	Governance

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

CA-GOV 8: Executive Director

The executive director effectively collaborates with the governing body, as appropriate, to enunciate and achieve the organisation’s mission and vision; promote a healthy organisational culture, and oversee and manage the organisation’s operations.

Update: Revised Standard, Added Research Note - 03/01/10

CA-GOV 8 Original Standard:

The executive director effectively collaborates with the governing body, as appropriate, promotes a healthy organisational culture, and oversees and manages the organisation’s operations.

Interpretation: There are varying titles for the head of an organisation, such as President/CEO and Executive Director. Depending upon the type of organisation or service (e.g., multi-service organisation, large or small organisation, internal or external EAP program, etc.) the individual fulfilling this role may have other designations, such as Operating Manager, Program Director, or Program Officer. The standard requires that there is a clearly identified person to whom the governing body delegates the day-to-day management of the organisation and whom it holds accountable for the organisation's performance.

Research Note: Some literature proposes a key to success in a leadership role is achieving and defining strategic clarity. Strategic clarity can be defined as aligning an organisation’s operational systems and structures through setting priorities, establishing performance measures and making trade-offs around a common objective in efforts to gain organisational stability.

CA-GOV 8.01

The executive director’s primary responsibilities are:

management of the organisation;
implementation of organisation-wide, long-term strategic planning and periodic reviews;
encouragement of timely, engaged, mission-oriented board deliberations;
working with the governing body to secure adequate resources;
development of policies governing the organisation’s programme of services, planned and coordinated with the governing body, as appropriate;
attendance at all meetings of the governing body or advisory group, except possibly those held to review the executive’s performance, status, or compensation;
to actively promote strategic, planned adaptation to changing conditions;
provision of regular reports to the governing body on the organisation’s operations, finances, and implementation of the long-term plan; and
establish a workplace environment that is respectful of and supportive of the rights and welfare of the organisation's staff, volunteers and consumers.

Update: Revised Standard, Added Second Interpretation, Added Research Notes, Added Related Standard - 03/01/10

CA-GOV 8.01 Original Standard:

The executive director’s primary responsibilities are:

management of the organisation;
implementation of organisation-wide, long-term strategic planning and periodic reviews;
encouragement of timely, engaged, mission-oriented board deliberations;
work with the governing body to ensure adequate resources;
development of policies governing the organisation’s programme of services, planned and coordinated with the governing body, as appropriate;
attendance at all meetings of the governing body or advisory group, except possibly those held to review the executive’s performance, status, or compensation;
provision of early stage information that requires creative and critical governance thinking; and
provision of regular reports to the governing body on the organisation’s operations, finances, and implementation of the long-term plan.

Interpretation: The executive director involves, consults with, and gives leadership to the governing body and/or advisory group in visioning, planning, policy, and decision-making processes. The executive director and governing body work as an effective team with information, coordination, staffing, and assistance provided by the executive, to support the governing body in its leadership, policy making and oversight functions.

Interpretation: Regarding element g, the executive director should stay current on issues that could impact service delivery and operations that may require sustained efforts to address logical changes. Adapting to changing conditions requires the leader to be flexible and capable of addressing systemic challenges that may require development of new processes, systems, or skills.

Note: Elements (d), (f), and (h) do not apply to organisations not otherwise required to have a governing body.

Research Note: Current research emphasises the importance of leadership’s visibility outside the organisation, investing in activities such as advocating and educating about the organisation’s mission and collaborating with other organisations in the community. Investing in these activities can assist organisations in mitigating uncertain economic climates and proactively identifying opportunities for change.

Research Note: Setting broad long-term goals rather than rigid, detailed action plans allows for flexibility in adapting to changing conditions by maintaining focus on the core objectives and underscores leadership responsibility in driving organisational impact.

CA-GOV 8.02

The executive director inspires, directs, and works effectively with senior management to provide the structure, values, leadership, and adaptive, technical, and managerial processes and activities that maintain a positive, productive, ethical culture.

Update: Added Interpretation, Added Related Standards - 03/01/10

Added Interpretation and Related Standards

Interpretation: Adaptive processes address actions and innovations made in response to changing conditions.

CA-GOV 8.03

The executive director is qualified by:

an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the organisation’s mission and services;
at least five years of related leadership experience;
competence in administering services to families, adults, youth and/or children;
the skills to oversee human resource and financial management matters; and
the ability to work effectively and proactively with other community providers, and local, provincial and federal entities.

Update: Added Note - 06/01/10

Added Note

Note: The elements of the standard will be considered together to assess the conmpetence of the CEO and provide a rating.

QUICK JUMP TO


	PURPOSE: Sound governance increases the organisation’s viability and sustainability.

RELATED FILES


	GOVERNING BODY A person or persons with the legal authority and responsibility to set policy and oversee the operations of an organisation. Generally, the governing body is a group, such as a board of directors or board of trustees. While the exact responsibilities of the governing body depend on the nature and character of the organisation, the governing body has minimum fiduciary responsibilities to the organisation set by Letters Patent, statute, regulation, and case law, and typically assume responsibilities for long term planning, risk management, and evaluation and effectiveness of management.


	CULTURE The customs, habits, values, skills, technology, beliefs, and religious, social, and political behaviours of a group of people in a specific period of time.


	SERVICE One or more organisation-operated programmes or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organisation’s material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organisation that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licenced to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	EXTERNAL EAP Any employee assistance programme that is contracted for by an outside organisation (as opposed to one that is operated by a host organisation).


	PERFORMANCE A measure of how well an organisational system provides services to consumers. Performance is often based on key indicators, such as rates of service, cost per consumer, degree of satisfaction with services, and extent of consumer access to services.


	LEADERSHIP A nonprofit organisation's leadership consists of its governing body, chief executive officer, and may also include its senior management. In a public agency the term refers to the agency head and administration team. The term "leadership" is not generally applied to for-profit organisations. With respect to COA standards, in for-profit organisations the term leadership applies to the owner and board of directors if one exists.


	OBJECTIVE A sub-goal stated in operational terms, i.e., a statement that makes clear what expected results are to be measured or assessed.


	PLANNING The process of specifying objectives, evaluating the means for their achievement, and exercising deliberate decision making about appropriate courses of action.


	PROGRAMME A system of services offered by an organisation. For example, an organisation providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programmes to different populations, e.g., a mental health programme for adolescent teens. The word “programme” can be used interchangeably with the word “service” or to describe specific programmes.


	ADVISORY GROUP A group of individuals selected by an organisation's governing body or management who possess unique skills and/or knowledge and whose role is to make recommendations, provide information, and/or share input from stakeholders. Advisory groups do not have formal governance authority or responsibilities. Advisory groups can be ongoing or ad hoc.


	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR See CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


	MANAGEMENT See ADMINISTRATION


	VOLUNTEER An individual who performs services for an organisation for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. Such service must be offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from an employer. If the individual is otherwise employed by the same employer for which s/he volunteers, the individual cannot volunteer to perform the same type of services that s/he is paid to perform as an employee.


	CONSUMER The individual, family, group, or community that seeks or receives services.


	RESEARCH For purposes of COA accreditation, all forms of internal or external research involving persons served except internal programme evaluation and outcomes research, or educational projects performed by students and interns that are part of their professional training.


	COMMUNITY A specific group of people living in the same locality, and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, residential neighbourhoods, business districts, recreational sites, and health and human service sites.


	SENIOR MANAGEMENT Employees who assume administrative oversight for the organisation’s programmes. Senior management positions may include vice presidents, chief operating officers, assistant commissioners, directors, or other positions that involve management of programme administration. The term does not include supervisors of direct service workers.


	ADVANCED DEGREE A degree at the Master’s level or beyond from an institution of higher education. An advanced degree does not include a Bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, or an educational certificate.