PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The NWTRPA envisions a territory where everyone has access to recreation programs and spaces that foster healthy families, strong cultures, and vibrant communities.

The mission of the NWTRPA is to promote recreation by supporting leaders, communities, and partners through training, advocacy, and networking.

The Director – Professional Development is responsible for the direction and delivery of NWTRPA Professional Development programs. The strategic goal most closely aligned with this position is: “The NWTRPA is the leading recreation training organization in the NWT.”

The Director - Professional Development will develop and lead the delivery of the NWTRPA Professional Development business plan.  The Director – Professional Development will work directly with NWTRPA members, community groups, partners, and Board and staff to assist with the development and delivery of safe, culturally-appropriate professional development programs in the NWT.

SCOPE

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director – Professional Development is responsible for the development and execution of the Professional Development business plan. The incumbent is responsible for administering an annual Professional Development budget (estimated to be approximately $250,000 in 2019-2020).

The Director – Professional Development will oversee one Professional Development staff member as funding allows. The incumbent may oversee additional seasonal and term staff and contractors. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Executive Director on an interim, as-needed basis.

The Director – Professional Development will provide advice, support, and counsel to the Executive Director and other staff members. The NWTRPA is a small territorial non-profit organization. The staff work collaboratively and provide assistance to each other as and when needed.

The activities of this position impact program, organization, and Board policies.  The position impacts the allocation of funding and program delivery for community programs and services.

SIGNING AUTHORITY

The Director – Professional Development will have signing authority to enter into contracts up to and including $2,500, under the following parameters:

• Contracts must be accommodated within the Board-approved annual operating budget.
• Contracts must be consistent with approved workplans.
• Requests for proposals must consider value for money, be unbiased, and transparent.
• Capital purchases may not be authorized.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead all aspects of the Professional Development business plan:

• Lead the delivery of all Professional Development programs offered by NWTRPA. This includes: Annual Conference, HIGH FIVE®, Recreation North, and Community Leaders Retreat.
• Organize and deliver training workshops and events, develop associated resources and program supports, and work with committees and other stakeholders to develop and update training curriculum.
• Provide mentorship, support, advice, and encouragement to program instructors and leaders, program participants, and other program stakeholders as needed.
• Develop new Professional Development programs and strategies that adhere to the NWTPRA mission and strategic direction, as required by members, partners, funders, and the NWTRPA Board of Directors.

Coordinate all financial records as part of the Professional Development business plan:

• Lead the development and administration of the Professional Development business plan budget.
• Coordinate and work with any contracted agents on an as-needed basis.
• Complete all invoicing as required for the Professional Development business plan.
• Maintain an active record of program revenues and costs.

Provide administrative duties towards maintaining daily operations:

• Respond to general requests via phone, email, social media, and fax.
• Organize workshops and events, including booking travel, speakers, and venues.
• Order, track, and maintain required inventory for program delivery.
• Issue and monitor program certifications.
• Provide advice and direction to clients seeking program information.

Engage in networking and fundraising:

• Foster, develop, promote, and maintain relationships and partnerships with communities, community organizations, program participants, and stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates to program funders and complete all funder reporting requirements.
• Create and develop strategic partnerships with corporate, government, and private sponsors to provide the Professional Development business plan with potential revenue streams.
• Communicate regularly with NWTRPA members, stakeholders, and funders about the NWTRPA Professional Development business plan.

Support NWTRPA operations:

• Provide information and offer council to the Executive Director to inform the operations of NWT Recreation and Parks Association.
• Attend NWTRPA Board meetings when requested to provide reports and information as needed.
• Support NWTRPA colleagues by providing assistance and guidance regarding program delivery.
• Other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

To satisfy the expectations of the NWTRPA, the incumbent should have the following qualifications or equivalencies:

• Post-secondary education in Recreation/Leisure studies, Education, Indigenous studies, Kinesiology, or a related discipline.
• Training and certifications in the following areas: HIGH FIVE® PHCD Instructor, adult education, first aid.
• Experience managing or supervising staff and volunteers.
• Experience in education and/or facilitation positions.
• Experience with event planning.
• Experience in the administration of budgets.
• Ability to network with government, business, and non-profit agencies.
• Experience working within a non-profit agency.

In addition, the incumbent should be:

• Strongly self-motivated.
• Well organized.
• Have excellent communication skills.

The incumbent must also successfully complete a satisfactory criminal record check as a condition of their hire.

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands:

Most of the incumbent’s time is spent working in an office setting, performing general office duties or networking with current and potential partners. Regular computer usage should be expected. In order to access the NWTRPA offices, the incumbent must be able to physically navigate multiple stairways.

Some work time is spent leading training activities, primarily in indoor settings. This may include leading workshops on topics related to recreation leadership.

Subject to operational demands, the incumbent may be expected to work evenings and weekends.

Environmental Demands:

Environmental demands are those typically associated with an office position. Some work time is spent leading training activities in indoor and occasionally outdoor settings.

Periodic travel will be required which may result in exposure to the extremes of our northern climate.

Sensory Demands:

Normal office environment.

Mental Demands:

There is potential for multiple projects to be ongoing all requiring attention and concentration.  Multi-tasking may be required for long periods of time. This position can typically receive direction from several different sources resulting in potentially stressful situations.

The position is frequently required to travel to small, isolated communities within the NWT and 1-3 trips per year to centres outside the NWT.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of this position.

 PAYSCALE

 This position is a full-time, permanent position.  The incumbent will be remunerated according to the following annual pay scale, as negotiated with the Executive Director:

Other employee benefits and obligations are outlined within the NWTRPA Employee Handbook.

Please see www.nwtrpa.org for a full job description. Forward a resume and cover letter along with three references by Friday June 11, 2021, at 4:00 PM

The NWT Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA) is looking for an energetic, motivated and highly organized individual for the position of Director - Professional Development. This is a fulltime position based in Yellowknife.

The NWTRPA is a non-profit organization that promotes recreation by supporting leaders, communities, and partners through training, advocacy, and networking. We envision a territory where everyone has the access to recreation programs and spaces that foster healthy families, strong cultures, and vibrant communities.

The Director - Professional Development is responsible for the direction and delivery of NWTRPA Professional Development programs. The NWTRPA strategic connected to Professional Development is: the NWTRPA is the leading recreation training organization in the NWT.

The Director - Professional Development will develop and lead the delivery of the NWTRPA Professional Development programs (e.g. HIGH FIVE®, Recreation North, and Annual Conference). The Director - Professional Development will work directly with NWTRPA members, community groups, partners, and Board and staff to assist with the development and delivery of safe, culturally-appropriate professional development programs in the NWT.

The successful candidate will have a post-secondary education in in Recreation/Leisure studies, Education, Indigenous studies, Kinesiology, or a related discipline. Specific training in the following areas would be an asset: HIGH FIVE® Instructor, adult education.

The successful candidate will have experience in managing or supervising staff and volunteers, facilitating training events, event planning, administrating budgets, and an ability to network with government, business, and non-profit agencies. The incumbent must also successfully complete a satisfactory criminal records check as a condition of their hire.

Please see www.nwtrpa.org for a full job description. Forward a resume and cover letter along with three references by Friday June 11, 2021, at 4:00 PM to:

NWT Recreation and Parks Association