The non-profit sector as a whole is facing significant challenges in recruiting, onboarding, and retaining leadership talent and the workforce planning network is no exception.
Among the Workforce Planning West network (12 boards), only 2 Executive Directors are longer-serving and know the history of the broader planning board landscape. Among the remaining 10 boards, the longest-serving EDs have been in the role for a little over 6 years, and over that same period, those 10 boards have collectively seen 24 different people hold the ED role — with the newest additions being in the job for about 4 months, serving as co-Executive Directors.
Planning Boards play a critical role in their communities — as data informers and disseminators, program supporters, and collaborators with diverse stakeholders on multiple challenges. The faster new leadership can adapt into the role and its requirements, the more effective each Board can be for the communities it serves.
Sharing common information through a centralized digital portal would give new EDs a resource base and allow for better networking and mentorship. New directors would gain:
All while allowing each Board to retain its local scope.
Though this resource is directed largely at the Planning Boards, the hope is that the information and resources developed will also be of value to those in leadership roles across other industries.
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.