Position Title: Social Innovation Ecosystem Director
Position Type: Full-time, contract
Contract Length: One year, with possibility for renewal
Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus benefits
Location: Headquarters in Toronto, but the position could be from anywhere in Canada

A new National Social Innovation Initiative

Are you a social innovation leader? A passionate network weaver? strategist? relationship builder? fundraiser? systems change nerd? Are you passionate about making the world a better place for people and planet first? Does the idea of building multi-sectoral collaborations at a national level make you totally excited?  

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments, working hard with collaborators who share your passion? Can you handle uncertainty and embrace nuance? Do you fundamentally understand how vital it is to apply a systems lens to the process of change?

Well then, Social Innovation Charitable Foundation (SICF), in partnership with Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), has an incredibly exciting job opportunity for you!

We are launching a new Social Innovation Initiative for Canada.  It is so new in fact and we are so committed to doing it right, that it doesn't even really have a name yet or a finalized scope.  However, we do have a clear purpose: to unlock and enable social innovation and build an inclusive and open movement to put people and planet first.

Our objective is to make the hiring process as inclusive as possible. Our hope is that some unusual suspects will express their interest and have the opportunity to co-create it.

We are looking for this projects leader…. Is this you?

What do we know about it so far?

We consulted with and engaged social innovators across Canada in 2017 and 2018 with the question of how a network or shared platform could support them. What we heard directly informs the purpose and design: It will be a initiative that connects social innovators and stakeholders from across geographies, sectors and subjects, builds practical knowledge and capacity, elevates the role of the sector across Canada and helps innovators tell their stories, aggregate their data and drive more resources and energy towards the work.

It will be pan-Canadian, with regional hubs addressing regional needs and opportunities. It will use the Constellation Model as its foundation and will somehow hold the balance between a coalition, a network and an ecosystem.  We are at our early stages of the design of this initiative but from our engagement process, we have developed the values and design principles:

What is CSI’s Role in this Social Innovation Initiative?

Working with a team of collaborators from across Canada, CSI is providing the secretariat support, including stakeholder and governance coordination, financial management and helping drive fundraising to support the network. CSI is also leading the development of the common/digital platform and the communications and wayfinding strategies. Lastly, CSI will serve as a regional hub within the Network and bring its knowledge and networks in social innovation and social enterprise to help shape programs and network direction based from Ontario.

Why “Social Innovation Ecosystem” Director?

• Because you are knowledgeable about social innovation, as a theory and practice. You’ve had experience working on programs and shaping policies that put people and planet first.
• Because you excel at building partnerships across many sectors and communities, at connecting the dots and bringing diverse perspectives to the table to advance a shared agenda. You are a team builder with high emotional intelligence. You are sensitive to, and can manage power dynamics. Building trust and being collaborative is in your DNA.
• Because you are a lateral thinker. You understand systems thinking and appreciate complexity, but you also are highly strategic. You know how to find the leverage points for systems change - be it in policy, markets and/or culture - and where to make interventions that drive action.
• Because you can communicate with credibility, knowledge and creativity on behalf of a movement. You are an influencer who can inspire and motivate others to join and bring their knowledge and resources to make greater change possible. You are able to simplify and convey complex ideas, tailored to specific audiences.

Additional Competencies:

We are looking for a Director who is:

• Business-savvy. You know how to build a business model and case for support, and you know how to sell and sustain it.
• A Team leader, able to manage up, down and sideways. You are mature and know how to manage strong opinions and players, address and resolve conflicts, problem solve, and stay on time and on budget!
• An adept multi-tasker, able to hold many pieces at the same time and prioritize the urgent from the important.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partnership Building: Leads the development of the collaborative network model, building regional, national and cross-sectoral partnerships, engaging and balancing multiple perspectives.
• Fundraising: Leads fundraising, engaging partners in network-wide, regional and project-specific fundraising. Acts as point person for key funder relationships, builds and maintains donor relationships, translates ideas into clear, creative and concise fundraising proposals, decks, etc. and participates in donor meetings and other engagement opportunities.
• Public Relations: Promotes the project across multiple platforms and generates public awareness and support for SI across Canada. Takes part in speaking engagement, prepares editorial pieces, manages social media accounts.
• Collaborative Network Infrastructure: Ensures processes in place for ongoing network mobilization including defining the overarching governance model and supporting and convening the National Stewardship Group and the Regional Councils.  
• Program Strategy: Provides subject and content expertise to ensure implementation of the initiative under the four strategic pillars (Wayfinding, Capacity Building, Aligning for Impact and Knowledge Sharing) and that these align to support the vision and deliver goals and objectives.
• Workplan/Budget: Co-creates, with project team, the project workplan and budget, and ensures projects and initiatives are delivered ‘on time and on budget’.
• Project Team implementation: Works with CSI Directors, to ensure successful implementation of project that aligns with and leverages internal resources:
  •    brand (Wayfinding/Navigation)
  •    digital team (online platform)
  •    partnerships (fundraising)
  •    Finance/HR (project and financial management)

Reporting and Team Collaboration:

• Accountable to National Stewardship Group
• Reports to CSI’s Chief Executive Officer
• Manages Senior Program Manager and specialist contractors/consultants TBD
• Member of CSI Director Team.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years experience in an applied/practitioner setting leading a social or environmental change initiative
• Experience co-designing and participating in movement-focused networks that use combinations of culture change, market-based incentives and targeted policy to affect systems change
• Demonstrated track record in attracting supporters and driving resources to support program, network and/or operational level support.
• Prior experience in facilitation, partnership development, and working with diverse constituencies
• Minimum undergraduate level degree in social or environmental area of focus
• Bilingualism an asset

What you can expect working as part of the Centre for Social Innovation:

We are small, dynamic and collaborative team invested in our mission. We are constantly seeking to improve processes and increase our impact in the community. If you like startups, social enterprises and working in a team atmosphere, this is a place for you.

We strongly encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Please submit your resume and cover letter as soon as you are interested by visiting https://csito.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=37. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until at least September 15th, 2018. Please note that we may invite you to an interview with only a few days notice, and only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

For more information about the Centre for Social Innovation visit www.socialinnovation.org.

Please let us know of any specific requirements needed in advance of visiting any our spaces -  we will be happy to work with you to accommodate any accessibility requests as best we can!