President & CEO
Canadian Renewable Energy Association

CanREA has a very broad mandate to work successfully with government and industry on moving the renewable sector forward in order to meet the decarbonization and net zero emission goals set by the Canadian government. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will advocate with governments (across levels) to influence public policy and encourage investments in renewable energy (wind and solar) and energy storage in Canada. They will review the CanREA’s current programs (led by 2050 Vision), initiatives and develop a plan for the future of the Association and its members. The CEO will ideally have a strong understanding and knowledge of the mechanisms of how government works at the political and bureaucratic levels. The President needs to be strategic but also prepared to roll-up his/her sleeves and do the work. Sound analytical and communications skills are critical for this role.

CanREA President & CEO Role Profile

The next leader of CanREA will ideally have the following experience, characteristics, or aptitudes:

• Advanced Interpersonal and Communication Skills: The next CEO is a skilled communicator, facilitator, and networker who will constantly seek to maximize opportunities for CanREA and its members. They are a confident and engaging speaker and comfortable as the ‘face of the place’, effectively presenting to the Board and representing CanREA to staff, association members, government, regulators, publicly and privately held companies, the public and media. Ideally, the CEO is bilingual and media trained/media savvy.
• Advocacy and Credibility: The next CEO does not need to be a subject matter expert in renewable energy and energy storage but should be credible in some aspect of the energy ecosystem or a closely analogous industry and be a leader who will speak effectively to the value and benefits of the renewable energy and energy storage sectors. The CEO will have the necessary technical knowledge and expertise to ensure they resonate with the experience and values of Board members, government funders, industry entrepreneurs, and consumers of electricity.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset and Sense of Urgency: The ideal CEO understands the magnitude of the challenge to significantly grow renewable energy and energy storage and is driven by the opportunity to accomplish big things. They are an energetic and entrepreneurial builder, capable of helping both the association and its members grow and prosper. They will maintain excellent relationships with business leaders in the sector and service providers who work closely with CanREA members and bring a business development mindset to grow membership and revenue along with strategic partnerships. The CEO is measured but also operates with a sense of urgency, recognizing the moral imperative of combatting climate change by removing carbon from the power sector, and the time-sensitive opportunity to take advantage of tailwinds in support of renewable energy and energy storage, including economic development opportunities for Canada.

• Experience Working with Board Members: The CEO has a high degree of integrity and ethics and is adept at managing a variety of personalities. They can build consensus to harmonize the differing points of view of its members and stakeholders, and can take the lead when necessary to achieve a common purpose.

• Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning: CanREA has a strong strategy in place with the 2050 Vision, but the CEO is also an innovative, agile, strategic thinker who is adept in ongoing strategic planning and the development of supporting action plans towards achieving results. The CEO understands the bigger picture and will effectively deploy finite resources to maximize impact and the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Management Skills/Experience: The CEO is a natural leader and teambuilder who has demonstrated experience directing and leading staff to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. The CEO will continue to foster a culture that is not hierarchal, encourages collaboration and succession planning, rewards hard work, and maintains a positive workplace environment for all staff.

• Regulatory and Government Relations: The CEO will understand how all levels of government function in relation to energy and work effectively with elected officials and senior staff to promote member objectives and communicate the priorities of the industry. They must be able to build and maintain strong and resilient relationships with key stakeholders nationally at multiple levels of government and with regulatory authorities and be able to leverage those relationships to effect positive change on behalf of members and the association.
• Stakeholder Management: The CEO understands that multi-stakeholder environments require a strategic approach to relationship management, and that CanREA needs to maintain professional relationships with other associations and related stakeholders that often have divergent views or different perspectives. The CEO will also be particularly adept at managing the multiple priorities of members and ensure that each continues to see the value of a strong association.

Additional Competencies

In addition to the above, the ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Sound financial management skills and business acumen;
• A genuine care about climate change and passion about a sustainable future;
• Understanding of capital markets as well as broader energy sector;
• A consultative, approachable and open style;
• Exceptional listening and facilitation skills;
• An orientation to rigour and detail, but not micromanagement;
• Political acuity and an appreciation for the nuances that differentiate members;
• An authentic and straightforward style and a high degree of level-headedness;
• Resiliency, sincerity and a high degree of accountability;
• Superior decision-making and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent time and project management skills, as well as proven presentation skills;
• The ability to be hands-on and not dependent on a large support staff;
• The ability to remain cool under pressure, as well as to respond quickly and “think on one’s feet” when dealing with the media; and
• Strong marketing and sales skills, and knowledge of how messages can convey a corporate image and build relationships.