Associate Director, External Relations & Growth Operations
About WBF
We are a team of driven, passionate people looking to make positive change in the world. WBF is a non-profit organization with a mission of economic security for Women. WBF removes barriers between unemployed and underemployed women and resilient careers in which women are currently under-represented - the trades, operating and driving industries. WBF is enacting a renewed strategy that surrounds growth of impact across Alberta and other provinces. This is a new role in a dynamic division focused on organizational sustainability and widespread social change. It is an exciting time, come join our team!
WBF is building an inclusive organizational culture that encourages, uplifts, and celebrates diversity of our employees and the communities we serve. There is a high level of commitment to workplace inclusion based on values of Integrity, Health & Safety, Courage, and Compassion. Career opportunities with WBF are open to all genders. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience are encouraged to apply. Diversity makes our team better!
The Role
The Associate Director of External Relations and Growth Operations at Women Building Futures is an exciting leadership role that works closely with the Director to coordinate daily operations between departmental management, aiding the Director in executing high-level administration, ensuring divisional compliance with internal policies, support and coach three driven and talented managers/leads as their direct supervisor, participate in regular division meetings, oversee division metric recording and reporting, and filling in to back up the Director when needed.
The Director spearheads innovative plans to cultivate key strategic partnerships and the Associate Director works with managers to operationalize these partnerships and identify, approach and steward other values-aligned partners. The Director holds the dynamic vision for the division (including the work of Workforce Partnerships, Donor Relations and Workforce Inclusion); the Associate Director operationalizes this vision with a holistic lens. This role offers an exciting opportunity to coach a dedicated team, and advance and apply leadership capabilities in a supported environment. If you're ready to champion change, foster growth, and make a lasting impact, join Women Building Futures in this thrilling role at the forefront of empowering women's careers and resulting economic security.
GROWTH AT WOMEN BUILDING FUTURES
At Women Building Futures, our vision of growth transcends the conventional notion of expanding our physical footprint. While some organizations prioritize regional expansion, our primary focus is on amplifying our impact. We aim to empower as many women as possible, fostering their journey towards economic security. Our mission is to uplift and support women on a larger scale. By 2026, we have set a bold target of positively influencing the lives of 300 Albertan women annually and have sustained programming supporting women in Ontario. It's crucial to understand that our commitment to physical expansion is driven by the compelling desire to enhance the economic security of women, underlining our dedication to making a meaningful and widespread difference in the lives of those we serve.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership: Lead and inspire a team of three external relations professionals, providing guidance, support, and mentorship. Maintain weekly check-ins and chair weekly leads meetings. Foster a collaborative and results-oriented team culture, keeping the Director informed about division needs.
Partnership Processes and Oversight: Support your team to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including government agencies, corporations, unions, and associations. Lead the internal organization of partnership journeys through the organization and monitor and update the critical path. Own the WBF partnership definition and recognition framework and recommend updates.
Writing high-impact proposals: Supports research and writing of high-volume foundation, partner and government grant applications and proposals as required.
ER&G business best practices: Lead the work of developing partnership agreement templates and other internal and external documentation over three departments to protect both partners and WBF. Establish consistent practices and application of partnership business affairs working closely with Finance and the PMD department as appropriate.
Capacity to support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)programming for partners: Cross-training as a senior WBF leader with facilitator capability when needed for our Workforce Inclusion training. Supporting department to evolve the next iteration of the program. Integrate principles of DEI into all aspects of external relations and growth efforts with a focus on Psychological Health and Safety. Ability to champion and advance diversity and inclusion within employer partnerships.
Metrics and Reporting: Working with key staff within ER&G, lead the team’s standardization of information-capture related to external partnerships activities (predominately using a customized Raiser’s Edge system). Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of external relations and growth initiatives. Provide regular reports to the Director on progress and outcomes.
Budget review and cost analysis: For the three departments this role oversees, support the managers in detailed review of available funds and cost reports, and provide summaries to the Director, including recommending areas for resourcing.
Supporting the Director: Completing high-level correspondence when needed, supporting and assisting the Director by filling in as requested. This role is not a member of the Senior Leadership Team but will serve as the primary back up for the ER&G Director.
Skills & Abilities
- Proven ability to lead, motivate and empower diverse teams by fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, delegating effectively, and providing constructive feedback and guidance. Complimentary influence and negotiation skills that drive alignment and consensus in participatory decision-making important.
- High degree of personal awareness and advanced ability to self-modulate. Continually improving.
- Effective communicator verbally and in writing
- Strong people skills
- In-depth understanding of industry trends, best practices, and emerging opportunities in the workforce development and non-traditional careers space.
- Skilled Trades or Transportation sector contacts and experience an asset.
- High level of personal integrity and commitment to putting the Mission and values of Women Building Futures into action
- Great capacity to adapt in a dynamic and changing environment.
- Comfort working in the middle of a complex reporting structure.
- Patience in supporting external partners where they are at.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Successful change management experience. Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into a summary form.
- Alignment with WBF’s values and culture, including a commitment to continuous learning, and creating safe, inclusive workplaces with respect for all employees, applicants, students and stakeholders.
- Understanding of how historical and structural inequalities impact marginalized groups within the organization and society.
- Awareness of the challenges of women working in non-traditional roles; cultural, economic and social barriers to adult learning and employment.
Education & Experience
- 10 years minimum of demonstrated and proven fund/business development & industry relationship management experience.
- 5 years of experience leading a diverse team.
- Familiarity and experience with non-profit sector, social determinants of change and D.E.I. an asset.
- Diploma or degree in a related field (e.g., fund development, business, marketing, communications, public relations, social sciences).
- Grant writing experience
- Flexible; able to address the challenges faced by industry partners and sometimes outside of business hours.
- Occasional travel will be required. Some evening and weekends may be required.
Competition open until suitable candidate found. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
womenbuildingfutures.com
10326 107 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 1K2
Phone: 780 452 1200 TOLL-FREE: 1 866 452 1201