Manager, Research and Partnerships

In this permanent, full-time role, you will join Park People’s programming team to identify opportunities to build and maintain partnerships between park-based NGOs, community and government partners, and various stakeholders in order to promote the vision of city parks as essential spaces to connect people to each other and the rest of nature.

The portfolio will include Park People’s Cornerstone Parks program, research partnerships and projects including the Canadian City Parks Report, and supporting government relations. This may change over time in response to new partnerships and opportunities.

We are looking for an experienced relationship builder with a talent for collaborative visioning and experience managing scope and budgets on national projects.  

Park People supports and mobilizes community park groups, community organizers, non-profits, park professionals and funders to activate the power of parks to build strong communities, healthy environments, and resilient cities. 

We are actively working to hire, meaningfully engage with, and include guidance and input from, Black, Indigenous and people of colour in ways that centre intersectionality, Indigenous resilience, and anti-racist principles.  We are committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workspaces and programs, and encourage applications from BIPOC candidates. 

As Manager, Research and Partnerships your role will include:

• Develop and manage programs that support Park People’s mission, strategic plan and theory of change, including Park People’s Cornerstone Parks programs, research activities, and projects in partnership with various levels of government

• Align research activities, partnerships, and impact measurement activities under a cohesive strategy to support impactful programming

• Manage budget and operating plan for program portfolio

• Supporting a healthy team culture of collaboration, accountability, support, ongoing learning, and effective processes.

• Identify new opportunities to build partnerships with other park-based NGO’s and maintain collaborative relationships with other key stakeholders and community partners

• Apply Park People’s anti-racism framework and Theory of Change to the design, delivery and evaluation of your projects

• Supervising a small team of project managers and program coordinators

• Bringing an equity-informed approach to relationship-building

• Other duties as required 

The skills and experience you bring to the role include:

• Demonstrated experience managing programs/projects, preferably with multi-sectoral partnerships and/or national in scale

• Strong team leadership and people management skills

• Strong budget management skills and fundraising experience, including proposal and report writing, scoping projects, and managing work plans

• Strong communication skills including written, presentation, and public speaking skills

• Understanding of research methods and ethics 

• Experience working in a context of complexity, growth and change;

• Understanding of and commitment to anti-racist community-building, the urban parks movement, and place making

• Excellent organizational and time management skills; effective at managing multiple priorities and deliverables with competing deadlines;

• Able to understand and articulate both team-specific and organizational needs and priorities;

• Bilingualism (French and English) is a strong asset - please identify if you are bilingual in your application

Location: We are open to candidates from across Canada, with a preference for Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver.  We will assume a largely remote role with possible occasional in-person obligations in Toronto, Montreal and/or Vancouver.

Starting Salary: $62,000-$70,000.  

Application Deadline: December 3rd, 2023

Anticipated Start Date:  January 2024

Park People is a great place to work:

• We offer a generous benefits package including health and dental benefits, generous vacation time, bike share memberships in select cities, annual cost of living increases, and a pension plan.

• We have an amazing work culture with smart, engaged colleagues who want to learn and improve while having fun.

• We work remotely with colleagues across the country and have a strong culture of collaboration that supports a hybrid in-person and remote workplace.

• We value flexibility and work life balance for our team members and offer flexible work hours.

• We offer time and funding to support education and training, and to grow professionally with progressive career opportunities as Park People continues to grow.

• We provide you the chance to lead change and have an impact in communities across Canada.

Please send your resume and cover letter in one electronic file in confidence to hr@parkpeople.ca by December 3rd, 2023 . We are thankful for all applications, and will only be contacting candidates invited for an interview. All candidates who are interviewed will receive a small honorarium in recognition of your time and effort. Questions will be provided a short time in advance of the interview. If you require accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at hr@parkpeople.ca to provide your contact information. 

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