Director of Strategic Engagement

TItle: Director of Strategic Engagement 

Location: Association Services

Program: Advancement

Position Status: Full-Time 

Compensation: $65,000 - $75,000 per year

There is potential inside all of us – we all have it in us to shine.

Every charity exists to help solve a problem – our charity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, social isolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more. Today, our network is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports, accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safe spaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labour market, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community for isolated older adults. 

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space to discover their inner strength. When they know someone’s in their corner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than they thought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps people ignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant and healthy communities.  

With us at their side, they can Shine On. 

As part of your total compensation: 

• Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
• Access to Y at Home, where you can participate in fitness programs from your own home
• Discounts on YMCA childcare and camp programs
• 3 weeks’ Vacation entitlement and paid wellness days 
• Comprehensive benefits package and pension 
• Complimentary wellbeing and counselling services

About the Role:

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Strategic Engagement is a key member of the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth team, providing leadership and coordination on key strategic projects involving multiple partners to advance fundraising and our purpose. This newly created position will support the successful development, implementation and delivery of provincial programs delivered in partnership.

The Director of Strategic Engagement will add an important skill set by focusing on building capacity with various YMCAs and partners, provincially, and regionally. to help fund and project manage large contracts and agreements. The Director of Strategic Engagement will serve as a central point of contact to align fund development, program staff, and other internal stakeholders around common goals. This position is in the unique role to initiate and manage internal alignment and collaboration for idea generation, advancing communication and systems.

The Director of Strategic Engagement will also be critical leader for advancing our impact with our purpose of igniting the potential in people and strengthening communities. 

The Director of Strategic Engagement is expected to exercise a considerable amount of initiative, innovation and resourcefulness to enhance existing relationships and create new opportunities to achieve strategic and impactful outcomes to realize goals and carry out successful strategic projects.

Responsibilities:

Community Engagement 

• Use community engagement practices to build relationships and cohesion between other organizations, including other YMCAs, with funding opportunities and reporting.
• Serve as a central point of contact to align fund development, program staff, and other partners around common goals.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration between partner organizations of varying sizes to maximize the impact of collaborative approaches.
• Work with partners to preemptively identify and address issues and find solutions to support partners and collaborative work. 

Project Management. 

• Map, track and communicate funding project timelines and deliverables.
• Ensure partners are clear on project goals and individual requirements. 
• Monitor progress and coordinate support to address challenges.
• Coordinate and maximize shared learning opportunities to strengthen project delivery and quality control.
• Foster collaborative approach to ensure sharing of best practice and issue resolution.
• Develop and oversee mechanisms to track project progress and impact. 
• Analyze and provide progress and results for partners and leadership to improve donor engagement strategies and inform next steps. 
• Use knowledge of community needs and partner capacity to inform philanthropic approaches and opportunities that might exist. 

Program Development Support

• Create internal alignment and collaboration for idea generation, advancing communication and systems. 
• Participate in fundraising donor cycle, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. 
• Collaborate with partners to ensure alignment with best practices in program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Support smaller-sized partners with tailored guidance and scalable solutions, while aligning larger organizations to share best practices.
• Develop resources, tools, and training materials to promote consistency and excellence in program delivery.

Reporting & Metrics

• With support from Chief Development Officer, produce and design funding proposals and impact reports for funders.
• Develop, maintain, and oversee systems for reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) for major donor engagement and stewardship.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness in donor reporting to meet expectations and build capacity within the YMCAs and with donors. 

Education and Skills Qualifications: 

• Post-secondary education in business, communications, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in fundraising and/or community engagement, with a strong track record in the non-profit/charitable sector.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, both verbally and in writing, and present information in a visually compelling manner.
• Excellent analytical skills, with experience tracking and interpreting performance metrics.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders effectively.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet critical deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in project management and group coordination.
• Ability to develop training materials and deliver engaging presentations.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Skilled in balancing the needs of organizations of varying sizes while aligning with overarching goals.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical standards and best practices.
• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to analyze results and make data-driven recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, donor databases, and reporting systems.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail

To Apply:

Please apply online at https://ymcahfx.ca/workwithus/ by April 4, 2025.

Please note that all successful candidates are required to provide:

• Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, and Child Abuse Registry Check (less than 6 months old), if 18 years of age or older
• Attend Child Safeguarding Training upon hire

Please note, Background checks are reviewed on an individual basis – offenses, if any, are based on role and Child Safeguarding requirements, and may not eliminate candidates from employment at our YMCA.

At the YMCA, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We believe that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our organization, enabling us to better serve our community and achieve our mission. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.