Advantages: Available – details to be discussed

Work model: Hybrid; approximately 75% of working time in person, including time at HLC's office, local travel and required staff, learner, Board and partnership meetings

Start: Ideally November 2026, or as mutually agreed

Applications close: October 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

About the Hamilton Literacy Council

Are you passionate about adult literacy? Do you want to empower individuals to fulfill their potential, achieve their goals and pursue new opportunities? The Executive Director position may be the job for you.

The Hamilton Literacy Council (HLC) is a nonprofit, community-based registered charity that has supported adult learning in Hamilton since 1973. HLC provides free, confidential literacy training in reading, writing, math, digital skills and workplace essential skills through one-to-one tutoring and small-group learning. Its work helps adults build confidence, pursue education and employment and participate more fully in their communities.

The opportunity

With a new location and an exciting chapter ahead, HLC continues to be powered by a dedicated team and a longstanding passion for literacy and community impact. HLC is seeking a collaborative, accountable and community-minded Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. Reporting to the volunteer Board of Directors, the ED provides strategic and organizational leadership and is accountable for financial stewardship, government-funding obligations, effective governance support, fundraising, donor relations, people and change leadership, legal and risk oversight and organizational systems.

What you will lead

Strategy and organizational leadership

- Work with the Board and staff to translate HLC's mission and strategic direction into clear priorities, operating plans and measurable results.
- Identify emerging community needs, opportunities and organizational risks and provide timely advice to the Board.
- Oversee effective organizational operations and establish clear priorities, decision rights and performance expectations.

Financial stewardship

- Be accountable for HLC's financial stewardship.

Government funding and accountability

- Own HLC's compliance with government funding agreements, including grant submissions, budgets, deliverables, outcomes, reporting and deadlines.
- Build trusted relationships with government funders and keep the Board informed of funding performance, risks and opportunities.

Board partnership and effective governance

- Work with the Board to support effective governance, strategic oversight and well-informed decision-making.
- Report transparently on organizational performance, finances, funding obligations, risks and emerging issues.

Fundraising and revenue development

- Build partnerships and actively attract funding from government, foundations, businesses, sponsors, community partners and individual supporters.
- Develop and manage a visible funding pipeline and pursue grants, donations, sponsorships and collaborative revenue opportunities.




- Plan and drive focused fundraising and awareness mini-campaigns using social media, digital communications, community storytelling and practical marketing tactics.
- Engage the Board in opening doors, strengthening relationships and supporting fundraising priorities.
- Own donor and prospect relationship management, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, recognition, follow-up and accurate relationship records.
- Build a consistent and respectful donor experience that connects supporters to the impact of adult literacy in Hamilton.

People, HR and change leadership

- Lead, coach and support staff through clear expectations, regular feedback, professional development and fair performance management.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, employment practices and organizational change in accordance with legislation and HLC policies.
- Build an accountable, collaborative, inclusive and safe culture and champion meaningful volunteer engagement, recognition and support.

Digital capability and organizational operations

- Use digital tools confidently to support government and financial reporting, collaboration, records management, communications and performance tracking.
- Strengthen HLC's use of social media, digital marketing, data and analytics to grow visibility, engagement and funding opportunities.
- Improve administrative systems and workflows so staff can focus on effective service delivery.

Legal, privacy and risk accountability

- Ensure HLC operates in accordance with its bylaws and applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws, regulatory requirements and funder obligations.
- Oversee privacy, information security, contracts, leases, insurance, required filings, policies and organizational risk management.
- Identify and manage risks affecting learners, staff, volunteers, property, finances, operations, information and HLC's reputation.

Community leadership

- Serve as HLC's principal spokesperson and advocate for adult literacy in Hamilton.
- Build trusted relationships across Hamilton's nonprofit, education, employment, social-service, government and business communities.

What you bring

- Progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit, education, employment, community, social-service or comparable public-purpose organization.
- Demonstrated financial stewardship and the ability to oversee budgets, controls, reporting, risk and internal or external financial support.
- Experience managing government-funded grants, contracts, deliverables, budgets and compliance reporting.
- Ability to work effectively with a volunteer Board and support strong governance while maintaining appropriate governance-management boundaries.
- A record of building partnerships,



attracting funding and managing productive relationships with funders, donors, sponsors and community stakeholders.
- Experience planning and executing focused fundraising, awareness or engagement campaigns through social media, digital communications or marketing.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing staff, strengthening culture and guiding organizations through change.
- Strong digital proficiency, including Microsoft 365 or comparable productivity tools, reporting systems, social media, digital communications and basic data analysis.
- Knowledge of Hamilton's communities, funders, nonprofit organizations, social-service ecosystem and local partnership opportunities.
- Working knowledge of the legal, regulatory, privacy and risk obligations of a nonprofit or charitable organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and confidence representing an organization publicly.
- Commitment to equity, accessibility, inclusion and respectful service for adults with diverse needs and experiences.
- Postsecondary education in nonprofit management, business, education, social services, public administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Assets

- Knowledge of adult literacy, adult education, employment services or the Employment Ontario system.
- Experience with Fedcap CARES, EOIS-CaMS or comparable case-management and reporting systems.
- Experience leading or supporting a small nonprofit organization through a period of transition and growth.

Compensation and working conditions The salary range is $60,000-$75,000 annually, based on the successful candidate's experience. This is a permanent, full-time hybrid position. The Executive Director is expected to work in person in Hamilton approximately 75% of working time, which is inclusive of time at HLC's office, local travel and required staff, learner, partner and Board meetings. The weekly pattern may vary with operational needs. Occasional evening work and local travel are required.

How to apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected] by October 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications will be received and managed by HLC's Recruitment Committee.

If you require a disability-related accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled confidentially.

HLC is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized applicants, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and people with diverse identities, backgrounds and lived experiences.

We appreciate all applications. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Candidate information will be handled confidentially and used only for this recruitment process.

Pay: $60,000.00-$75,000.00 per year

Application question(s)

- Email cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Hamilton, ON L8N 2A1

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