Location:

22 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2S7

About Us

The Weston Family Foundation is a family-led charitable foundation that focuses on creative solutions in the areas ofhealthy aging and healthy ecosystemswith the objective of delivering measurable impacts to the well-being of Canadians. Since its inceptionmore than 60 years ago, the Foundation has provided$520million in charitable grants and today is one of Canada’s largest private charitable foundations.

Job Description:

Program Manager, Conservation

About the Foundation

At the Weston Family Foundation (formerly The W. Garfield Weston Foundation), more than 60 years of philanthropy has taught us that there’s a relationship between healthy landscapes and healthy people. That’s why we champion world-class health research and innovation with the same passion that we support initiatives to protect and restore biodiversity on our unique landscapes. We take a collaborative approach to philanthropy, working alongside forward-thinking partners to advance Canada and create lasting impacts. We aspire to do more than provide funding, as we enable others to find transformational ways to improve the well-being of Canadians.

The Role

The Program Manager, Conservation is responsible for helping to support and execute the strategy of the Foundation’s Conservation Committee (a committee comprised of a subset of Directors of the Board). He/she/they works to help manage the Committee’s program portfolio in support of the Foundation’s aim to improve and protect biodiversity in Canadian landscapes by funding organizations that conduct research, protect ecosystems, and connect Canadians to nature.

The Program Manager will work closely with other Foundation team members and report to the Program Director, Conservation. It is expected that the Program Manager will use the best practices and approaches set forth by the Foundation’s leadership team to position the Conservation Committee in strong internal and external standing. The Program Manager preferably holds an advanced degree and expertise in a relevant field, such as environmental/conservation science or natural resources management. He/she/they brings experience working in the charitable/Not for profit sector, ensuring grant management is done to the highest standard. Working very closely with the Program Director and other members of the Conservation Committee, the Program Manager uses his/her/their understanding and acumen of conservation to bring sound judgement, help uncover new opportunities and recommend ideas in support of the Conservation Committee’s priorities and vision.

Key Responsibilities

Grants Management

Manage a portfolio of grants, including: monitoring and measuring impact, analyzing reports to ensure appropriate financial management and deliverables, and reviewing grant payments.
Support formal calls for proposals relating to Conservation programs, ensuring that timelines and guidelines are appropriately set and adhered to, including the support of appropriate collaterals such as advertisements and web pages.
Coordinate and support the assessment of proposals to the Foundation, analyzing the quality, potential impact, program alignment and organizational viability; obtaining appropriate expert advice and references; helping to reach a funding judgement through development and implementation of expert decision-making panels; and handling relationships throughout the process.
Assist with research and strategy development toward the design and implementation of a novel grantmaking program.

Relationship Management

Work closely with the Program Director to:
- Support discussions regarding planning and decision-making cycles of the Committee, Pillar, Board and Foundation; and
- Support development of agendas.
Manage and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including other Foundation colleagues, contractors, advisors, prospective and current grantees, and government or community representatives.
Convene multi-stakeholder groups to engage and build a constructive dialogue, including the planning, coordination, execution, and facilitation of convening activities (e.g., workshops, forums, speaker events, and webinars).

Conservation Committee Operations

Help generate materials for Committee meetings, Pillar meetings and Board Meetings.
Support the drafting of relevant grant-making materials (e.g. grant agreements.)
Support fiscal responsibility of the Committee budget.
Attend relevant events, conferences etc. to enhance knowledge or represent the Committee and Foundation as needed.

Communications

Support the Program Director, Conservation, and the Director of Communications to generate materials for external communications including:
- Foundation website
- Press releases
- Social media
- Third-party communications projects to ensure accuracy and alignment to overall Committee communications

Qualifications

An advanced degree in the natural sciences, with preference for expertise in conservation, ecology/biodiversity, and natural resources management.
At least 2 years minimum practical experience in conservation with a proven background delivering conservation outcomes.
Knowledge of conservation approaches, and of the linkages between conservation practices and biodiversity outcomes.
Strong background in project management, budgeting, and financial tracking.
Advanced communication skills to develop relationships with organizations at all levels, and analytical skills to drive initiatives forward and provide advice and support to the Foundation.
Ability to network and convene multi-stakeholder groups and build a constructive dialogue to address conservation issues in a collaborative way.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and manage multiple demands and competing priorities with a minimum of direction.
Strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, ability to make decisions, sound judgment and experience applying creative solutions to problems
Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with other database management systems relating to granting and/or community engagement an asset.

The Weston Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. We know our success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees and that diverse backgrounds and experiences make our business stronger.

If you are contacted for a job opportunity and require accommodation, please email people.culture@wittington.ca, so we can ensure you have an accessible candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. All requests are confidential and used only to meet candidate needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range: $73,000-$100,000

Role Type: Permanent, #LI-hybrid

Contract Type:

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