Interim Executive Director (18-Month Contract – Parental Leave Coverage)

As the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency, We Animals (WA) advocates for animals through photojournalism. Our global investigations and stories expose our complex relationships with animals, create ethical and cultural shifts in society, and empower human capacity for compassion and change. To support our mission, we investigate industries, mentor photographers, operate a stock site to share our visual content, and engage with media and NGO partners to shift attitudes, industries, and policy.

We are seeking an Interim Executive Director for an 18-month contract to cover parental leave. The Executive Director (ED) provides overall leadership and operational oversight for We Animals. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with the Founder and President, the Executive Director ensures the organization’s work is aligned with its mission and that the organization is financially sustainable and operationally sound.

The Interim Executive Director’s primary mandate is to provide steady organizational leadership, maintain momentum on existing strategic priorities, and support a smooth transition before and after the parental leave period.

Note: We Animals is a Canadian nonprofit. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in their country of residence. For candidates outside Canada, employment may be supported through an Employer of Record where feasible.

As an ideal candidate for this role, you:

• Are a steady, thoughtful, and experienced nonprofit leader who can step into an established organization and build trust quickly
• Balance strategic thinking with a willingness to handle the practical work required in an evolving nonprofit
• Can maintain momentum on existing priorities while exercising sound judgment when circumstances change
• Are confident working with budgets, financial forecasts, organizational risk, and competing resource priorities
• Approach organizational culture with care, consistency, and an understanding of how leadership decisions affect a remote team
• Can work collaboratively with a Founder and President, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team while maintaining clear roles and decision-making responsibilities
• Are an effective people manager who sets clear expectations, supports staff well-being, addresses challenges directly, and holds people accountable
• Think analytically and from a systems perspective, identifying practical improvements without creating unnecessary complexity
• Communicate clearly and transparently, including when navigating sensitive personnel, financial, or organizational matters
• Are organized, responsive, and comfortable managing several areas of responsibility at once
• Understand that successful interim leadership includes preserving institutional knowledge and preparing the organization for a smooth handover

Mission Alignment: This role requires more than technical skill; it requires deep philosophical alignment. We Animals is dedicated to ending the use of animals by humans—whether for food, fashion, entertainment, experimentation, or tradition. Please read our Mission, Values, and Purpose carefully before applying to ensure this is the right fit for your professional and personal ethics.

Organizational Strategy & Effectiveness – 20%

• Lead the implementation of WA’s multi-year strategic plans
• Facilitate annual planning with staff, engaging external consultants when needed, and present plans to the Board for approval
• Align team and departmental work with strategic goals and set clear operational KPIs and impact goals
• Collaborate with the Board and executive team to assess and pursue strategic opportunities
• Oversee operational efficiency and external impact measurement and evaluation

 Team Leadership & Culture – 20%

• Directly supervise team members including Director of Development, Director of Visual Content, Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Operations Manager
• Foster a culture of trust, accountability, and well-being that aligns with WA values

Human Resources & Organizational Planning – 20%

• Oversee HR/employee policies and ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations
• Manage current organizational structure; plan for future iterations
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes
• Support hiring managers in making hiring decisions
• Manage staff compensation structure subject to HR committee input/oversight and Board approval through the budget process
• Handle sensitive personnel issues and escalate to the Founder/President and/or the Board when necessary
• Support succession planning and leadership development
• Set performance expectations and manage evaluations across departments
• Identify staff training and development needs and implement solutions

Financial Management – 15%

• Develop and manage the organization’s annual operating budget, subject to approval by the board
• Oversee bookkeeping, reporting, and financial systems with the Operations Manager
• Liaise with the external accountant and audit firm to ensure accurate financial reporting and filings
• Monitor and report on financial status and manage organizational financial risk with input from the Audit and Finance Committee
• Approve budgets and timelines; oversee the execution of projects

Fundraising & Development – 15%

• Oversee the development and implementation of the organization’s fundraising strategy
• Collaborate with fundraising staff to develop major grant applications and campaigns
• Maintain relationships with institutional funders through account management and reporting

Governance & Compliance – 7%

• Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements
• Collaborate with the Board to review strategy, finances, and organizational stability
• Prepare board meeting materials and support quarterly board meetings and the AGM
• Maintain engagement with and support recruitment for a diverse and effective Board

Risk Management & Operations – 3%

• Monitor and manage organizational risks, including legal, reputational, and cybersecurity
• Support or lead the implementation of operational systems and infrastructure improvements

Additional Duties As Required

• Represent WA at events and in partnership conversations when appropriate
• Attend HR, Audit and Finance Committee meetings

• At least 7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit leadership, operations, organizational management, or a related field
• At least 3 years of experience in a senior leadership role with responsibility for people, budgets, organizational planning, and cross-departmental decision-making
• Demonstrated experience managing and supporting senior staff or departmental leaders
• Experience developing and managing organizational or departmental budgets, reviewing financial reports, forecasting, and supporting financial decision-making
• Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors and preparing clear materials for governance and committee meetings
• Strong understanding of nonprofit operations, organizational risk, and good governance practices
• Experience overseeing human resources, including performance management, recruitment, organizational planning, compensation, and sensitive personnel matters
• Experience overseeing fundraising strategy and working with fundraising staff, institutional funders, grant applications, reporting, or donor stewardship
• Demonstrated ability to implement strategic and annual plans, establish priorities, and monitor progress
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with a track record of moving complex work from planning through completion
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a remote, asynchronous team operating across multiple time zones
• Experience using digital communication, project management, and collaboration tools. We use Asana, Slack, and Google Workspace.
• Values alignment: a demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, our organizational philosophy regarding animal advocacy. You must be comfortable working in an environment that challenges the status quo of human-animal relationships.
• Alignment with vegan values and the ability to represent We Animals’ values publicly and with partners
• Ability to travel at least once per year for a team retreat and/or relevant organizational events

Strong assets:

• Previous experience as an Executive Director, Interim Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, or comparable nonprofit leader
• Experience leading a remote organization of a similar size and complexity
• Experience joining an organization in an interim, transition, or parental leave capacity
• Familiarity with Canadian nonprofit governance, employment requirements, and regulatory compliance
• Experience managing staff or organizational arrangements across multiple countries, including through an Employer of Record
• Familiarity with fiscal sponsorship and cross-border funding arrangements
• An understanding of animal advocacy and/or photojournalism
• Interest in and experience with AI tools in nonprofit operations, organizational planning, or management

• Flexible hours
• Remote work
• Three weeks’ paid vacation (prorated based on hours worked) plus an extended holiday closure period
• Benefits package
• Remote work stipend
• Paid training opportunities and professional development allowance
• A friendly, funny, talented, and caring team

We are a federally incorporated non-profit based in Toronto, Canada. We are a small (14 staff members (~11.9 FTE) fully remote team distributed across different time zones in North America and Europe. We offer a flexible working schedule, professional development opportunities, and operate with autonomy to support diverse needs and working styles. 

If you’d like to apply for this position, please complete this form by September 4, 2026 at 12:00pm EDT. Interviews will be held on an ongoing basis until a qualified candidate is found.

Mostly qualified? Please read this!
If you meet most, but not all, requirements and still think you would be a great fit for the role, we encourage you to apply and let us know how we can support you. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those from underrepresented groups. We value diversity and believe that work on behalf of animals benefits significantly from collaborating with people from all backgrounds and identities. Accommodations are available during the screening process upon request.

Screening process (subject to minor adjustments):

• Application form
• Skills assessment
• Interview 1
• Interview 2
• TBD: final conversation with director team &/or board members
• Reference check