General Manager

Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative Ltd.

Status: Open Location: Calgary, AB

The Organization

Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative is a long-standing; non-profit housing co-operative located in Calgary’s Rutland Park community. Established in 1971, the over 30-acre co-op is currently comprised of 380 townhome units and serves a diverse, multi-generational membership, with a significant proportion of long-term residents. The community has recently completed a 3-year ~$52M exterior and energy efficiency retrofit project.  Sarcee Meadows Operates under the Alberta’s Cooperatives Act, Cooperative Regulations, Sarcee Meadows By-laws, Policies and Procedures. Sarcee Meadows provides affordable housing within a member-governed model that emphasizes shared responsibility, financial sustainability, and community pride.

As a member-owned and board-governed organization, the co-operative is guided by principles of democratic control, accountability, and community engagement. Members purchase a share that grants them the right to occupy a unit and participate in decision-making, reinforcing a culture of involvement and collective stewardship. With over five decades of history, Sarcee Meadows continues to balance affordability, operational excellence, and strong community values within one of Canada’s largest housing co-operatives.

Mission

To ensure the development of a member-driven, nonprofit housing co-operative that provides quality and affordable housing and related services within an inclusive, safe and secure, diverse and caring community.

Reports to:	Board of Directors
Direct Reports:	3 Administrative staff and 1 Maintenance Manager, who oversees approximately 8 other maintenance staff.
Location:	Calgary, AB – Onsite.

Mandate

The General Manager serves as the senior executive of Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative Ltd., accountable for the long-term sustainability, financial stewardship, and effective governance of a 380-unit, member-driven affordable housing community.

Reporting to the Board Chair and working closely with the additional volunteer Board of Directors (8-13 members), the General Manager provides disciplined financial oversight, operational leadership, and trusted governance support within a cooperative framework.

Key Accountabilities

Operations & Asset Management

• Provide effective day-to-day oversight of a multi-unit residential property and associated systems.
• Strengthen property management oversight, maintenance planning, and capital replacement processes.
• Improve internal efficiencies and operational workflows across administrative and maintenance functions.
• Ensure effective systems for tracking work orders, inventory, and member records.
• Oversee member transitions, Housing Charge Assistance administration, and fair bylaw enforcement.

Financial Stewardship & Risk Management

• Lead development and execution of the ~$5M annual operating budget with disciplined financial oversight. 
• Strengthen budgeting processes and improve clarity of monthly financial reporting to the Board and Finance Committee. 
• Provide leadership and oversight of financial operations, including payroll and internal controls, while partnering with auditors and accountants to ensure accurate reporting, compliance, and the effective use of accounting systems.
• Manage contracts, expenditures, and capital planning to safeguard long-term sustainability. 
• Manage the process for RFP (Request for Proposal) and RFI (Request for Information).
• Ensure appropriate risk management and business continuity and planning is in place to safeguard operations. 
• Ensure compliance with cooperative and affordable housing financial guidelines while mitigating organizational risk. 

Strategy & Member Engagement

• Lead implementation of Board-approved strategic priorities to ensure long-term sustainability of the cooperative. Aid in planning and development of new ideas and their execution.
• Contribute to and support a range of Board and member-led committees (e.g., Finance, Property Maintenance, Website Development, and ad hoc groups), recognizing that participation will require evening availability beyond standard working hours.
• Promote co-operative values while balancing affordability, service expectations, and asset stewardship. 
• Foster meaningful member engagement through transparent, effective communication across the co-operative community, leveraging a variety of communication channels. 
• Provide steady leadership in member forums, including the AGM and quarterly meetings. 
• Anticipate and respond to evolving needs of an aging and long-tenured membership while actively encouraging full engagement of new members that represent the full diversity of the city in the co-op community. 

Leadership & People Management

• Recruit, lead, and develop administrative and maintenance staff to ensure operational excellence. 
• Clarify roles, strengthen accountability, and foster a culture of professionalism and service. 
• Strengthen communications across staff and board to improve organizational alignment. 
• Demonstrate calm, steady, and principled leadership within a cooperative governance environment. 
• Foster a culture of trust and collaboration by building strong relationships with staff, mentoring and supporting their success, and ensuring accountability through clear expectations and annual performance reviews.

Governance & Board Relations

• Serve as the sole direct report to the Board, providing clear, accurate and timely reporting as well as providing advice to support governance decisions. 
• Prepare and present materials for Board meetings, committees, the AGM, and member meetings with confidence and clarity. 
• Strengthen governance discipline by reinforcing appropriate boundaries between Board oversight and operational management. 
• Support policy development and ensure full compliance with Cooperatives Act, Cooperative Regulations, Sarcee Meadows Bylaws, Policies and procedures and all other applicable legislation. 
• Build and maintain a high-trust, productive working relationship with the Board and the committees of Sarcee Meadows Housing Cooperative. 

Measures of Success

• Deliver the approved ~$5M operating budget with accuracy and strong financial processes, clear reporting, and disciplined forecasting.
• Lead property management oversight, maintenance planning, and internal systems to achieve continuous improvement in operational efficiency and service reliability across the community. 
• Foster governance clarity and support committee work by offering a high standard of Board reporting and demonstrating composed leadership at the AGM and member meetings. 
• Establish strong working relationships with staff and the Board by demonstrating steady, principled leadership, clear expectations, and effective communication. 
• Foster meaningful, strong, trusting and positive relationships with members of the community.
• In support of the board committee, lead the website redevelopment.
• Drive long-term strategy (3–10-year horizon) through data-driven forecasting, market analysis, and scenario planning, while supporting business strategy execution related to density, infrastructure, capital planning, and the evolving needs of aging assets.
• Lead the planning and execution of post-retrofit Building Condition Assessments to inform ongoing capital planning and asset management.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the cooperative model and principles, with thorough knowledge of governing documents, including the Cooperative Act, regulations, bylaws, policies, and procedures.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Post secondary education in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

The ideal candidate will add the following capabilities and perspectives to our organization:

• Ten years progressive leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management role. Prior experience leading an entire organization is an advantage.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-million-dollar budgets. 
• Experience planning, funding (grants, partnerships or financing), and delivering large-scale capital and infrastructure projects, with the ability to position an organization for long-term growth and adaptation in an evolving urban environment.
• Experience developing and implementing effective policy frameworks within complex and unique operating environments.
• Experience working with or reporting to a volunteer Board. 
• Experience working with and overseeing both administrative staff and operational maintenance staff.
• Strong financial management and reporting expertise. 
• Experience in housing, property management, cooperative, not-for-profit, or regulated environments.
• General finance and accounting systems knowledge. 
• Experience dealing with regulatory matters, legal considerations and human resources activities.
• Must be bondable

Competencies and Attributes:

• Financially disciplined and operationally strong, with the ability to manage resources effectively and support long-term sustainability.
• Calm, steady, and solutions-oriented, bringing sound judgment in complex and high-demand environments.
• Experienced operating within clear policy frameworks, ensuring consistency, accountability, and good governance.
• Confident navigating committee-based governance structures and working effectively with Boards.
• Communicates in a collaborative, transparent manner across diverse audiences, fostering trust and credibility.
• Demonstrates resilience and professionalism in challenging situations, with strong conflict resolution skills, the ability to set appropriate boundaries, and a commitment to fairness, compassion, and consistency.
• Ability to effectively partner with and support a volunteer Board, working within varying levels of governance experience while implementing Board direction and maintaining organizational effectiveness.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative Ltd. is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. The Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative Ltd. welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and members of racialized communities, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.  In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process upon request. Sarcee Meadows Housing Co-operative Ltd., in partnership with Mullen, is committed to ensuring an accessible and barrier-free hiring process. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send an application package, including your resume and cover letter, to connect@mullenleadership.com. In the subject line of your email, please include the organization’s name and the position title.