Job Title: OSMA District Sheep Committee ("District Committee") Director

Reports to: District Member Producers

Objective: To provide leadership to District sheep producers and ensure open two-way communication between District producers and the OSMA Board of Directors in order to promote the best interests of the entire sheep industry in Ontario and OSMA.

Responsibilities:

• Exercise leadership;
• Ensure an effective, informed, and responsive District Committee;
• Operate within legal and ethical guidelines;
• Co-operate with other Directors in ensuring that all District Committee decisions and actions are made in the best interests of producers, the sheep industry and OSMA; and,
• Foster a positive image of OSMA and the sheep industry for producers, industry partners, employees and the broader community.

Sound Financial Management

• Ensure that the business of the District Committee is conducted in a financially prudent manner exercising a standard of care that is no less than one would exercise in the conduct of one's own affairs.

Leadership

• Promote Ontario's sheep industry in all public venues and set an example for District producers on how to support the growth and development of the sheep industry.
• Express the needs and concerns of producers to OSMA's Board of Directors;
• Explain and promote OSMA's strategic directions, initiatives, and polices to District producers;
• Set aside at least one day each year for the Directors to develop an annual Action Plan for the District.
• Keep informed of sheep industry issues and trends.
• Represent OSMA on such local agricultural, industry, Government, and other committees as deemed appropriate by the District Committee, subject to such general guidelines as may be established by OSMA.
• Attend provincial meetings of District directors to enhance communication among Districts and between District Committees and OSMA's Board of Directors.
• Provide new District Committee members with a comprehensive orientation to OSMA and assist them in obtaining appropriate Director training

Development of Effective, Informed, and Responsive Board of Directors

• Communicate and consult with District producers.
• Attend all District Committee meetings
• Ensure that all producer concerns and suggestions are given appropriate consideration, and that all producer communications are answered in a timely fashion.
• Attend at least one training event annually to update skills.

Legal and Ethical Guidelines

• Understand and adhere to all OSMA and District Committee policies and procedures.
• Adhere to OSMA's Conflict of Interest policy.

Co-operation among Directors

• Express and discuss all views openly, fairly and constructively at District Committee meetings.
• Respect differences of opinion among Directors.
• Foster a spirit of co-operation, cohesion, and team work among all Directors; avoid factionalism.
• Make all decisions with a view to the best interests of the entire sheep industry.
• Once the District Committee has made a duly deliberated decision, support the Committee's decision as if it had been made unanimously.
• Co-operate with other Directors in communicating all OSMA decisions and policies in a consistent fashion.
• Do not act independently of OSMA in dealing with producers, media, or other industry partners; remember that the authority of an individual Director does not extend beyond the power vested in that Director by the entire District Committee and OSMA.
• Maintain confidential information in strictest confidence.

Fostering of Positive Image for OSMA and Ontario's Sheep Industry

• Set an example for potential District Committee Directors, producers, and employees by:
• Attending all District Committee meetings if possible, arriving promptly, and being prepared to discuss all items on the Agenda.
• Working as a team with other District Committee members.
• Strictly adhering to all regulations, policies, and procedures governing the production and marketing of sheep.
• Purchasing Ontario lamb and sheep products whenever possible.
• Treating other Directors, producers, and employees respectfully and courteously.
• Promote a positive image of OSMA and Ontario's sheep industry in all communications with producers, industry partners, the media, Government, and the general public.
• Communicate to producers about how OSMA provides producers with value for their check-off dollars.

Time Commitment:

Directors could be expected to attend approximately 10-12 District Committee meetings annually. In addition, Directors can expect to make a commitment of 4-6 days annually to participate in committees and other activities requiring Director participation.