Career Profile: The Non-Profit Sector

If you like working on issues that are close to your heart and making a difference in your community, then maybe working in the non-profit industry is the career for you!

Ann Boiteau is the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Nunavut regional director of Katimavik. This non-profit organization’s mission is to engage youth in volunteering opportunities in various communities across Canada. Youthink had a chance to interview Ann and learn more about her role in this fulfilling industry.

YT: What was your pathway to this position?
AB: I was semi-retired already when I heard about this opening. I always wanted to work with youth. I had a lot of the administrative and managing experience required to do this job, but I had never had the opportunity to work with youth. I believe in helping youth work on their life plan. After meeting with the human resources director and the executive director, I was convinced that this was a totally suitable position for me and I have loved every minute of it so far.

YT: What are your responsibilities in this job? Can you describe a typical day at work?
AB: My day sometimes starts at home before I leave for the office. Someone, a project leader, a project coordinator, a parent or even the police may be phoning me on the emergency cellular phone to talk about a particular situation. Then, I go to the office or I may be going out to the airport to go to a meeting in another province or territory or visiting projects. I travel on average eight days per month.

In the office, I meet for a few minutes with each manager every day to see what the priority is for the day. We have financial report deadlines to meet, program issues sometimes with work partners, possible van accidents or registration issues, possibly some communications priorities in certain communities, etc. Lately, we have been working on annual plans and an H1N1 Service Continuity Plan for the field and our office. The days go by really quickly. After meeting with staff, I review and respond to emails. Then I will make phone calls to talk to project coordinators and get a feel for what is going on in the districts. I may also call our national office directors to discuss certain policies and get advice. Before I know it, it is 5:30 pm and it is time to think about going home.

YT: What training is typically necessary for your position (i.e. management at a non-profit) and where can you go to get this training?
AB: I have a legal background. I was a lawyer in Quebec before I moved to Alberta. I worked in management for the federal government for 16 years, of which 10 were in an operational setting. I would say that a background in the management of human and financial resources is necessary. I have also volunteered in different not-for-profit organizations for 16 years. In addition, I believe that a legal education can help anyone in any kind of work. Of course, being bilingual and having training in the non-profit sector are both great assets.

YT: What kind of opportunities can this training/job lead to?
AB: One very big advantage of working in the non-profit sector, is that you learn and do everything. There are never enough people to divide the work. You end up with very versatile skills and a diversified experience. For example, I have gained incredible experience developing northern projects in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. This was an incredible opportunity and gave me very transferable skills. I believe that I could transfer these new skills to any type of organization looking to do some work in the North. Also, the travelling has given me the opportunity to rediscover Canada and its people from a different point of view. I have learned about so many not-for-profit organizations all throughout Canada and the good work that they all do.

YT: What are the hours of your job? Do you get many holidays?
AB: I work an average of 50 hours per week if I am not travelling and I am on call for emergencies 24 hours a day. So, when I am in the office, I try to get home early, so I really try to not work more than eight hours per day. It is hard to keep a schedule when I am on the road, because I often meet participants and field staff after their working day. I get five weeks of holiday per year. However, it would be very difficult to take them all at the same time. So, I add a day here and there to visit my family in Quebec.

YT: What is the salary range for someone in your position?
AB: The unfortunate part about this job, is that it is not a well paying position financially speaking. The salary range is between $55,000 and $70,000. In our organization, we get the cost of living increases every year, but no raises or bonuses. Most people working in the not-for-profit sector have a passion that is often lacking in a private sector position and therefore requires monetary compensation. Of course, not everyone can afford to work for lower compensation.

YT: What is your working environment like?
AB: My physical work environment is an office with a Mac and a phone. I also work with a smart phone and a laptop with Internet access when I am on the road or at home if we have an emergency and I must access emails or the Internet.

YT: What is the hardest part/biggest challenge of your job?
AB: I would have to say that the turnover and training of staff is my biggest challenge. The work in a not-for-profit organization is very demanding, the pay not always adequate and people come to get the experience but move on rather quickly. We therefore find ourselves training and re-training quite regularly.

YT: What kind of personality is best suited for a position like yours?
AB: I would have to say that you need to be a very patient person, always willing to learn new things, be ready for change and have a very open mind.

YT: What do you like about working for a non-profit organization?
AB: I love the fact that I am trying to better the life of people and make a difference in communities. I also love meeting new people and working with local politicians in trying to improve their community.

YT: What advice would you give high-school students regarding a career in the non-profit sector?
AB: It is a passionate field of work with many rewards, not always tangible. It makes you feel really good inside. I think that it is a big decision and one that requires some thought. If you are thinking about a career in this sector, make sure that you pick the one organization or field that is closest to your heart. You really can pick what and for whom you work in this sector.