Chief Executive Officer

Rise is a national organization dedicated to empowering people with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship. Mental health significantly impacts Canadians’ financial and social well-being; one in five Canadians will experience a mental health or addiction challenge, and amongst the population of people with disabilities, those with a mental illness face the highest degree of stigmatization in the workplace and the greatest barriers to employment. Through training, mentorship, micro-financing and other customs supports, Rise helps individuals build the skills and access the capital they need to launch a small business that can improve quality of life and enable them to support themselves, their families and communities. Since its founding in 2010, Rise has disbursed over $3.7 million in low-interest loans and, with the support of 800+ volunteers nationwide, has helped to empower more than 4,500 Canadians from coast to coast as entrepreneurs. The impact is undeniable. 

It is within this context that Rise welcomes applications and nominations for the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer commencing Spring 2025, or soon after.  

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall strategic direction, governance, and leadership of the organization, and with driving Rise’s continued growth and impact in alignment with its mission. The CEO leads and mentors Rise’s diverse and talented team through a senior leadership team of 5 people who manage the daily operations of the organization in a collaborative culture. As the primary spokesperson for Rise, the CEO will advance its mission and values externally through thought leadership, brand awareness, partnerships with community leaders inline with Rise’s national strategy. The CEO also serves as Rise’s chief fundraising officer, identifying, cultivating and securing support from donors, including from all levels of government. The CEO has final responsibility for the organization’s financial sustainability, ensuring sufficient financial resources to meet the organization’s current and future requirements and business strategies and goals.  

As the ideal candidate, you are an advocate for positive change in the intersectional space of mental health and entrepreneurship who respects, and has a strong passion for, Rise’s mission, values, and the clients it serves. Your career includes an established tenure in senior leadership roles from a similarly sized and complex non-profit organization. You have a demonstrated track record of success in strategic planning and with driving measurable results through its implementation. Peers describe you as a transformational leader adept at initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating programs and services. You have strong accounting, financial, budgetary, risk assessment, and strategic thinking skills, and experience with working with, and/or reporting to a voluntary Board of Directors. You are a people leader who enjoys leading, mentoring and developing a multi-generational, diverse, and hybrid workforce. Your communications skills are exceptional and position you to act as the spokesperson for the organization. As an accomplished networker and relationship builder, you are at ease growing revenues and scaling an organization through business development, partnership and program development, and with philanthropy and sponsorship activities. The CEO must actively champion and embed equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and reconciliation into all aspects of the organization and support a culture that encourages strong and respectful collaboration across its diverse workforce and community. 

To learn more about this impactful leadership opportunity with Rise, please submit a comprehensive resume along with a cover letter in confidence to Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) and/or Caroline McLean (caroline@griffithgroup.ca). 

Location/WFH: This role is based in Toronto, Ontario and the Chief Executive Officer will be expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week.  

Rise welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of all sexual orientations and/or gender identities.  

All qualified candidates are welcome to apply; however, priority will be given to those legally eligible to work in Canada. 

Rise and Griffith Group are committed to an inclusive, accessible and welcoming hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants. Please advise Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) should you require any accommodation to participate in the recruitment and/or assessment processes.