The College of Opticians of Alberta (COA) is the regulatory body that oversees the licensing and practice of opticianry in the province. Their mission is to protect the public through proactive regulation of registered opticians.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the COA Council, the Chief Executive Officer & Registrar is responsible and accountable for providing leadership and direction to the College to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities in the public interest as set out in the Health Professions Act and other relevant legislation and agreements, as well as to fulfill COA’s mandate, as set by Council’s strategic directions, by-laws, policies and procedures.

THE CANDIDATE

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as health administration, leadership, public policy, adult education, or business administration. The equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered;
• A successful track record as a senior leader within a similar, regulatory organization; experience in the nuances of legislation and regulatory policies and the understanding that public protection is foremost;
• Working knowledge of the Health Professions Act; an understanding of, and exposure to, current practice issues and factors influencing Opticianry and health care in Alberta;
• Demonstrated success in working with Council members/board members and committees; and
• A successful track record in financial management including drafting budgets, financial planning, grant proposals (an asset), analysis of interim and yearly financial statements, and control protocols for fiscal health.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Represent COA to the public, government, partner organizations, other regulatory bodies, stakeholders, and media;
• Advise and assist Council in fulfilling their obligations under the Health Professions Act, Governance Regulation and College bylaws, including:
  • Interpreting and, where appropriate, recommending amendments to the Opticians Profession regulation, College bylaws and Council policies, Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics and other regulatory documents; and
  • Ensuring processes are in place for orienting Council members and evaluating Council performance; ensuring Council succession planning.

Policy Development

• Identify, monitor and analyze policy trends in Opticianry practice; advise and make recommendations to the Council regarding such trends when appropriate;
• Foster and implement a proactive, continuous quality improvement approach to operating COA including collection and analysis of data, preparation of statistical reports, identification of new trends and developments, identification of potential issues, examination of options, development of recommendations and preparation of reports for the Council and the committees of the Council pertaining to such matters.

Strategic Planning

• Plan, organize and coordinate the operations of COA by developing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies/operational plans, and by managing human and financial resources to ensure that the College operates efficiently and effectively;
• Conduct both internal and external environmental scans to identify emerging issues that affect the organization. The internal scan brings to Council’s attention issues arising from within the organization, such as the increased need for technological resources. The external scan identifies issues that may have an impact on the organization, such as a change in provincial regulation.

Stakeholder Development and Education

Develop key stakeholder networks related to Opticianry practice in Alberta, Canada and internationally (e.g., with government agencies, the Federation of Regulated Health Professions and other organizations involved in licensure, regulation, examinations and quality assurance).

Other Responsibilities:

As the College most senior employee, the Chief Executive Officer & Registrar is also responsible for corporate operations in the areas of accommodation, finance (including budget and audit processes), human resources, information technology, member and public relations, and performance quality improvement. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the hiring, onboarding, supervision, training, evaluation and release of staff; supporting and encouraging staff initiatives; providing regular, appropriate and constructive feedback; fostering an environment that supports team building, trust and a progressive approach to addressing challenges and potential conflict;
• Budget preparation, monitoring and reporting to Council; Financial management and reporting in accordance with Council policies; and
• Overseeing the preparing the College’s annual report as well as the Organization and execution the College’s annual general meeting.

Personal Characteristics:

Visionary/Strategic

You have the drive, knowledge and dedication to shape, prepare and lead an organization into the future. You are an effective strategist full of ideas and possibilities. You are always on the look-out for opportunities to improve processes.

Collaborative/Adaptable

You are open to life-long continuous personal improvement, aware of self and your impact on others. You are responsive to feedback, very flexible and you can adjust to numerous different solutions and outcomes.

Leadership

You are a self-confident leader, able to hold your colleagues accountable and motivate staff with vision and innovative thinking. You build and foster successful relationships and you enjoy managing differing perspectives and opinions. You support staff and foster a healthy work environment.

We understand and appreciate our clients’ ever-increasing desire for candidates to reflect the communities in which they work and live. The Vogel Group is committed to inclusivity and diversity was we search for outstanding leadership talent for our clients.

We encourage candidates of all ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, physical challenges, sexual orientations, and identifications to feel confident in exploring and declaring candidacy for any of our search assignments.

For a full profile or to apply, please contact:

The Vogel Group is a leadership search firm with offices in Alberta and Ontario conducting national searches for a wide range of clients. We work with like-minded organizations that value a partnership based on integrity, authenticity and an unwavering commitment to excellence.