Manager, Strategic Initiatives

We’re currently looking to hire a permanent, full time Manager, for the Strategic Initiatives team. The Manager, Strategic Initiatives will lead and manage the day to day operations of pan-Canadian funding programs for CFC. CFC works in partnership with funders (government, corporate, or others) and with our network of community foundations that bring the program to life, and deliver funding to eligible charities and projects operating at the community level. The Manager, Strategic Initiatives will lead a dynamic project team to ensure the smooth delivery of CFC funding program(s).

CFC is committed to relentlessly pursuing a future where everyone belongs — that starts with our team. We can grow, learn and better serve our communities with a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome the unique contributions people can bring in terms of their geographic location in Canada, education, culture, ethnicity, Indigenous status, race, languages spoken, gender identity and expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Learn more about our purpose and meet our team.

Key Facts

– Status: permanent, full time position

– Location: this position is a remote work-from-home position with some travel for specific activities. Candidates may be based anywhere in Canada but must be able to participate occasionally in virtual meetings as early as 9 AM Eastern time. CFC will offer a small budget to support office set up and monthly costs such as internet

– Total Compensation Package: $50,000 to $65,000 per year with a generous benefit package as well as non-matching RRSP contributions

Who are we looking for? 
You are an experienced project manager with the ability to motivate a team and track progress toward significant project milestones while maintaining a keen eye for detail. You are a solutions-oriented problem solver with high capacity to prioritize, balancing competing priorities and deadlines. You are comfortable delegating and can incite and track progress toward project milestones while overseeing a large project budget.

You are comfortable working with a diverse group of stakeholders and building positive relationship dynamics among groups with competing interests and priorities. You are skilled at making connections, developing trusting relationships, managing stakeholders, and providing excellent customer service. You are able to use various types of virtual tools to facilitate and host meetings and events seamlessly.

You have excellent presentation, communication, and organizational skills and can develop positive relationships as a representative of CFC across the charitable sector, subject matter experts, and representatives of diverse stakeholder groups across the country. You are able to manage a complex portfolio of work, with multiple deadlines and deliverables.

You are a self-starter with a can-do, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude, who’s not afraid to dive in wherever necessary to get the job done. You are adaptive and thrive when working in complexity.

You understand and apply an anti-oppression, anti-racist, and feminist lens to your work. You uphold the values of CFC and help advance our commitments. This position reports to the Director, Strategic Initiatives.

CFC is committed to relentlessly pursuing a future where everyone belongs — that starts with our team. We can grow, learn and better serve our communities with a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome the unique contributions people can bring in terms of their geographic location in Canada, education, culture, ethnicity, Indigenous status, race, languages spoken, gender identity and expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

What does the role involve? 

Project Management (50%)

– Management of CFC’s implementation of the funding program(s), ensuring we are on track to meet all program milestones and deliverables
– Directing and managing a project team,  multi-million dollar program budgets, reviewing contracts and liaising with lawyers, overseeing and completing reporting requirements, and collaborating across teams (Communications, Corporate Services, Data & Systems, Learning Institute, Applicant Support) to ensure a cohesive and streamlined implementation of the program(s)
– Deliver and prepare informative and engaging presentations, strongly preferred in English and French to staff, prospective applicants, agencies etc. virtually and/or in person
– Designing funding programs using software such as Survey Monkey Apply, leading the creation of granting programs documentation, forms and other evolving tools to supporting applicants
– Conducting risk assessment on an ongoing and iterative basis
– Maintaining an ongoing flow of communications and updates to the Director, Strategic Initiatives on major project milestones and any issues that may arise and preparing briefing notes to senior management

Stakeholder Engagement (30%)

– Developing and maintaining trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Canada’s 191 community foundations ranging from small, volunteer-led organizations to larger organizations with a significant staff size, to seek and support their involvement in initiatives and contribute to the design and implementation of the program
– Navigating complex relationship dynamics between partners, funders, community foundations and other stakeholders
– Leading and navigating consultation activities that may be used to inform the design and delivery of the program(s)
– Providing training, support, resources and assistance to community foundations that are participants in the program(s), and to applicants
– Ensuring the project team is providing a high standard of customer service to external stakeholders, community foundations, and the general public

Strategy & Planning (10%)

– Providing strategic analysis, decision making, and recommendations to senior management on the direction and implementation of the program(s)
– Develop strategies to identify, manage and mitigate against organizational risk relating to programming
– Development of proposal or amendments to programs in collaboration with the Director, Strategic Initiatives
– Ensure consideration for priority social issues, such as equity deserving groups, cultural safety, gender, environment, in design and implementation approaches as well as the local context

Other Responsibilities (10%)

– As part of CFC’s culture of collaboration, partnership and support, provide other logistical, engagement, communications and administrative support to CFC’s practice areas and initiatives, as needed

Skills and Qualifications:
– 3+ years of experience in project management overseeing projects that involve many stakeholders and complex budgets
– Demonstrated experience with building strong relationships and partnerships across sectors, including negotiating and navigating conversations with external stakeholders, when diverging interests are present
– Demonstrated diplomacy and discretion in handling delicate and highly confidential matters
– Demonstrated ability to work and prioritize in a fast-paced environment with multiple, changing priorities
– Experience providing high quality support or service in a team environment
– Strong planning and organizational skills
– Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
– Strong written and oral communication skills
– High standards of professional behaviour, ethical standards, and sound judgment
– Experience (or familiarity) with cloud-based CRM, productivity and collaboration tools. CFC uses GSuite (Google Docs, Sheets and Slide, etc), Zoho One (CRM, Survey, Forms, Projects, etc), Slack and Zoom
– Lived experiences or knowledge that contribute to CFC’s purpose, creativity, and perspectives

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:
– Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), or other similar project management training
– Strong written and oral communication skills in French and English strongly preferred
– Respected community networker with a proven track record of experience in the community foundation and/or the philanthropic sector
– Experience in the charitable, not for profit or foundation-sector is desirable
– Lived experiences or knowledge that contribute to CFC’s purpose, creativity, and perspectives

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to the following form: click here. Please address your cover letter to Alison Sidney, Director of Strategic Initiatives. In your cover letter, please explain why you are interested in joining CFC and this role.

The deadline for applications is June 19,  2022, although applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis so please apply early.

Form link: https://forms.communityfoundations.ca/cfcfcc/form/CFCCareerApplicationForm/formperma/3wvuTh3VLmysIwgq6lzXrqJFyXp1X0cx72qCEo_f-I0