As the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency, We Animals (WA) advocates for animals through photojournalism. Our global investigations and stories expose our complex relationships with animals, create ethical and cultural shifts in society, and empower human capacity for compassion and change. To support our mission, we investigate industries, mentor photographers, operate a stock site to share our visual content, and engage with media and NGO partners to shift attitudes, industries, and policy.

We are seeking an Interim Executive Director for an 18-month contract to cover parental leave. The Executive Director (ED) provides overall leadership and operational oversight for We Animals. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with the Founder and President, the Executive Director ensures the organization’s work is aligned with its mission and that the organization is financially sustainable and operationally sound.

The Interim Executive Director’s primary mandate is to provide steady organizational leadership, maintain momentum on existing strategic priorities, and support a smooth transition before and after the parental leave period.

Type of employment: Contract position at 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with a versatile hourly schedule

Reports to: Board of Directors

Direct reports: Director of Development, Director of Visual Content, Director of Marketing and Communications, Operations Manager

Collaborates with: Founder and President

Team size: 11.9 FTE

Location: Remote, with a preference for candidates whose working hours allow for at least 3-4 hours of regular overlap with Eastern Time. We particularly encourage candidates based in Canada, the Americas, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, and similar time zones to apply. Candidates outside these regions may also be considered where scheduling and employment arrangements are workable.

Expected end of contract: May 24, 2028

Apply by: September 4, 2026 at 12:00pm EDT

Note: We Animals is a Canadian nonprofit. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in their country of residence. For candidates outside Canada, employment may be supported through an Employer of Record where feasible.

As an ideal candidate for this role, you:

Are a steady, thoughtful, and experienced nonprofit leader who can step into an established organization and build trust quickly

Balance strategic thinking with a willingness to handle the practical work required in an evolving nonprofit

Can maintain momentum on existing priorities while exercising sound judgment when circumstances change

Are confident working with budgets, financial forecasts, organizational risk, and competing resource priorities

Approach organizational culture with care, consistency, and an understanding of how leadership decisions affect a remote team

Can work collaboratively with a Founder and President, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team while maintaining clear roles and decision-making responsibilities

Are an effective people manager who sets clear expectations, supports staff well-being, addresses challenges directly, and holds people accountable

Think analytically and from a systems perspective, identifying practical improvements without creating unnecessary complexity

Communicate clearly and transparently, including when navigating sensitive personnel, financial, or organizational matters

Are organized, responsive, and comfortable managing several areas of responsibility at once

Understand that successful interim leadership includes preserving institutional knowledge and preparing the organization for a smooth handover

Mission Alignment: This role requires more than technical skill; it requires deep philosophical alignment. We Animals is dedicated to ending the use of animals by humans—whether for food, fashion, entertainment, experimentation, or tradition. Please read our Mission, Values,



and Purpose carefully before applying to ensure this is the right fit for your professional and personal ethics.

Purpose
The Interim Executive Director will provide experienced, steady leadership during an 18-month parental leave. The purpose of the role is to maintain organizational stability, support the team, and ensure continued progress on We Animals’ existing strategic and financial priorities.

Working with the Board, Founder and President, and senior leadership team, the Interim Executive Director will oversee organisational planning, people and culture, financial management, fundraising oversight, governance, risk, and operations. This is primarily a continuity and implementation role, rather than a mandate to significantly restructure or redirect the organisation, although the Interim Executive Director will be expected to identify and respond to emerging needs and opportunities.

The Interim Executive Director will also support thoughtful transitions at the beginning and end of the contract, ensuring that key decisions, relationships, organisational knowledge, and areas of work are well documented and handed over.

Responsibilities
Organizational Strategy & Effectiveness – 20%

Lead the implementation of WA’s multi-year strategic plans

Facilitate annual planning with staff, engaging external consultants when needed, and present plans to the Board for approval

Align team and departmental work with strategic goals and set clear operational KPIs and impact goals

Collaborate with the Board and executive team to assess and pursue strategic opportunities

Oversee operational efficiency and external impact measurement and evaluation

Directly supervise team members including Director of Development, Director of Visual Content, Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Operations Manager

Foster a culture of trust, accountability, and well-being that aligns with WA values

Human Resources & Organizational Planning – 20%

Oversee HR/employee policies and ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations

Manage current organizational structure; plan for future iterations

Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes

Manage staff compensation structure subject to HR committee input/oversight and Board approval through the budget process

Handle sensitive personnel issues and elevate to the Founder/President and/or the Board when necessary

Support succession planning and leadership development

Set performance expectations and manage evaluations across departments

Identify staff training and development needs and implement solutions

Develop and manage the organization’s annual operating budget, subject to approval by the board

Oversee bookkeeping, reporting, and financial systems with the Operations Manager

Liaise with the external accountant and audit firm to ensure accurate financial reporting and filings

Monitor and report on financial status and manage organisational financial risk with input from the Audit and Finance Committee

Approve budgets and timelines; oversee the execution of projects

Oversee the development and implementation of the organization’s fundraising strategy

Collaborate with fundraising staff to develop major grant applications and campaigns

Maintain relationships with institutional funders through account management and reporting

Governance & Compliance – 7%

Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements

Collaborate with the Board to review strategy, finances, and organisational stability

Prepare board meeting materials and support quarterly board meetings and the AGM





Maintain engagement with and support recruitment for a diverse and effective Board

Risk Management & Operations – 3%

Monitor and manage organisational risks, including legal, reputational, and cybersecurity

Support or lead the implementation of operational systems and infrastructure improvements

Additional Duties As Required

Represent WA at events and in partnership conversations when appropriate

Attend HR, Audit and Finance Committee meetings

Qualifications

At least 7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit leadership, operations, organisational management, or a related field

At least 3 years of experience in a senior leadership role with responsibility for people, budgets, organisational planning, and cross-departmental decision-making

Demonstrated experience managing and supporting senior staff or departmental leaders

Experience developing and managing organisational or departmental budgets, reviewing financial reports, forecasting, and supporting financial decision-making

Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors and preparing clear materials for governance and committee meetings

Strong understanding of nonprofit operations, organisational risk, and good governance practices

Experience overseeing human resources, including performance management, recruitment, organisational planning, compensation, and sensitive personnel matters

Experience overseeing fundraising strategy and working with fundraising staff, institutional funders, grant applications, reporting, or donor stewardship

Demonstrated ability to implement strategic and annual plans, establish priorities, and monitor progress

Strong project management and organisational skills, with a track record of moving complex work from planning through completion

Excellent written and verbal English communication skills

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a remote, asynchronous team operating across multiple time zones

Experience using digital communication, project management, and collaboration tools. We use Asana, Slack, and Google Workspace.

Values alignment: a demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, our organisational philosophy regarding animal advocacy. You must be comfortable working in an environment that challenges the status quo of human-animal relationships.

Alignment with vegan values and the ability to represent We Animals’ values publicly and with partners

Ability to travel at least once per year for a team retreat and/or relevant organisational events

Strong assets:

Previous experience as an Executive Director, Interim Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, or comparable nonprofit leader

Experience leading a remote organisation of a similar size and complexity

Experience joining an organisation in an interim, transition, or parental leave capacity

Familiarity with Canadian nonprofit governance, employment requirements, and regulatory compliance

Experience managing staff or organisational arrangements across multiple countries, including through an Employer of Record

Familiarity with fiscal sponsorship and cross-border funding arrangements

An understanding of animal advocacy and/or photojournalism

Interest and experience with AI tools in nonprofit operations, organisational planning, or management

Perks of Working with Us

Flexible hours

Three weeks’ paid vacation (prorated based on hours worked) plus an extended holiday closure period

Benefits package

Paid training opportunities and professional development allowance

A friendly, funny, talented, and caring team

More About Us
We are a federally incorporated non-profit based in Toronto, Canada. We are a small (14 staff members (~11.9 FTE) fully remote team distributed across different time zones in North America and Europe. We offer a flexible working schedule, professional development opportunities, and operate with autonomy to support diverse needs and working styles.

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📌 Interim Executive Director (18-Month Contract – Parental Leave Coverage) (Ontario)
🏢 We Animals
📍 Ontario