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Head, Northern Full Time NEW
POSITION:
Head, Northern
LOCATION:
Toronto, Ontario
POSITION DETAILS:
Full Time, Permanent
REPORTS TO:
Executive Director with a dotted line reporting to the Northern Committee of the Board
WEBSITE:
THE ORGANIZATION
At the Weston Family Foundation (“the Foundation”), more than 60 years of philanthropy have taught us that there’s a relationship between healthy landscapes and healthy people. That’s why we champion world-class health research and innovation with the same passion that we support initiatives to protect and restore biodiversity on our unique landscapes. We take a collaborative approach to philanthropy, working alongside forward-thinking partners to advance Canada and create lasting impacts. We aspire to do more than provide funding, as we enable others to find transformational ways to improve the well-being of Canadians.
We are invested in the well-being of all Canadians. Our national identity encompasses a wide range of perspectives, ideas, and experiences. We aspire to develop and celebrate these differences in our working strategies and overall philosophy. We strive to take a mindful, deliberate approach, and to adopt policies and practices that advance and value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the Foundation, our operations, and our extended community. This approach is always evolving, it includes dedicating time and resources towards equitable hiring and communications, and cultivating a safe, welcoming, and accessible work environment. Our firm belief is that by taking this outlook, we will increase the beneficial impact of our philanthropy.
With a new ambitious focus on Canada’s Northern Peatlands (amongst other priority areas), the Foundation is looking for a Head, Northern to lead the design and execution of innovative programs that yield real-world, economically sound, and timely biodiversity outcomes, at-scale, in Canada’s northern landscapes.
Working in close partnership with the Northern Committee (a committee comprised of a subset of the Directors of the Board), this role will interface with the highest levels of government, land stewards/rights holders, critical industrial sectors, environmental not-for-profit/charitable entities, Indigenous and northern communities, and the full portfolio of Northern grantees. This role must serve as a convenor of people and ideas, to ensure that the Foundation’s activities in Canada’s north are externally viewed as credible, ambitious, relevant, and impactful.
THE POSITION
The Head, Northern is a member of the Foundation’s senior leadership team. They will be responsible for deploying $16M+ of annual charitable capital towards evidence-based, high-risk / high-reward programs that improve northern biodiversity outcomes, while creatively finding solutions that incorporate the competing needs of conservation action, economic sustainability, and national prosperity.
The Head, Northern develops and upholds key relationships with critical external stakeholders necessary to achieve the Foundation’s ambitious objectives in the peatlands and other priority areas. It is expected that the Head, Northern will use the best practices set forth by the Foundation’s Executive Director and Board to position the Northern Committee’s work as best-in-class and uphold the Board’s strategic interests and values. This role is also regarded as a senior leader within the broader Weston organization, and where appropriate, will interface with strategic activities across the broader organization.
The Head, Northern is a seasoned, forward-thinking professional that approaches northern biodiversity protection, with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset. They are a willing trailblazer who can chart new paths that balance risk and reward, while challenging conventional ways of working.
Candidates with direct experience working in Canada’s North are considered highly competitive.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Portfolio Development
• 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.
Relationship Management
• Serve as the primary relationship manager to the Northern Committee, working closely with the Committee Chair to:
– Prioritize Committee discussions to align with planning, governance and decision-making cycles at the Foundation
– Represent the Northern Committee’s work at Board meetings
– Develop agendas, pre-read materials and presentations
– Guide discussions to support decision-making
• Develop, nurture and cultivate the Northern Committee’s high-profile, expert advisory body, ensuring that these valuable relationships are appropriately leveraged as thought partners for the Foundation’s strategic objectives.
• Convene a highly influential network of partners and key external stakeholders, necessary to achieve the Foundation’s real-world implementation goals.
• 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, to support continuity and best practices, interacting with various functional units as needed.
Northern Committee Operational Oversight
• 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.
Grants Management
• Manage the Foundation’s $16M+ annual portfolio of programs and grants, including but not limited to:
– Soliciting or co-developing projects
– Analyzing proposals, managing external adjudications, synthesizing results, and providing recommendations to the Northern Committee
– Providing guidance and feedback to prospective and current grantees
– Monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes of programs or specific grants
– Overseeing grant agreements and release of funds
Communications
• Collaborating with the Senior Director of Communications to support external communications, including:
– Foundation website
– Press releases
– Social media
– Third-party communications projects to ensure accuracy and alignment to overall Committee communications
– Knowledge mobilization activities related to the Northern portfolio such as roundtables, government engagements, etc.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
• Degree in environmental conservation, natural resource management, environmental economics, or environmental policy (direct experience in Canada’s north is a strong asset).
• 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.
• Brings acumen and ability to manage multi-stakeholder relationships that are credible, relevant, and impactful.
CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES
• A dynamic, professional, and persuasive leader with excellent people skills.
• A big thinker with a strategic mindset.
• Entrepreneurial and analytical, with an ability to cultivate new ways of thinking and working.
• A persuasive negotiator with clear and effective communication skills.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and dependability.
• Adaptable with a hands-on approach; willing and able to change priorities to meet team goals.
• Identifies and resolves issues quickly, problem-solves and generates solutions.
• Self-directed with an ability to organize, plan, prioritize, and multi-task.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package including base salary between $170K and $190K plus benefits will be provided. Benefits include a 15% STIP.
HOW TO APPLY
We invite candidates to apply by email with your cover letter and résumé no later than Sunday, June 21st, 2026. Send to: [email protected]
The Weston Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. We know our success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees and that diverse backgrounds and experiences make our organization stronger.
We thank all applicants for showing interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.