Senior Director, External Relations

Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Reports To: President & CEO
Location: Canada (Remote, up to 20% occasional travel)
Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000 /yr

This position is for one active vacancy.

About Generate Canada

Generate Canada is a not-for-profit organization that for 30 years has been bringing together leaders from government, business, academia and civil society to drive change aimed at strengthening Canada’s economy, and the natural and social systems on which it depends.  

We have built a national platform of pre-competitive innovation labs that we call ‘Solution Spaces’.  They help develop and scale solutions - be it partnerships, investments, policies, standards, and/or new technologies - that are deemed most critical for a clean economy and a resilient future.  

Our portfolio of Solution Spaces is ever-evolving to respond to complex and persistent challenges, and to fill gaps not already being addressed by other organizations. We are currently focused on advancing regenerative agriculture, the circular economy across construction and plastics supply-chains, and blended sustainable finance for nature-based solutions.  

Just now we are working on these and inter-related issues through the following Solution Spaces:   CANZA (the Canadian Alliance for Net Zero Agri-food), the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), Circular Construction Canada, and the Nature Investment Hub.   

Generate Canada first develops and supports these platforms, then continually identifies and acts on cross-cutting synergies and opportunities to scale their impact. By working on the front-lines of these system change initiatives we are well equipped to provide information and insights to advance thought leadership on the issues and solutions we are working on,  and on our evolving methods.    

To learn more visit www.GenerateCanada.ca.  

What You’ll Do

As the Senior Director of External Relations, you will step into a newly established leadership role responsible for shaping and leading Generate Canada’s approach to external engagement and influence. You will support the design and execute on strategies to cultivate and steward funders and collaborators across industries, government, academia, and NGOs. By leveraging these partnerships alongside our internal experts, you will advance thought leadership and expand the reach and impact of Generate Canada and its Solution Spaces.  

The position reports to the President & CEO, works closely with our Solution Spaces senior leaders, and is supported by our Sr. Manager of Communications and other communication and government relations staff across Generate Canada. The Senior Director serves as a key liaison within a dynamic, distributed leadership structure that evolves in response to external shifts and opportunities.   

As Senior Director, External Relations, your key responsibilities will include:

Thought Leadership Strategy

• Develop and execute a thought leadership strategy that positions Generate Canada, its Solution Spaces, and its partners as credible sources of expertise systems-level economic, environmental and social change.
• Identify, support and engage leaders, policymakers, academics, and other collaborators in the development of events and communications that build attention and awareness across mediums.   
• Support leaders in commissioning, shaping and promoting research, reports, Op-eds, and speaking opportunities that strengthen our brand and demonstrate our unique value proposition.
• Partner with Solution Space leaders to identify and amplify insights generated from ongoing convening.
  
  

Government Engagement 

• Design, coordinate and where appropriate lead government engagement and foster constructive dialogue with elected officials, policy advisors, and civil servants across all levels of government.
• Monitor relevant policy and legislative developments and provide timely, actionable briefings to the CEO, Managing Directors, and Board.
• Represent Generate Canada in government and multi-stakeholder policy forums, and support Solution Space leaders in preparation for government meetings, consultations, and submissions.
• Build and maintain a structured map of government relationships and a coordinated engagement calendar across the organization.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization 

• Cultivate and steward mutually beneficial corporate, association, and foundation partnerships that help secure financial and in-kind support for both programmatic activities and operations.
• Partner with the CEO, Management Team, and staff to develop effective tools, policies, and systems for thoughtful contributor recognition, partnership pipelines and stewardship programs. 
• Develop Generate Canada and its Solution Spaces’ case for support to reinforce our collective and unique value propositions, aid in the tailoring of prospective partner funding proposals and sponsorship packages.   

Position-related Coordination & Systems 

• Support the strengthening of policies, systems, and tools (CRM/relationship management, briefing templates, government-engagement protocols, and thought-leadership content pipelines) needed to carry out and coordinate this work consistently across the organization.
• Work closely with our Solution Spaces to identify opportunities for amplifying their outreach efforts, and harnessing their expertise and networks to strengthen the collective of the organization on significant cross-cutting issues.  
• Contribute to Board and funder reporting on external affairs impact and progress.
  
  

Who You Are:

• Mission-Driven Partner: You are a passionate champion of our mission and continually seeking opportunities to strengthen Canada’s economy, and the natural and social systems on which it depends.  
• Strong Communicator: You communicate clearly and professionally with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, building trust and maintaining strong relationships both internally and externally.
• Catalytic: Collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional teams and can build alignment across sectors and stakeholder groups.
• Team Player: Skilled at building interpersonal connections and fostering a supportive, communicative, and collaborative environment.
• Resilient and Adaptable: Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Independent and Innovative: Motivated to take initiative and solve complex challenges.
  
  

Essential Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively senior experience in government relations, public policy, communications, and/or partnerships/development; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in economics, business, environmental studies, public policy, political science, communications, not-for-profit management or fundraising, or a related field; Masters preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with senior government officials, and translating policy environments into organizational strategy.
• Proven success securing and stewarding significant corporate, philanthropic, or blended-finance partnerships.
• Excellent written, public speaking, and media/stakeholder communication skills; with confidence representing the organization publicly.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of or strong affinity for systems-change, multi-stakeholder coalitions, market-building, and issues related to our Solution Spaces that focus on the interdependent nature of the economy, environment, climate change, and social wellbeing.  
• Bilingual proficiency (English/French) is a strong asset given the national scope of the role and federal government engagement.
• Experience in decentralized, multi-stakeholder, or federated organizations.
  
  

How To Apply

Applicants must be authorized to work in Canada and currently reside in Canada. This role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your relevant experience (details not found in resume) to be considered for this opportunity.

Please note: We would rather receive a short cover letter from YOU than a formal letter from an AI tool.

This posting will remain open on Generate Canada's career site until the position is filled: https://generatecanada.ca/join-us/join-our-team/ 

What To Expect From The Hiring Process
We respect your time and value transparency. Selected candidates can expect the following stages:

• Intro video call with our Human Resources Representative (15 minutes)
• First Panel Interview (45 minutes)
• Candidate Exercise / Assessment Task
• Second Panel Interview (60 minutes)
• Peer Panel (15-30 minutes)
• Offer & Onboarding 
  
  

Please note: This is subject to change at any point in the recruitment process based on the needs of the organization.
All interviewed applicants will be notified of the outcome within 45 days of their final interview.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Generate Canada embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We are at our best when everyone has a seat at the table, and when we are made to feel like we belong. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. 

Generate Canada values equitable opportunities, sustainable solutions, and collaborative and inclusive processes. Generate Canada recognizes and accepts differences in cultural, religious, and political processes and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.

At Generate Canada we’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will do our best to support you. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the interview process, please let us know when we reach out to schedule your interview. 

AI Disclosure Statement

At Generate Canada, we are committed to a transparent and human-centered recruitment process. We want to assure all candidates that we do not utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools for candidate screening or selection, at this time. All applications are reviewed and assessed by a human.