General Manager

  • Full-time

Company Description

With over 20,000 members, SSMU’s role is to represent undergraduate students and to offer them services since 1908.

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Overall responsibilities include day-to-day management of Administration, Governance, Corporate Obligations, Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Business Operations and all legal matters. They act as a key advisor to the Board of Directors, Legislative Council and the Executive Committee to provide continuity essential to the ongoing success of the Society in meeting its social, cultural, educational and financial goals.

The General Manager is responsible for the well-functioning of activities of the Students’ Society at large. The General Manager’s primary responsibility is to provide continuity and daily support to the permanent staff and Executive team.

The General Manager of the SSMU also acts as the immediate supervisor of the Daycare Director of the SSMU Daycare Center Inc. and fulfills the role of the Secretary of the Corporation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

HUMAN RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITIES:

1)      Oversee all matters pertaining to professional development, under the oversight of the President, including the organizational structure, staffing, budgets, annual training and the compensation structure

2)      Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, direct, and discipline staff including the Building Director, the Comptroller, Operations Director, the Human Resources Manager, the Communications Director, Governance Manager, and Clubs and Services Coordinator.

3)      Report to the President on matters pertaining to Human Resources.

4)      Coordinate the Executives’ transition training with the President.

 

 

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1)      Ensure, in cooperation with the Vice-President (Finance), the long-term financial sustainability of the Society.

2)      Oversee the audit process, the investment portfolio, all SSMU funds, banking, and the Society fees, and report to the Vice-President (Finance) on all related matters.

3)      Serve as one of the primary signing officers of the Society, along with the Vice-President (Finance).

4)      Supervise contract negotiations and co-sign all contracts of the Society with the Vice-President (Finance) and other relevant parties.

5)      Prepare the General Administration departmental budget for periodic submission to the Vice-President (Finance) and the Board of Directors, and assist the Vice-President (Finance) and the Comptroller with the global budget revisions.

6)      Support the Vice-President (Finance) in presenting the annual budget revisions to the Executive Committee, Legislative Council and Board of Directors.

 

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1)      Serve as the Society’s official representative in legal matters, under the direction of the Board of Directors.

2)      Communicate with the Society’s lawyers on behalf of the Board of Directors.

3)      Ensure that the Society fulfills its legal obligations as a non-profit entity, including but not limited to the update of administrators on the Company Register, the appointment of the auditor, and the nomination of officers to the Board of Directors.

 

BUILDING & OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES:

1)      Participate in the lease negotiations with McGill at the request of the Board of Directors.

2)      Oversee the work of the Building Director and provide support when required.

3)      Oversee all new building projects and renovations, as well as their respective budgets, under the direction of the Vice-President (Finance) and Board of Directors.

 

GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1)      Ensure the Society’s compliance with its governing documents, including the Constitution, the Internal Regulations, and its policies and plans.

2)      Ensure that the Society’s governing documents and governance structures are compliant with the laws and regulations pertaining to non-profit entities.

3)      Serve as the custodian of all Society records, including the documents pertaining to the Board of Directors, the Legislative Council, the Executive Committee, the General Assembly, all equity complaints, Judicial Board, and Society contracts.

4)      Assist the President in maintaining the Internal Regulations, ensuring that they are publically accessible, free from contradictions, and student-centered.

 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS:

1)      Assist the Vice-President (Finance) and the Operations Director in the management of the Society’s business operations.

2)      Coordinate and oversee the submission of all budgets of the Society’s business operations to the Vice-President (Finance).

 

SSMU DAYCARE CENTER:

1)      Supervise the Daycare Director.

2)      Ensure the financial sustainability of the SSMU Daycare Center.

3)      Report to the Vice-President (Finance) on all financial matters pertaining to the SSMU Daycare Center.

 

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

1)      Undertake all duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.

 

WORK COMPLEXITIES:

1)      Decision-making: Decision making is generally, but not exclusively, involved in the areas of human resources, conflict resolution between individuals and groups, financial expenditures, building, security, and committee work, in collaboration with relevant executives. These decisions all have political impact on Executive portfolios.

2)      Impact of decisions:  Decisions strongly impact the office environment. Decisions directly affect numerous student groups, as well as students at large. Decisions are critical to providing efficient operations and services within the William Shatner University Centre. Decisions also affect the overall quality of student life in the McGill community through the continuation and growth of the Society.

3)      Difficulties: Responding to a large and diverse membership on highly sensitive issues, usually unique in nature. Multidisciplinary nature of position demands high skill level in association management, finance, student politics, and business administration.   Reporting to an Executive Committee with an annual turnover rate of 100% is unique to Student Associations. Decision making must reflect the goals of newly elected student executives whose concept of the organization may be very different from that of the preceding Executive Committee. Goals and objectives frequently change from one year to the next.

4)      Contact: Constant contact is maintained with the Executive Committee. Contact is maintained with the Legislative Council to remain abreast of current priorities, projects and problems, and to provide advice and direction. Frequent contact is maintained with the Society’s legal counsel and other members of the McGill community, as necessary.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1)      High pressure work environment from both an operational and political perspective.

2)      The hours of work are defined in the employee contract. Attendance at Board of Directors meetings, which take place in the evening, is required every second week in the fall and winter semesters. Weekly attendance at Executive Committee meetings is required. Some overtime hours may be required for events and committee meetings.

3)      This role is extremely demanding, with a steep learning curve. An above average amount of overtime may be required for the first 6-12 months.

4)      This role involves working closely with students, flexible work hours are required in order to attend evening meetings and events.

5)      Equipment used: computer, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Novell (Vibe, Groupwise).

 

CONFIDENTIALITY:

It is understood and agreed that all matters to the SSMU and those clubs association or groups forming part of the SSMU are to be kept in the strictest of confidence, and nothing regarding the operations, policies and general activities of the SSMU or its constituent groups shall be divulged to any third party without the express consent of the General Manager and/or the Executive Committee of the SSMU.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

  1. University degree in a related field an asset;
  2. Minimum of 5-7 years of related experience, preferably in a higher educational setting;
  3. Experience and/or knowledge of daycare operations and management an asset;
  4. Proven experience in corporate governance, finance, operations, and human resources;
  5. Ability to manage multiple priorities, challenging demands and function positively in a dynamic, collaborative work environment;
  6. Strong leadership skills and experience managing staff;
  7. Ability to work efficiently using computers, various software and mobile applications;
  8. Excellent written and communications skills in English; French a strong asset.

Additional Information

 

  • Deadline to apply is on October 11th, 2019.
  • http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/.