Chief Executive Officer, New Westminster
About Community Living Society
Community Living Society (“CLS,” the “Society”) is a not-for-profit organization founded in the late 1970s by family members of children with disabilities. Headquartered in New Westminster, BC, CLS supports adults with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury to live responsibly independent and effectively interdependent lives, fostering the self-empowerment of every person served into a meaningful life in community with others.
Mission: Supporting people to live as full citizens.
Vision: Communities where every person lives with dignity and enjoys a full life.
CLS delivers a full range of services across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, including staffed homes, supported and independent living, community inclusion, Home Share, and employment services, funded primarily through Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) and the Acquired Brain Injury Program through the Fraser Health Authority. Today, CLS operates with an annual budget of over $45M and approximately 600 non-union employees.
CLS has built a reputation as one of the most sophisticated, integrated, and well-run organizations in BC's community living sector. The organization is CARF-accredited and is a respected, credible voice with government and the broader sector.
For more details, see their website here.
The Opportunity
CLS's Chief Executive Officer has announced her intention to retire in early 2027. Under her transformative leadership, CLS has focused on internal integration, succession planning, modernizing operations, and being a visible and active presence within the community and broader sector. The Society is now seeking its next CEO to build on this foundation and carry it into its next chapter.
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most respected organizations in BC's community living sector, working alongside a capable, tenured, and collaborative senior leadership team and an engaged Board. The incoming CEO will inherit a strong operating model and a broad, multifaceted mandate spanning direct-care quality oversight, a growing workforce, multi-year property and real estate initiatives, and government and funder relations — and will need to earn trust quickly while continuing to strengthen the organization's foundations.
The new Chief Executive Officer will help advance the following priorities:
Build upon CLS's relationships with CLBC, government, and sector partners. Build the credibility and trust with funders and government that have underpinned CLS's growth, and continue representing CLS as one of the most respected, credible voices in the community living sector.
Strengthen workforce and labour relations strategy. Bring strong HR and people-leadership capability to CLS's continued growth as a non-union employer — advancing wage-parity work, scheduling, workforce planning, and organizational bench strength across the leadership team.
Sustain and mature CLS's integrated operating model. Build on the cross-departmental systems, reporting discipline, and planning framework CLS has developed in recent years, continuing to strengthen — rather than rebuild — a model that is working well.
Advance CLS's housing and property strategy. Continue the organization's ongoing work evaluating, redeveloping, and reinvesting in its real estate and program facilities to meet the changing needs of the people it serves.
Advance the redevelopment of CLS's Art Studios. Continue their evolution from traditional programs into sustainable social enterprises by modernizing their practices and operations.
Be a visible, personally present leader across the organization. Build trust through regular presence in homes, programs, and community and staff events, consistent with CLS's relationship-first culture.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer is accountable for all facets of CLS pertaining to leadership, management, and operationalizing the organization's overall mission and strategic plan, as mandated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Human Resources, and Senior Project Consultant report to the CEO, as does the Manager of Administration, who provides administrative support to the Board. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Board Liaison
Lead CLS in a manner that supports and guides the organization's vision, mission, and values as defined by the Board.
Communicate effectively with the Board, providing all information necessary for it to make informed decisions and function effectively as a governance body.
Assist the Board in defining CLS's mandate and long-term plans by providing professional expertise and insight into operational plans.
Work with the Board and staff to ensure the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning, and community outreach.
Strategic Planning
Oversee the development of short- and long-term plans that guide CLS's programs and activities, ensuring service delivery is of the highest quality and reflective of the organization's vision, mission, and values.
Review annual plans and budgets developed by the Executive team and senior leadership to ensure successful implementation and adequate funding of CLS's Business Improvement Plan.
Support the development of systems and policies that promote accountability and consistent practice across the organization, ensuring CLS follows best practices.
Ensure all professional, licensing, and accreditation requirements are in place to satisfy legal, regulatory, and other requirements.
Oversee the implementation and effective communication of approved strategies and operational plans that advance CLS's strategic directions.
Direct and oversee the preparation of all related reports, including Board, financial, compliance, risk management, human resources, occupational health and safety, quality assurance, asset management, cultural diversity, and accessibility reports.
Ensure plans for new program development are prepared and presented to the Board for review and approval.
Measure and review the organization's performance and report results to the Board.
External Relations
Act as the face of CLS in communicating with external stakeholders — including the network of supported families and individuals, funders, government agencies, political bodies, and affiliated federations (e.g., the BC CEO Network, Inclusion BC, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association) — and in negotiating major contracts.
Build strong working relationships and partnerships with other service organizations that help CLS further its goals and contribute to the betterment of the sector.
Build and maintain positive relations with the communities CLS serves.
Assess community needs and provide leadership on programs and activities in alignment with CLS's vision, mission, and values.
Ensure the people served by CLS, and their families and caregivers, are involved throughout the organization.
People Management
Provide strong leadership to ensure CLS's values, mission, and strategic plan are understood and adhered to, and that the organization's culture is understood and embodied at all levels.
Oversee and implement appropriate resources to ensure the organization's operations are supported effectively.
Ensure staff productivity and morale remain high.
Coach, mentor, and assist the Executive team and other leaders in managing employees, building teams, and navigating employee and family relations.
Essential Qualities & Experience
CLS welcomes candidates from a range of backgrounds and will prioritize those who demonstrate most of the following:
A university degree with a general business focus or a social service focus is required. Given the size and sophistication of CLS, a graduate degree is preferred.
Seven to ten years of progressive experience in a senior leadership position in a comparably complex organization with responsibility for financial management and strategy.
Deep familiarity with the community living or developmental disabilities sector, or at minimum a closely adjacent government-funded (MCFD, BC Housing, Health Authority, etc.) human-services background such as seniors care, mental health, addictions services, or supportive housing.
A demonstrated and in-depth working knowledge of community-based programs and services, funding sources, community relations, and Board relations is required.
Demonstrated ability to successfully implement creative ideas, concepts, and consensus building.
Knowledge and skills in strategic and operational planning, organizational management, and financial management and control are basic requirements.
A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including experience leading or supporting work with people with intersecting identities and fostering a positive, inclusive working environment for staff from diverse backgrounds. We welcome candidates to speak to this experience directly in their application.
Experience with professional and leadership development of staff, including performance management.
Labour relations and HR/workforce planning capability, particularly given CLS's non-union environment.
Demonstrated skills in strategically managing relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders.
Seasoned abilities in various forms of communication, policy development, and administrative management are essential.
Excellent presentation skills, sound public relations skills, particularly in the areas of oral, written, and interpersonal communications.
Highly accomplished in decision-making with demonstrated ability to take control of situations as required.
A criminal record search (CRS) is required prior to engagement in the position and is required again every five years.
Compensation & Search Process
This Chief Executive Officer position is a senior strategic leadership role, with the opportunity to shape the future of one of BC's most respected community living organizations at a pivotal moment in its history.
CLS offers a competitive salary with a budgeted range of $180,000-$210,000 in addition to a comprehensive benefits package and pension contributions (Municipal Pension Plan). This is a full-time role based in New Westminster, BC.
The search process may include longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. Finalists will be asked to provide comprehensive recent references and to complete a background check, including a criminal record search. We expect to process our first review of applications by October 7, 2026.
Please consider your lived experience as an asset in your application. We encourage candidates who require any accommodations to contact us directly with related questions, which can be addressed in confidence as appropriate.
CLS is committed to conducting this search in a manner consistent with the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Society is committed to building a workplace that embraces diversity and values the unique perspectives and experiences of individuals from all backgrounds, including but not limited to people of colour, individuals of Indigenous descent, those with lived immigrant experience, members of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, individuals with disabilities, and those from other historically marginalized groups.
To apply, please forward your resume and cover letter to info@mosaicsearch.ca, with the subject line “CLS CEO Application”.
You are also welcome to email Alana Briggs (alana@mosaicsearch.ca) or Dave Namkung (dave@mosaicsearch.ca) with any related questions.
