Oshawa – Credit Union Careers

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Pathwise Credit Union I Oshawa, ON

For its next Chief Executive Officer, Pathwise Credit Union (PCU) is seeking a forward-thinking visionary leader capable of driving strategic growth, transforming member and employee experiences and aligning corporate strategy with a people-first talent plan. Exceptional with people, you have a proven track record of building great teams and supporting their development toward success. The new CEO will have a mandate to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and innovation.

About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for leading the strategic and operational performance of Pathwise Credit Union. The CEO will ensure the organization fulfills its mission of delivering exceptional value to its members while fostering a workplace culture built on participation, integrity, and results. The CEO will also play a key role in positioning Pathwise Credit Union to grow market share, expand into new member segments, and build on its long-standing commitment to sustainability and cooperative values.

An accomplished strategic executive, the CEO will lead the execution of Pathwise Credit Union’s business strategy, ensuring financial sustainability and balanced risk, operational excellence, and a high-performing team culture. The successful candidate will be a purpose-driven and experienced executive ready to navigate the evolving credit union landscape while protecting the Credit Union’s mission and strengthening the value it delivers to its members.

Organization
Pathwise is a full-service credit union that has proudly supported the financial needs of its over 13,800 members across the Durham region for almost 90 years. Deeply rooted in the community and its cooperative values, Pathwise’s mission is “people helping people find their path to financial success”.

Pathwise Credit Union currently has 2 branches and 48 employees, with significant potential for growth under visionary leadership.

For more information, please visit: www.pathwise.ca

Role Summary
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for providing strategic leadership to Pathwise by working with the Board of Directors and the Leadership Team to establish, implement and oversee PCU’s long range goals, strategies, plans and policies.
The CEO is the highest-ranking executive officer in the organization and has responsibility for the overall success of the organization and is the ultimate decision-maker for the business operations.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
o The ability to develop and communicate a clear vision for the Credit Union and effectively lead the organization towards its goals and objectives.
o The ability to identify and develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with other credit unions, service providers, and community organizations to expand the Credit Union’s reach and enhance its offerings.
o A mindset of continuous improvement that is focused on member-centricity, streamlining operations, and keeping pace with industry trends and competition.

Financial Management:
o Strong financial acumen and the ability to manage and optimize the Credit Union’s financial performance, including asset growth, loan portfolios, liquidity, and profitability.

Risk Management:
o A deep understanding of risk management principles and practices, including credit risk, market risk, operational risk, and compliance, to ensure the Credit Union’s stability and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Team Building and Talent Management:
o The capability to build a high-performing team, recruit top talent and provide effective leadership.
o Architects and recruits a high-caliber executive leadership team, hand-selecting the strategic partners necessary to drive the Credit Union’s long-term vision and foster a positive organizational culture that attracts and retains skilled professionals.

Governance and Compliance:
o Knowledge of corporate governance principles and experience in ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, including reporting requirements, ethical standards, and fiduciary responsibilities.
o Develops and maintains a productive working relationship with the Board, regulators, and other key stakeholders to achieve mutual goals.

Experience & Education
o A degree in business administration (master’s degree preferred) or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
o Experience of 7 to 10 years in senior management positions in a financial services organization.
o Exceptional knowledge and experience in the Canadian banking system and specifically, the credit union industry.
o Union experience is considered an asset.
o Experience in and/or understanding of reporting to a Board of Directors and ability to engage appropriately so that the Board can oversee the cooperative in accordance with good governance principles.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS (PREFERRED)
o Demonstrated ability to lead sustainable growth, teams and channel distribution in a financial setting.
o Adept at leading digital transformation and growing technology skills with people.
o Experience with executive-level talent attraction, recruiting, integration and retention.

The salary range for this role is: $235,450 – $277,000 plus STIP.

This is a publicly advertised job posting for an existing vacancy.
Hawkeye Strategies Inc. does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.

Location
The primary location of this role is in Oshawa and Durham Region, Ontario, part of the Greater Toronto Area.

Please note that, while this is the preference of the Board of Directors, they are open to discussion with candidates who wish to commute from outside of the immediate area.

With a population of almost 200,000 people and the largest city in the Durham Region, Oshawa is a growing and diverse city located east of Toronto on Lake Ontario. With a rich General Motors history, it has expanded into a hub of health care, education, and technology, while offering a mix of suburban, urban, and natural amenities.

For more information visit:
https://www.oshawa.ca/explore-play/
https://www.durham.ca/en/discovering-durham/discovering-durham.aspx

Oshawa and Durham Region’s mix of dynamic community assets and growth opportunities makes it an ideal home base for leaders looking to make an impact—both professionally and personally.

To Apply

To fill this position, Pathwise Credit Union has partnered with governance consulting firm Hawkeye Strategies Inc. We would like to thank all applicants but regret that we are only able to personally contact those individuals whose backgrounds best match the requirements for the role.

For questions about this role, please email cerasuolo@hawkeyestrategies.com

Chief Executive Officer

Pathwise Credit Union first opened its doors on April 2, 1938, offering savings and loan services to 29 amazing members. Over 80 years and nearly 11,000 members later, the credit union originally founded as the Auto Workers Credit Union (AWCU) continues to proudly support the financial needs of auto workers and their families as well as an expanding base of new members in Oshawa and beyond. Pathwise’s assets have grown to over $430 million, and the credit union employs 55 highly engaged staff between its two branches who are united in ensuring that all its members are on their path to financial success.

Fresh off its corporate rebranding, a new banking system and with a skilled and highly committed senior leadership team seeking to leverage the incredible population growth across the Durham Region, Pathwise is seeking its next Chief Executive Officer.

Reporting to Pathwise’s Board of Directors, as CEO you are responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the credit union. Your strong vision for the future will ensure that Pathwise’s senior leadership are establishing, implementing and overseeing the Credit Union’s long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies while keeping Pathwise agile and ready for ongoing change and growth. As the public face of the credit union, you will maintain effective and productive relationships with Pathwise’s regulator, business community, fintech partners and within the credit union system.

As an ideal candidate, you are a trusted and forward-looking financial industry leader with at least 10 years of senior leadership experience and a proven record of making sound business decisions that have achieved efficiency, optimization, growth and change. Your outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills are rooted in openness, transparency, and a willingness to explore creative solutions proactively and collaboratively. A dynamic leader who is passionate about community and member engagement, people value you for your integrity, authenticity and desire to innovate while driving a culture of performance and service excellence. You are an inspiring team leader who is naturally inclusive, passionate about coaching and mentorship, and who empowers staff. Pathwise will benefit significantly from your knowledge and demonstrable experience navigating the continuing impacts of new technology on staff and members. Your sound governance knowledge and previous experience reporting to, or serving on, a board of directors will be of great value, as will your previous experience working within unionized environments. You demonstrate a strong understanding of, and sensitivity to, cooperative values and principles, and can champion growth while remaining respectful of the culture and history that have made Pathwise the credit union it is today.

To apply for this exciting credit union leadership position, please visit: boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/1074. For more information, please contact Andrew Dumont and Cameron Morrison at cmorrision@boyden.com or 613-742-3219.

Leader, Commercial Services & Business Development

The Leader, Commercial Services supports company growth by seeking out new commercial business opportunities which will promote profitability. This position is responsible for the development and execution of commercial and small business strategies and leadership of the team. Through effective and strategic sales management and leadership, they coach, mentor and develop the team. Supports member satisfaction and increases market share while growing a sales culture through sales and relationship management. This will include but not be limited to development of business for current and potential members, recommending modifications to policies in response to new or changing circumstances; proactively develop a network of relationships and performing other related duties to further growth of Pathwise Credit Union. This role also participates in the strategic planning process for the credit union while providing strong leadership, organizational, impact, influencing and presentation skills.

ROLE ACCOUNTABILITY

Leadership:
• Responsible for communicating credit union initiatives and supporting the Commercial Department team to meet their business objectives.
• Directs and is ultimately accountable for the recruitment and development of a team of qualified, professional and capable employees.
• Responsible for creating a respectful environment that stimulates, guides and encourages employees to realize their maximum potential and encourages professional development.
• Provide leadership, management, coaching and clearly defined, measurable goals and expectations to the Commercial Department staff.
• Understands, respects, and supports Pathwise’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
• Accountable for the oversight leadership for all Pathwise business centres.
• Responsible and accountable for the development and implementation of service standards for Commercial department.
• Accountable for the operations and performance of the Commercial department.

Business Development & Community
• Responsible and accountable for the development and implementation of sales strategies for the Commercial department by contributing sales information, analysis and recommendations to the corporate sales plan.
• Grows and manages a profitable commercial portfolio.
• Works independently to generate credit and deposit opportunities.
• Responsible to represent Pathwise, build relationships and proactively build business in the community.
• Strong and proven track record of business development and origination, relationship building, and portfolio management.

Risk, Audit and Administration
• Responsible for writing large and complex commercial credit and approving credit written by others.
• Responsible and accountable for the establishment, implementation and continuation of sales management routines in the department that support the sales plan and overall credit union business plan.
• Is the resident expert for all Commercial policies, products and programs. Provides leadership and strategic guidance to the Commercial department.
• Ensures compliance of risk management, cost and pricing in the achievement of sales objectives.
• Minimizes loan risks through diligent, timely and proactive annual financial reviews and ongoing monitoring of changing economic/marketplace influences and applicable industry trends/data.
• Responsible and accountable for the development, implementation and management of the budget including all capital, operating and personnel expenses.
• Accountable for maintaining current and relevant knowledge of industry trends, competitor products and strategies.
• Responsible and accountable to work within the assigned credit limits for lending and approvals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills & Capabilities
• Exceptional leadership and management skills.
• Experience in change management.
• Proven sales experience, sales and pipeline management.
• Experience in commercial business sales management.
• An understanding of marketing and business development.
• Experience in financial management, credit risk management and developing budgets.
• Understanding of corporate tax and financial statements.
• Knowledge of credit union philosophies, principles, legislation, regulations, policies and procedures is an asset.
• Understanding of credit union operations is an asset.
• Experience leading and coaching sales teams.

Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Ten or more years’ job-related experience, with a minimum five years in a commercial lending role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Management experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel (local) and work flexible hours, as required.
• Must be bondable.

APPLICATIONS

Candidates should submit their application, cover letter and resume to:

Attn: People and Culture

E-mail: careers@pathwise.ca

ACCOMMODATION

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance by contacting us at careers@pathwise.ca, subject line “accommodation”.