Job Title

Chief Executive Officer, Remote/Virtual (British Columbia) About SelfDesign Learning Foundation SelfDesign Learning Foundation (the Foundation or SelfDesign) is a mission-driven, non-profit educational charity serving learners and families across British Columbia through remote, personalized, and inclusive programs. Founded in 1985, SelfDesign has been recognized for its learnercentred model of education, which emphasizes selfagency, curiosity, and holistic development. With an annual budget of approximately $25 million, funded primarily by the BC Ministry of Education, SelfDesign supports approximately 2,000 K12 learners and their families each year. SelfDesign does not currently employ staff and is supported by a community of approximately 200 independent contractors, including its leadership team, all of whom work entirely remotely across the province. SelfDesign does not operate a head office or brickandmortar locations. Its primary program, the SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC), is a Ministrycertified independent school, delivered by a geographically dispersed team of educators and contractors. The Foundation also offers HomeLearners Network, a guided, online learning space for children and youth to connect with others and dive into their passions; and, SelfDesign Home Learning, a flexible option for those who wish to homeschool their children. The Foundation serves as the overarching entity providing strategic direction, innovation, and administrative infrastructureincluding finance, IT, communications, procurement, and HRacross its programs. Strategic Framework SelfDesigns work is guided by its Vision, Mission, Values, and four strategic pillars. Vision: A world deeply rooted in curiosity, compassion, and learning. Mission: We facilitate lifelong learning and holistic personal growth through programs, opportunities, and support for people of all ages, with an emphasis on choice and selfdirection. Values: Lifelong learning, Relationships, Innovation, Integrity, Accountability, Quality. Strategic Pillars: - InnovateExplore new opportunities for impact and sustainable growth. - EngageNurture relationships within SelfDesign and with communities and allies. - StrengthenBuild on a solid foundation by enhancing programs, systems, and financial sustainability. - ExcelUse data, research, and best practices to ensure governance, leadership development, and excellence across the organization. SelfDesign is seeking a compassionate, valuesaligned, and strategic leader to guide the Foundation through its next chapter, which will emphasize capacitybuilding, operational excellence, and innovation through stakeholder and community engagement. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will provide overall leadership across the Foundation and its programs, including the SelfDesign Learning Community. Despite the CEO title, SelfDesign, true to its origins as a conventiontesting community of contractors, is not ideally operated through a topdown corporate decisionmaking model. Rather, sustainable strategies are collectively inspired through community engagement. This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Canadas most innovative educational organizations at a critical inflection point of renewal, advancing its learnercentred mission while modernizing systems, strengthening collaboration, and fostering clarity and confidence across its community. The new CEO will take on a dedicated, experienced and valuesdriven leadership team and community, including many members who have shepherded the organization through its formative chapters, from rapid growth with its visionary founder, to establishing systems for sustainable growth, accountability, and innovation. Now, as SelfDesign has grown beyond a grassroots movement, its opportunity and challenge are to build upon their groundwork to continuously support and add unique value to their community of diverse learners while staying true to their strategic pillars and individualized, studentcentred philosophy. Key Responsibilities - Board Relations and Governance - Act as the nexus between the Board and SelfDesigns Leadership Team and community of contractors. - Work with the Board to create a Strategic Plan that works toward Boarddefined priorities and organizational needs. - Ensure strong governance practices, provide transparent reporting, and support effective decisionmaking. - Advise the Board on emerging risks, opportunities, and trends in education and nonprofit governance. - Strategic and Operational Leadership - Oversee and support SelfDesigns activities across all areas to ensure they are in alignment with the mission, vision, values, and strategic framework of the Board. - Identify, assess, and plan to address needs, gaps, and risks across the organization. - Envision future organizational structure and roles, including leadership roles and functions, and compensation across the organization. - Create visibility and communication pathways within leadership as well as within the entire community of contractors. - Lead ongoing modernization initiatives that enhance digital systems, communication tools, and operational practices to support a connected, highperforming remote organization. - Build capacity, trust, and alignment in SelfDesigns leadership team and across the organization. - Drive operational reform across SelfDesign to ensure effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. - Work with Chief Financial Officer to develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial plans, ensuring compliance with financial policies, regulations, best practices, and alignment with SelfDesigns values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. - Ensure sustainable alignment between financial resources and mission priorities, including equitable and competitive educator compensation. - Safeguard assets and ensure compliance with regulatory and audit standards. - Government Relations and Community Engagement - Provide general oversight and management and act as the schools Authority Representative (per the Independent School Act) liaising with Government as required. - Serve as a visible and authentic advocate for SelfDesigns philosophy and programs. - Build strong relationships with learners, families, educators, contractors, and community stakeholders. - Represent SelfDesign in government relations, advocating for resources, recognition, and policy alignment. - Culture and Human Resources - Ensure a virtual workplace environment that is inclusive, accessible, and conducive to collaboration and innovation. - Lead with empathy, authenticity, and accountability to foster a culture of inclusion, safety, diversity, and transparency. - Establish accessible, visible, and regular communication channels to advance opportunities, ideas, and challenges. - A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Masters degree in a related field or discipline supplemented by a minimum of 10 years of progressively more senior experience with a minimum of 5 years a leadership level within comparably complex and valuesdriven organizations delivering individualized programs and services. - Extensive experience successfully reporting up to, and working productively with, Boards. - Strong strategic, operational, and financial leadership skills, with demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement, organizational development, and change management. - Demonstrated success in government relations and advocacy. Strong understanding of government funding and related operational and program budgeting. - Authentic, transparent leadership style; a listener and community builder who leads with empathy and approachability. - Full alignment with SelfDesigns learnercentred philosophy and values; experience in education is an asset but not required. - Strategic understanding of enterprise technologies, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and experience aligning technology with operations and programs. - Demonstrated ability to lead and cultivate collaborative, valuesaligned teams and promote accountability across a virtual and geographically dispersed environment. Compensation and Search Process SelfDesign offers a competitive package, including an annual compensation range budgeted between $180,000$220,000 (prorated for fractional arrangements), depending on experience. As this position is primarily remote, the CEO may be based anywhere in British Columbia. The search process may include longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. Finalists will be asked to provide comprehensive references and complete a thorough background check. We expect to begin our first review of applications by January 31, 2026. In the spirit of inclusion, we encourage candidates who require accommodations during the recruitment process to contact us directly in confidence. To apply, please forward your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. You are also welcome to contact Alana Briggs ([email protected]) or Dave Namkung ([email protected]) with any related questions. #J-18808-Ljbffr