Senior Special Project Officer- Child Welfare Full Time

The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. We help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with causes they care about For Good. We are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community Forever. Formed in 1921, we are proud to be the first community foundation in Canada. Our vision is ‘a Winnipeg where community life flourishes for all.’ 

The Foundation is committed to work/life balance and diversity both within the 

organization and in its work with the community.  

We are currently recruiting for the role of 

Senior Special Project Officer: Child Welfare (Permanent – Full-time) 

Our Values

Trust 

Equity 

Generosity 

Responsiveness 

Transformation 

Our Core Competencies 

Managing Healthy Conflict 

Active Listening 

Adaptability 

Relationship Building

Critical Thinking and Decision Making    

The Role: 

The Winnipeg Foundation is committed to addressing complex challenges in our community by supporting the charitable sector through grants, fostering collaborative relationships, influencing policy changes, and tackling systemic issues that lead to undesirable outcomes. Guided by principles of Truth and Reconciliation and UNDRIP, Equity, and Inclusion, our plan is to decrease the number of children entering the child welfare system and for The Foundation to also support better outcomes for youth aging out of the system.  

This position is responsible for supporting and working with charitable organizations and other related partners to improve outcomes for youth in the child welfare system. This will be accomplished by thoughtfully analyzing and reviewing grant applications and developing recommendations for the disbursement of funds related to the Child Welfare Portfolio. The incumbent will be responsible for developing a broad understanding of the charitable sector, conducting ongoing monitoring of available literature, and maintaining a strong network within the sector.     

Core Areas of Responsibility:  

Proactively seek out innovative projects and support the organization in seeking funding from The Foundation.  

Recommend funding decisions to the Community Impact Committee and VP of Community Impact, as appropriate.  

Attend Community Impact Committee meetings and respond to committee members’ questions regarding grant recommendations.  

Ensure appropriate follow-up and monitoring of projects.   

Works closely with the Community Impact team. 

Build, foster and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including charitable and non-profit organizations, community leaders and government agencies.  

Organize and participate in meetings with area agency directors and stakeholders to promote collaboration and develop actionable solutions.  

Consult with the charitable sector to develop a clear understanding of current needs and issues related to the assigned portfolio  

Prepare and present reports to the Community Impact committee and senior leadership teams, summarizing findings, outcomes, and recommendations.  

Collaborate with the Senior Learning and Community Engagement Advisor Track and report on the impact of funded projects, including collaborations, systems changes, and leveraged resources.    

About You: If your background looks different from the one below, in your cover letter, tell us why you would be a good fit!     

Education and Experience 

Post-secondary degree in social sciences, social work, public administration, community development, program development and management, evaluation or a related field

An equivalent combination of education, training and extensive experience may also be considered.   

5-7 years in program management and grant-making, preferably within the child welfare or charitable sector.    

Skills and Abilities 

Demonstrate a well-developed sense of empathy, humility and inclusive approaches while connecting, collaborating with and engaging communities and cultures               

Exceptional interpersonal skills, capable of establishing and maintaining strong collaborative relationships, adept at giving and receiving constructive feedback   

Experience in program development and management  

Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to be productive, prioritize competing demands, manage various tasks and meet deadlines to achieve results.  

Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills   

Proven strategic thinking, initiative, and execution skills. Sets objectives, tracks progress and manages projects from start to finish   

Ability to analyze complex organizational and community issues and have the capacity to see how details fit in the bigger picture  

Inquisitive with a mindset of continuous learning about trends in the community and the charitable sector  

Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills  

Ability to maintain the highest levels of integrity, ethics, sound judgment and confidentiality  

Strong expertise in the use of current office management programs, such as Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint  

Ability to manage an online grant application process and to use grants management software    

Desired:  

Strong understanding of Truth and Reconciliation principles and the ability to build relationships with Indigenous peoples, communities and organizations   

What We Offer:  

Starting salary in the range of $70,400 – $84,400 

A comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental benefits 

A Health Spending Account 

Access to Consult + (Virtual Doctor Service) 

EFAP program available to employees and family members 

Pension program starting at six months of employment 

Vacation starting at three weeks per year 

Eco-pass program (half cost bus pass) 

Maternity/Parental Leave Top Up 

Professional Development opportunities 

 Applications, including resumes and cover letters, should be submitted by March 28, 2025. All applications must be submitted to https://careers.risepeople.com/the-winnipeg-foundation/en.   

Applicants who do not fully satisfy all the essential requirements are encouraged to submit their applications for consideration regarding this position. We believe in the potential for diverse perspectives, skills and experience to enrich our team and contribute to The Foundation’s overall success.  

The Recruitment Process 

As part of The Foundation’s value for being transparent, the following are the stages of our recruitment process:  

Job posting (3 weeks in circulation) 

Phone screening (conducted after the closing date; duration: 2 weeks) 

First in-person interview (conducted within 2 weeks after phone screening interviews) 

Second in-person interview (within 2 weeks after the first interview) 

Start date: May 2025   

During recruitment, prospective candidates will be expected to provide specific examples of situations where they have demonstrated The Foundation’s values and core competencies.  

The Winnipeg Foundation is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free environment and will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those advancing in the competition will be contacted. If contacted to participate in the process, please advise if you require accommodation.