Invitation
The Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (WECHC) is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will work to continually improve and advance WECHC’s mission while fostering a standard of excellence for all stakeholders.
This application will close February 14, 2025.
Background
Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation is home to more than 12,000 people living in nearly 4,800 low and moderate-income households. WECHC is an independent local housing corporation incorporated under the Ontario Business Corporations Act as a local housing corporation (LHC) through the Ontario Housing Services Act.
The activities of WECHC are governed by the corporate articles of incorporation, a shareholder's agreement and operating framework, all of which establish the mandate of WECHC. The City of Windsor, as Service Manager, and sole shareholder, has indirect ownership over WECHC assets. Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation manages the housing portfolio on behalf of the City and County.
WECHC own and manage rental units in over 743 buildings across Windsor and the County of Essex. Our portfolio contains nearly 3.9 million square feet of residential space and is a $1,024M asset. WECHC tenants come from many different backgrounds with a diversity in age, education, language, mental and physical disability, religion, ethnicity and race.
The City of Windsor administers and funds 6941 units of social housing in Windsor Essex County. The legislated Service Level Standard for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing in Windsor Essex is approximately 5,726 RGI units. Rental costs in social housing units are subsidized by government funding, providing an affordable option for people with low to moderate incomes. WECHC is responsible for nearly 70% of these units, making us the City's largest RGI provider in Windsor and Essex county.
VISION
Excellence in housing. Every journey home fosters a sense of community and belonging.
MISSION
Ensures inclusive, safe, and sustainable housing for our community through compassionate service, innovative development and enabling support enhancing the quality of life for every tenant.
The Position
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the leadership and strategic planning for the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (WECHC). Selected by the Board of Directors, the CEO has the responsibility to carry out the mission and vision and is responsible for the overall management and operation of all aspects of the organization. The CEO focuses on long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies routinely exercising discretion and independent judgment in the performance of job duties. The CEO, along with the Board Chair, enables the Board to fulfill its governance function and ensures the interests of the Shareholder, employees, residents, and the community are at the forefront of the Corporation’s strategic direction. The CEO will lead the organization and continue to develop its ability to be sustainable, innovative, and diverse.
In the position of CEO, WECHC requires an individual who understands the values and objectives of a social housing organization and who demonstrates a clear vision and commitment to support those objectives. The CEO must be an independent and strategic thinker who will explore a full range of topics and be able to articulate and implement strategies for WECHC that will maximize corporate priorities, stakeholder and partnership development, labour relations, asset retention, resident satisfaction and cost savings.
The CEO will be an innovative, visionary leader who has a commitment to diversity, and the personality, self- awareness, and ability to communicate and collaborate with people from various social and economic backgrounds in a clear, concise and confident manner across a broad range of audiences.
Accountability
Reports to: The Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors
Direct Reports to the CEO:
- Chief Tenant Services Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Development and Regeneration Officer
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Chief Housing and Infrastructure Officer
- Manager Executive Operations
- Paralegals
Responsibilities
- Expand, recommend, and accomplish corporate objectives by developing short- and long-term strategies, leveraging opportunities, and utilizing financial, technological, and human resources.
- Ensure WECHC achieves its mission by overseeing the spectrum of social housing operations, including the process of maintaining and continuously improving sound operating and capital plans, resident services and engagement, property and asset management, leadership training for residents, and other functions to ensure effective program delivery.
- Provide Corporate oversight and ensure proper fiscal management, including business and budget planning.
- Embody strong leadership skills, including the ability to foster a collaborative culture of accountability and integrity, recognize and reward success, and build a strong, diverse team of individuals who are performance driven and highly engaged.
- Ensure all operations are conducted in full compliance with provincial, federal and municipal regulations, laws, and WECHC’s Code of Conduct, policies and procedures.
- Advance WECHC’s leadership team to successfully execute WECHC’s short- and long-term strategies; mentor and motivate the leadership team through development and succession planning initiatives; delegate authority and responsibility for strategic initiatives and individual tasks.
- Implement robust, timely and accurate communication with the Board to provide all information necessary for the Board fiduciary and oversight responsibilities, including both key financial and operation metrics.
- Regularly update and further develop strategic and business plans for the operations of the Housing Corporation, including the responsibility to:
- Monitor, evaluate and ensure continuous improvement of core business functions;
- Resolve complex housing issues relating to program delivery and high-profile media issues;
- Foster a climate of resident focus and engagement;
- Foster new partnerships;
- Facilitate and maintain key community partnerships and stakeholder relationships;
- Promote and strengthen the public image of WECHC; and
- Ensure an appropriate level of transparency in all business transactions.
- Develop and maintain a framework to guide resident engagement to foster a climate of tenant focus; promote tenant participation in community planning and the development of healthy and safe communities.
- Advocate for strong, collaborative, and inclusive community partnerships with other organizations and service providers.
- Promote strategies for the management of all stakeholder relations to support, engage and interface with all stakeholders in a positive manner.
- Represent WECHC with a clear image and well-communicated message to external stakeholders; as required, serve as a spokesperson for WECHC, communicating with the Shareholder, residents, employees, partners, customers, the media, and other relevant stakeholders; promote WECHC internally and externally.
- Regularly update and maintain an organizational risk profile; responsible for WECHC’s overall risk profile and appropriate management of related controls; ensure proper controls are in place to manage risk.
- Work collaboratively with the union and participate in union negotiations; participate in and/or provide input into negotiations with contractors/vendors and a variety of stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Oversight of corporate values, vision and service delivery through a collaborative and transparent approach to the management of the organization.
Qualifications
Education: University degree in Business, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
Experience: Extensive experience leading and directing a large social housing or related organization, preferably within an organization that develops, manages, and provides resident services. 10+ years overall professional experience in a related organization, including several years of experience at an organizational leadership level. Experience in engaging others in planning and decision making.
Knowledge: Strong understanding of all relevant legislation and Government strategies, as well as knowledge of affordable housing programs.
Skills: (i) Demonstrated leadership skills to oversee the effective management of WECHC and build neighbourhood engagement; (ii) Demonstrated competency in managing a large multi-disciplinary employee complement, preferably in a unionized environment; experience in the Collective Bargaining process an asset; (iii) Strong administrative and budgetary management abilities.
Other: Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and Power Point, and the ability to utilize in house software. Able to travel to visit sites and attend meetings/conferences, as needed; if method of travel is by personal vehicle, possession of a valid Ontario Driver’s Licence class “G” and current valid insurance is required.
Key Attributes and Competencies
Transformational and Strategic Leadership
Confidently builds and develops teams with internal and external resources, fosters a respectful and ethical work environment, mobilizes the workforce and champions and delegates courses of action towards the achievement of the strategy and vision of the enterprise through the creation and prioritization of corporate goals.
Visioning and Alignment
Shapes a compelling and inspired vision and strategy for the enterprise and generates commitment and alignment of all aspects of the business and its stakeholders and partners with the strategy and vision.
Relationship and Network Building
Seeks and builds alliances, maintains effective relationships, communicates in a compelling and articulate manner instilling commitment, and fosters open respectful two-way communication channels, internally and externally, to further the strategy and vision of the enterprise.
Political Savvy
Knows, understands and operates sensitively and effectively within the political structures and climates, strategically influencing outcomes.
Ethical Leadership
Creates and maintains a resident focus. Committed to diversity to reflect across the organization and communities that WECHC supports.
Financial Acumen
Uses understanding of financial information to make business decisions, maximize value, and maintain financial health of the enterprise.
Decision Making
Analyses and synthesizes information to understand issues, identify options, and make appropriate, realistic and timely decisions based on consideration of the available facts and alternatives and sound calculation of risks.
Negotiation
Actively listens for underlying nuances and messages and uses effective communication to build consensus, manage and/or resolve conflicts, and reach mutually agreeable outcomes.
Proactive Management Style
Leads by example and will not micro-manage direct reports. Supportive of staff and emphasizes people development.
Application Information
To explore this opportunity further, please email your resume (filename: “Last name, First name - CV”), with “Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer” in the subject line, in confidence to CEOrecruitment@wechc.com
It is the Windsor Essex CHC’s policy to comply with all applicable laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, religion, creed, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or marital status or any other protected class.
Apply to be WECHC's Chief Executive Officer!
We thank all those that apply for the position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.