Executive Assistant to the CEO

Terms of Employment: Full-time, permanent, Monday – Friday (9 am –5 pm)

Location: 81 Wright Ave., Dartmouth NS. Flexibility is needed for some evening and weekend work on rare occasions.

Website: www.habitatns.ca

Do you believe everyone deserves a place to call home?

Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia’s (Habitat NS) vision is to be a leader in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time: the need for affordable housing. Our work focuses on helping working families become homeowners – thus creating both a safe and secure place to live and the opportunity to build equity and financial independence for themselves and their children. We are a land developer, a home builder, a fundraiser, and a mortgage holder. In support of our homebuilding operations, Habitat NS operates a retail home improvement store called ReStore, which collect donations of home furnishings, appliances, and renovation materials and sells them to the public, with all proceeds helping us build more homes.

We are an innovative, entrepreneurial social enterprise that is committed to increasing our capacity for impact. Together, we are building a better, more inclusive Nova Scotia for everyone.

Reporting to the CEO, the successful candidate for this role will directly impact the mission of HabitatNS by helping to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of the CEO, the senior leadership team, and the board of directors.

The incumbent will be integral to the day-to-day coordination of the CEO’s office. You understand the value of CEO time and take a strategic approach to CEO calendar management and meeting scheduling. You will lead the development and management of senior leadership team meeting agendas helping to ensure that senior leadership team’s time together can have maximum organizational impact. You understand board governance and serve as quarterback for board and committee meeting scheduling, material preparation, board recruitment, and other functions. You are adept at fostering relationships with diverse external and internal stakeholders, including the senior leadership team, the board of directors, staff, community partners, volunteers, government, and members of the public.

You embrace new challenges and have a diversity of skills that enable you to take on special projects. Beyond your superior organizational skills, attention to detail and interpersonal skills, you have developed deep expertise in written communications and document production; advanced PowerPoint skills; use of video-conferencing and other virtual meeting technologies; social media; or other areas that add value to the CEO’s office.

Most importantly, you share the passion of the CEO and organization for the vital role that “home” can play in transforming the futures of working families and building fairer and more inclusive Nova Scotia.

Your Impact

• Working closely with the CEO to coordinate her calendar and optimize her use of time.
• Acting as the first point of contact between the public, volunteers and staff and the CEO
• Working effectively and collaboratively with all levels of board, management and staff to ensure the proper representation and running of the Executive office
• Supporting the CEO by leading the preparation and distribution of materials for all board and board committee meetings, management of the board drive, taking minutes at board meetings when required.
• Supporting the CEO and senior leadership team in coordinating agendas and materials for executive team meetings
• Compiling briefing materials and research to ensure the CEO is optimally prepared for meetings, events, interviews and other functions.
• Working with the CEO and the marketing team to support CEO communications, including letter writing, staff communications, CEO social media postings, PowerPoint presentations and other materials
• Demonstrating leadership and initiative to take on special projects such as: research on policy issues; coordinating regular reporting to Habitat for Humanity Canada; internet searches on housing trends; and other projects as may arise.
• Discerning which priorities and inquiries need to be brought to the CEO’s attention and, where appropriate, redirecting or completing work on behalf of the CEO
• And finally, supporting the diversity of needs that arise in the CEOs office from organizing catering to scouting venues for team off-sites to fielding ad hoc inquiries from the public to replacing printer cartridges and more!

What You Bring

• A combination of education and previous experience with demonstrated success in executive level administration and project management.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with a high degree of professionalism, confidence, and independence in supporting the CEO in a wide variety of complex issues.
• Insight into the unique demands of the CEO’s office resulting in the curiosity and critical thinking to obtain information and think of proactive solutions.
• A professional demeanor, service-orientated attitude, and laser-sharp attention to detail.
• A proven ability to manage stress and competing priorities with tact and diplomacy while multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent project coordination skills; taking accountability and leadership for projects and tasks from planning, execution, and completion.
• A quick learner and self-starter; able to identify where help is needed and to pick up new hard and soft skills quickly and with ease.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office software (including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word) and in the use of videoconferencing platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
• Proven ability to synthesize information and present in clear, concise presentations.
• Previous experience working with non-profit boards/committees is considered an asset.
• Availability to work a flexible and sometimes varied schedule, available for key meetings as required by the CEO.
• Strong work ethic and high energy and a sense of humour.
• A passion for the mission of Habitat for Humanity and our commitment to influence housing affordability throughout Nova Scotia.

Why Join Habitat?

• A meaningful opportunity to make a difference in your local community and to have first-hand contact with the families whose lives are transformed by our work
• The pride of being part of a highly respected, high profile global charity
• A stimulating, fast paced professional opportunity in a team of like-minded ‘world-changers’
• Health and dental benefits
• Wellness initiatives including EAP and corporate gym membership rate with Goodlife Fitness

Your Application

If you are ready to make a change in your local community and become a part of our team at Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia, please email your cover letter and resume to: office@habitatns.ca

Your Future at Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia (HabitatNS) Awaits.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada throughout the duration of their employment with HabitatNS. Proof of eligibility will be required.

Habitat NS is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

As part of our selection process, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a criminal records and vulnerable sector checks.

We thank all applicants for their interest in HabitatNS, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.