Bilingual Program Officer

Description:

The Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI) is a partnership between the Federal government and the two national co-operative organizations: the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Conseil canadien de coopération et de la mutualité, to stimulate the development of new and emerging co-operatives as well to promote innovative co-operative projects across Canada.

The Program Officer position will support mainly the “Innovative Cooperative Projects” (ICP) component ensuring effective and accountable project selection and delivery. ICP provides financial contributions to new or existing co-operatives to test the co-operative model in new and innovative ways, to strengthen co-operatives and co-operative sectors and to generate information on best practices and lessons learned. These contributions will be granted to both Francophone and Anglophone communities across Canada.

Terms and Conditions: The employment is a full-time contractual position starting on July 11th 2011 and ending on March 31st 2013. Some overtime will be required during peak periods.

Responsibilities include:

Administer each stage and process of the ICP program – including the application, review, approvals, contribution agreement, monitoring and reporting processes;
Ensure effective records management for all aspects of the contribution program;
Monitor the implementation of the projects to ensure that the recipient groups and co-operatives achieve their expected results as defined in their Contribution Agreement;
Assist the beneficiary co-ops in building their capacity for long-term success by facilitating appropriate linkages and access to other existing resources;
Maintain effective communications with successful applicant co-ops and other program stakeholders;
Work collaboratively with all members of the program team on other program components as required;

Qualifications include:

Excellent English and French skills are required ;
University degree in social and economic sciences , in project/program management or in other relevant areas;
3-5 years experience in administration of grants or contributions programs;
Proven skills in relationship building and collaborative development practices;
Diplomacy and sensitivity in communicating with project applicants and stakeholders
Excellent organizational and information management skills;
Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite;
Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
Knowledge of co-operatives, and economic development issues will be considered an asset;