Head, Northern

Weston Family Foundation•Toronto, ON

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Weston Family Foundation is seeking a Head, Northern to lead the design and execution of innovative programs focused on Canada's Northern Peatlands and other priority areas. This senior leadership role involves deploying over $16 million annually towards evidence-based programs that improve northern biodiversity outcomes, balancing conservation, economic sustainability, and national prosperity. The Head, Northern will build and maintain key relationships with government, land stewards, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders, acting as a convenor of people and ideas to ensure the Foundation's northern activities are credible, ambitious, relevant, and impactful. The role requires a creative and entrepreneurial mindset, with a willingness to chart new paths in northern biodiversity protection.

Requirements

Degree in environmental conservation, natural resource management, environmental economics, or environmental policy.
Minimum 10 years of varied senior experience across multiple disciplines, including but not limited to: protected area establishment, land-use planning and negotiations, environmental policy, ecological stewardship and management, environmental financing, and sustainable resource development.
Demonstrated experience working in entrepreneurial environments, research and innovation, government, industry and charitable / not-for-profit sectors.
Fiscal experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
A successful track record in national program design and execution.
Working knowledge of performance measurement, evaluation and monitoring.
Strong governance experience, including working directly with Boards.
Acumen and ability to manage multi-stakeholder relationships that are credible, relevant, and impactful.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in Canada’s north is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Weston Family Foundation’s senior strategic lead overseeing the $16M+ annual portfolio focused on bolstering Canada’s northern biodiversity.
Develop evidence-based, ambitious theories of change and associated programs focused on protecting the Northern Peatlands (and other key ecosystems) at-scale.
Identify high-risk / high-reward projects that show strong potential for scaling and follow-on funding / investment by the Foundation or other entities.
Provide sound judgement, acumen and knowledge to support the Northern Committee’s explorations and decision-making, while maintaining the priorities and values set by the Board of Directors.
Support the Executive Director and leadership in ongoing Foundation-wide strategic framework.
Contribute to the Foundation’s annual strategic priorities to ensure the opportunities and perspectives of the Northern Committee are reflected.
Identify synergistic opportunities across the broader Weston organization that collectively contribute to Northern biodiversity outcomes in Canada.
Serve as the primary relationship manager to the Northern Committee, working closely with the Committee Chair to prioritize discussions, represent work at Board meetings, develop agendas, and guide discussions.
Develop, nurture and cultivate the Northern Committee’s high-profile, expert advisory body.
Convene a highly influential network of partners and key external stakeholders.
Serve as the primary relationship manager for prospective and current grantees of the Northern Committee.
Act as the key ambassador on behalf of the Northern portfolio to the rest of the Foundation team and broader organization.
Manage the Foundation’s $16M+ budget, annual expenses, and grant agreements.
Manage junior Northern Committee program staff.
Oversee the development and design of programs materials.
Prepare governance materials required for Committee meetings, Board Meetings, Team meetings etc.
Attend relevant events, conferences etc. to further strategic imperatives or represent the Northern Committee’s work, as required.
Manage the Foundation’s $16M+ annual portfolio of programs and grants, including soliciting or co-developing projects, analyzing proposals, managing adjudications, synthesizing results, and providing recommendations.
Provide guidance and feedback to prospective and current grantees.
Monitor progress and evaluate outcomes of programs or specific grants.
Oversee grant agreements and release of funds.
Collaborate with the Senior Director of Communications to support external communications, including website, press releases, social media, third-party communications, and knowledge mobilization activities.