and will be renewable based on funding and upon agreement by both parties.
Individuals with the requisite experience are invited to apply with a covering letter and resume (in ONE PDF or Word document) in confidence to chair@janeswalk.net by October 24, 2011. Only those candidates who are being considered for interviews will be contacted.
For more information about Jane’s Walk and Tides Canada Initiatives, please visit:
http://www.janeswalk.net/ ; http://tidescanada.org/projects/
As Jane’s Walk is a Project of Tides Canada Initiatives Society (TCI), the selected candidate will be a contractor to or an employee of TCI
