What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Development & Operations position at Vancouver Foundation?
Expected Start Date : As soon as possible, ideally no longer than a month after an offer is extended.
Find out more about the daily tasks, overall responsibilities, and required experience for this opportunity by scrolling down now.
Vancouver Foundation acknowledges that we carry out our work on the lands of Indigenous nations throughout colonial British Columbia. Our office is located on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Accessibility
Vancouver Foundation’s office is located on the second and third floors of a building with an elevator for access to the office, and an accessible, single-stall, gender-neutral washroom that includes a shower. Vancouver Foundation has a hybrid working model, with both work from home and in-office options available to staff. These options are position dependent.
We are committed to the principles and practices of an inclusive and equitable employment process. Our goal is to be representative of the communities we work with, and we encourage applicants from communities which are structurally marginalized based on refugee claimant status, race, colour, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity and / or expression. We consider qualified candidates regardless of criminal convictions and those who have employment gaps or employment in historically stigmatized industries. We welcome applicants from all communities.
About Us
Vancouver Foundation is a community foundation that serves Vancouver and all of BC. We bring together the generosity of donors with the ideas and energy of people and communities across the province. Every year we fund a diverse mix of grants, both large and small, that help to build healthy, vibrant, equitable, and inclusive communities. Considered a leader in responsive grantmaking and systems change, Vancouver Foundation is the most significant funder of charities in BC outside of government.
As a community foundation, we’re committed to ensuring everyone has a place in our mission. We are on a journey to actively align all aspects of our work — both internally and externally — to our commitment to equity, inclusion, and a more just society.
You are a senior social purpose leader with expertise in strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement. You are adaptive, thrive when working to reduce complexity, and can create actionable workplans even within an uncertain context. You are resourceful and proficient in scoping and bringing new projects to life. You proactively seek opportunities to operationalize the principles and practices of trust-based philanthropy and bring a learning lens to all aspects of your work.
You have a well-rounded understanding of the charitable / philanthropic landscape in Canada. You build and maintain relationships and networks to mobilize around key issues and have a strong interest in movement building and advocacy work. As a facilitator and convener, you create inclusive opportunities to align diverse stakeholder interests, build consensus, and move ideas to action.
You have excellent presentation, communication, and organizational skills; you are a skilled and experienced project manager. Your leadership is both process-oriented and results-driven; you balance relational work with moving things forward. You value transparency, inclusivity, and are a natural collaborator. You can hold space for difficult conversations and model behavioral shifts that drive positive cultural and operational change.
You can engage and oversee strategic initiatives involving multi-disciplinary teams to include all voices and perspectives. You are an experienced people manager invested in developing your team’s skills and capacities. You have demonstrated experience working effectively with volunteer governance and advisory bodies.
Guided by a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, you have integrated these values into your previous role(s). You’re not afraid to challenge the status quo, think creatively, and explore new approaches that advance Vancouver Foundation's mission and strengthen our impact. You’re ready to join us as we explore and shape how Vancouver Foundation might do even more to align justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion with our culture and our mission.
About the Position
The Director of Development & Operations, Grants & Community Initiatives (GCI), is a key member of the GCI leadership team, collaborates closely with the other GCI Directors, and reports to the Vice-President of GCI. This position leads the Development and Operations (DOPs) team, which supports the efficient and effective implementation of GCI’s granting streams, operational initiatives, change management initiatives, and departmental strategies.
This is a pivotal role that focuses on enhancing the operational capacity of the GCI department by developing cohesive workflows, implementing robust project management systems, and fostering an environment of collaboration and efficiency. The Director will oversee the rollout of a comprehensive project management framework and support the ongoing evaluation and refinement of the department’s structure, functional teams’ model, systems, and operations.
Key impacts of this role include enhancing the department’s capacity to act with agility and foresight by creating scalable solutions that support innovation in grantmaking; promoting efficient, effective systems, processes, and practices that reduce complexity and optimize resource allocation; and advancing trust-based philanthropic practices through operational tools and systems that prioritize accessibility, equity, and impact.
The Director should be proficient in managing a complex portfolio of work, with multiple deadlines and deliverables. This is a highly strategic role that requires systems thinking, resourcefulness, and exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills.
Main Responsibilities
Leadership and Team Management
- Provide strategic leadership to the DOPs team, managing four direct reports.
- Uphold and integrate the team’s core values—innovation, reliability, humility, and thoroughness—into all aspects of operations and planning.
- Collaborate closely with the Vice-President and other GCI Directors to align operational practices with strategic objectives.
- Collaborate closely with peers across the Foundation (especially within Finance and IT) to articulate, implement and audit operational policies and practices.
Operational Excellence
Change Management and Culture Building
Systems and Compliance
Strategic Alignment
Desired Experience / Education / Skills
We know that there is rarely an ideal or perfect candidate for a job, and we are actively working to eliminate barriers in our employment process. If you have experience similar to what is described above—or if the core activities in this role are exciting to you, but you do not meet the above exactly—we encourage you to apply and elaborate in your cover letter.
Core Competencies
Accountability
Reporting to the Vice President, Grants and Community Initiatives.
130,500 annually plus pension and a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Hours of Work
35-hour work week, Monday – Friday, primarily Monday to Thursday, occasional Fridays.
Location
Our head office is located in downtown Vancouver. Through our hybrid working policy there is an opportunity to work from home. If interested, please identify your requested location during the hiring process and we can discuss the conditions required under our policy.
How to Apply
If this sounds like you, we welcome your online application including a brief cover letter and a resume by January 12, 2025.
We are currently accepting applications from both internal and external candidates. All applications will be reviewed with equal consideration to identify the most qualified candidate for this role.
We kindly ask for no phone calls please. Applicants will receive an emailed response confirming receipt of their resume submission. Due to the high number of applications Vancouver Foundation receives, only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted. Periodic updates regarding recent postings are published on our career page after the application deadline has expired. We thank all applicants for their interest in the Vancouver Foundation.
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Salary : $130,500
