Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Safe Haven Foundation of Canada (https://www.safehavenfoundation.ca) is a registered charity with a mission to help give Calgary’s homeless and at-risk girls their future back. Founded in 1996 by John and Karen Sherbut, Safe Haven’s unique model provides safe housing and supportive programming that enables young women to break out of cycles of poverty, abuse and homelessness to thrive as healthy, contributing citizens capable of realizing their greatest dreams.

As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2026, we stand at a pivotal moment in our history. Later this year, Co-Founder Karen Sherbut will step down from the CEO position she has held as a volunteer since the organization’s inception to focus her Safe Haven passions as a committed brand ambassador. We are seeking an inspiring leader to take the executive leadership reins and guide us through this transformative period.

The Opportunity:

Safe Haven Foundation is looking for a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and impact. This is a special opportunity for a dynamic, strategic, and compassionate leader to build on the strong foundation established by our Co-Founders and to guide Safe Haven Foundation towards its 30th anniversary and beyond.

Whether your leadership experience has been gained by driving social impact in the not-for-profit sector or through leading business development, sales, marketing, or client relations activity in the corporate sector, you are ready to bring your skills to a purpose-filled organization that is making a difference in the lives of girls and young women.

As CEO of Safe Haven Foundation, you will:

• Inspire and Lead: You will lead with passion, integrity, and a deep commitment to our mission. You will engage and motivate a small, highly dedicated staff team’s day-to-day operations, and inspire volunteers, donors and community stakeholders to partner with us as we continue to provide life-changing support to Calgary’s most vulnerable young women.
• Stabilize and Optimize: You will navigate Safe Haven Foundation through a critical period of consolidation following a recent growth phase. In your initial 12-24 months, you will ensure that operations achieve a steady state, balancing Safe Haven’s latest expansion with operational and financial effectiveness to achieve sustainable impact.
• Strengthen Partnerships and Fundraising: Your fundraising and/or business development talents will help us secure the resources needed to sustain and grow our programs. We will look to you to develop innovative approaches to engage donors, volunteers and strategic partners in making a difference in the lives of more girls and young women.
• Drive Strategic Vision: Your strategic mindset will complement the skills of our volunteer Board of Directors as they shape a bold, forward-thinking strategic plan that addresses the evolving needs of our community and sets the stage for new opportunities for Safe Haven. You will support the Board’s governance oversight role by producing high quality Board policies, processes, reporting and management guidance to enhance their work.
• Foster a Supportive Culture: Upholding our mission, vision and core values by nurturing a supportive and inclusive environment where every girl we serve has the opportunity to realize her full potential will be vitally important to you.

Key Qualifications:

• 10+ years of proven experience in a senior leadership role within a not-for-profit organization or corporate setting.
• A track record of successfully leading and implementing strategic initiatives and revenue development activities that drive organizational growth and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and resource allocation.
• A deep commitment to empowering vulnerable populations, particularly youth and women, with a passion for breaking the cycle of poverty, abuse, and homelessness.
• Exceptional communication skills, with an ability to inspire and engage others in our mission.
• Experience in guiding organizations through periods of change and transformation.

Safe Haven Foundation supports a diverse and inclusive work environment and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. We are committed to finding the right fit for Safe Haven and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.