ABOUT MANITOBA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

The Manitoba School Boards Association (the Association) is the collective voice of Manitoba’s public school boards, representing democratically elected trustees responsible for governing public education across the province. The Association advocates for strong public education, effective governance, and equitable outcomes for students and communities.

The Association supports its members through a wide range of services, including advocacy, policy development, research, communications, professional development, labour relations and human resources, risk management, and employee benefits. It works collaboratively with governments, education partners, Indigenous communities, and the public, and is committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation within Manitoba’s education system.

Enabled through provincial statute, the Association advances public and local education in Manitoba and supports effective governance by member boards. Membership is voluntary and includes public school boards, whose roles are defined by legislation, as well as affiliate members with aligned governance responsibilities. Acting in an advisory and support capacity, the Association delivers programs and services in areas such as collective bargaining, trustee education, and governance and policy advocacy—matters that often carry financial, legal, and public implications for school boards and the broader education system.

Download the Full Position Profile: MSBA - Executive Director - Position Profile.pdf

ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reporting to the Association’s Provincial Executive, the Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Manitoba School Boards Association, responsible for advancing the Association’s strategic directions and goals, overseeing the development and delivery of member programs and services, and ensuring the effective administration and financial management of organizational resources in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Executive Director provides leadership and support to the Association’s governing body and represents MSBA with education partners, government, and external stakeholders. The role includes oversight of member services and supports, as well as accountability for the management of the Association’s human, financial, and physical resources. The Executive Director leads and supports professional and support staff across all program areas, monitors programs and services on an ongoing basis, and regularly reports to the Provincial Executive on performance, emerging issues, and evolving priorities. The position also carries overall responsibility for the Association’s operations, including oversight of key programs and entities such as the Manitoba Schools Insurance Program, the Manitoba Universal Standards Trust, the Manitoba School Employee Benefits Trust, and the Manitoba School Boards Pension Plan for Non-Teaching Employees.

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Accountability 1: Governance

• Provide support and technical expertise to the Provincial Executive in the identification and articulation of Association directions, priorities and goals;
• Plan and organize new member orientation, Executive planning retreat, Executive meetings and regional meetings in consultation with Provincial Executive;
• Implement strategic directions set by Provincial Executive and monitor and report progress on achievement of these directions to the Provincial Executive a regular basis;
• Consult regularly with the President and, where appropriate, other Executive Officers on matters regarding the affairs of the Association;
• Inform and advise the Provincial Executive with regard to educational governance, and policy issues and Association operations.

Accountability 2: Representation and Advocacy

• Lead and advise the Association’s engagement with Manitoba education partners, government departments and representatives, elected officials, community agencies and the media on topics and issues relevant to school board governance and to the Association’s stated directions and goals;
• Provide strategic oversight of the Association's advocacy agenda, guiding the development of lobbying strategies and ensuring appropriate support is in place for the efforts of Provincial Executive members and member school boards;
• Oversee the Association's communications and social media presence, ensuring a timely, consistent, and credible voice;
• Serve as principal spokesperson for the organization in the absence of the President or the President’s delegate;
• Cultivate and maintain effective linkages with other provincial and national education organizations and advise the Provincial Executive concerning emerging issues, developments and trends which may have relevance for public education in Manitoba;
• Represent the Association on external committees as approved by the Provincial Executive.

Accountability 3: Member Services

• Ensure that the Association and its staff facilitate regular and effective communications with member boards to inform and support local education governance;
• Oversee, support and participate in the planning, development and delivery of member-focused programs and services;
• Provide direct support to members and senior divisional administration on educational policy, governance and administrative matters;
• Oversee the management of the Association’s affiliate entities and trust organizations to the benefit of the Association’s members;
• Receive public general inquiries and facilitate the provision of tailored responses and way-finding services to assist members of the public in accessing key education-related information and services;
• Monitor the external environment for opportunities and benefits to the advantage of the mandate and work of members.

.Accountability 4: Human Resources Management

• Provide leadership to the Association’s Senior Leadership Team (Staff Directors) in the planning and delivery of programs and services and consideration of operational issues within the Association office;
• In concert with the Association’s Senior Leadership Team, oversee and manage the development of human resources within the organization;
• In concert with the Association’s Senior Leadership Team, identify emerging staffing needs to meet organizational mandates and goals and advise the Provincial Executive accordingly;
• Conduct Senior Leadership Team and general staff meetings once a month or more frequently as needed, and involve staff in planning exercises to coordinate and ensure implementation of organizational goals and objectives;
• Meet monthly with Directors to monitor progress toward achievement of organizational goals and review status of member needs and services;
• Conduct performance reviews of direct reports in accordance with Association policy;
• Exercise full authority for the employment, promotion, termination and placement on grid and of all Association personnel;
• Operationalize the Association’s compensation policy, while also overseeing ongoing harmonization and implementation of all Association policies.

Accountability 5: Financial and Physical Resources

• Provide executive oversight of the annual budget development process in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, ensuring meaningful engagement of the Provincial Executive and senior staff;
• Maintain oversight of the Association's revenue and expenditure performance, ensuring financial affairs are managed in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• Report regularly to the Provincial Executive on the financial health and status of the Association and its programs;
• In collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, oversee the security, maintenance, and upkeep of the Association's facilities and information systems;
• Provide oversight of records protection, retention, and disposition protocols, serving as custodian of all Association records and documents, including personnel, financial, human resource, legal, and other documentation;
• Serve as the chief administrative and financial signing officer, in concert with the Association President and/or designates serving as governance counterparts.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have a post-secondary degree in education, public administration, or a related field, along with additional training or certification in areas such as leadership, legal studies, human resource management, and communications, which are considered assets. They bring extensive knowledge of board governance and demonstrated experience working effectively with governing bodies. The role calls for proven leadership and managerial capability, supported by a track record of success in a senior leadership position. Proficiency in both English and French is considered an asset.

This individual is a confident, self‑directed leader who performs well in a fast‑paced, high‑profile environment. They demonstrate sound judgment, strong prioritization skills, and professionalism when navigating sensitive or politically complex issues. The successful candidate is comfortable working independently while contributing as a trusted member of a senior leadership team.

COMPETENCIES:

Knowledge:

The position requires a thorough understanding of public education systems and their component parts. The Executive Director must be knowledgeable with regard to provincial education legislation and policy in Manitoba, governance processes and practices, organization theory and management, and educational trends and tendencies both provincially and nationally.

They must also have a solid understanding of the key stakeholder groups relating to Manitoba’s public education system and mandates and roles as they relate to and impact education policy and governance in the province. Strong capacity to conduct research, connections within the education sector, and ability to draw from multiple information sources are an asset.

Intra and interpersonal skills:

The Executive Director must be able to lead with vision and compassion and to manage effectively in a multi-faceted, complex and politically sensitive environment. They must be able to work independently, to exercise good judgment and to demonstrate integrity in dealings with association members, staff, partners and community. Active listening, planning and priority setting, delegation, time management, teamwork, conflict mediation, negotiation, resolution skills and political acumen are necessary capacities to success in the role. The Executive Director is responsible for operationalization and modelling the Association’s commitment to maintaining a respectful workplace free from harassment and violence.

Communications:

The Executive Director must possess highly developed skills in both oral and written communications. They must be a skilled listener and be able to clearly articulate Association positions and policies to trustees and divisional personnel, education partner organizations, government officials and agencies, community organizations, the general public and the media. The Executive Director must be able to convey complex issues and ideas in an easily understood fashion to these various audiences, to think quickly and to respond appropriately with regard to unexpected developments and sensitive and controversial matters.

The Executive Director must be able to develop high quality written communications and documents in a manner appropriate and accessible to the intended receiver, and to provide assistance to Association staff in this regard. As the Executive Director is often required to make public addresses and to deliver training sessions for school board members, effective public-speaking and presentation and facilitation skills are essential.

Management:

The incumbent must possess strong planning, delegation, and budgeting skills and the ability to articulate and coordinate implementation of detailed action plans to move the organization toward goal attainment in multiple areas at the same time. They must ensure the deployment of association resources in a fashion which supports the organization’s goals and directions, and within budget parameters established by the Provincial Executive. As Chief Executive Officer responsible for all association staff, the Executive Director must be skilled in recruitment, selection, performance appraisal processes, and human resource management at all levels within the organization.

Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation:

The Executive Director must possess demonstrated experience and remain committed to advancing and implementing the key concepts of diversity and inclusion in every aspect of their duties and responsibilities. The incumbent must also demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting and championing truth and reconciliation, and working with First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous people and communities to promote and oversee the delivery of Association programs and services that are reflective of the population that the Association’s membership serves.

Deadline for Applications: Friday, July 10, 2026

Submit to Lillian Wong at Lillian.Wong@mnp.ca

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