The National Impact Investing Practitioner’s Table (NIIPt) is undertaking a pan-Canadian “State of Affairs” survey of Canada’s social finance landscape, identifying the gaps and opportunities for impact investment intermediaries. The study is among the key deliverables commissioned by the Federal Investment Readiness Program administered through New Market Funds, and is intended to help inform the effective implementation of the national social finance strategy, recommended by the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group in their final report Inclusive Innovation: New Ideas and New Partnerships for Stronger Communities.
How will this project be structured?
The report’s research leads will manage 10 researchers responsible for mapping the social finance landscape. The maps will situate social finance intermediaries within seven geographical regions and in relation to both multi-jurisdictional actors and pan-Canadian themes, including the application of an Indigenous lens, equity and diversity considerations and New Canadian perspectives, for an inclusive portrait of the social finance landscape. A researcher will be selected to map the social finance ecosystem for each of the following:
Regions : British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba/Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic, the North
National : Canada’s social finance ecosystem through an Indigenous lens, a gender equity lens and diversity and inclusion lens, including New Canadian perspectives.
(1) Mappers:
Your curiosity drives you and you’re passionate about the power of social finance and impact investment in pursuit of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. You are comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, take initiative in both settings, thrive in dynamic environments, think outside the box, and produce high-quality original research. Excited by Canada’s expanding social finance movement and marketplace, you have a confident understanding of the geographic region or pan-Canadian lens for the ecosystem map in question, including its stakeholders and networks.
Availability and compensation:
- Able to commit roughly 10-15 hours a week (flexible) within a 15 week research timeline (March 15-June 30), and available for fortnightly conference calls with the national mapping team to exchange findings and promising approaches.
- Joint applications are welcome (two applicants may join forces to produce one map), but would share the research grant.
- $5,000 compensation for the entirety of the project
Skills and qualifications:
- Credentials - An undergraduate degree (or nearing completion) in a related field; completion of a social-finance related internship / diploma, or relevant practical volunteer or employment experience.
- Communication skills - strong verbal and written communication skills, allowing for clear and effective exchanges with a wide range of audiences.
- Research experience - including collecting, managing and maintaining primary and secondary research data
- Languages - French/English bilingualism is an asset (especially in the case of the three pan-Canadian maps) as is fluency in an Indigenous language spoken within the research area.
To apply, please send your resume, letter of motivation (indicating your preferred region or pan-Canadian lens for research), and the names of two academic or employment references. A letter of support from a relevant institution willing to provide some in-kind resources (guidance, introductions, workspace, sounding board, for eg.) is also desirable. Please send these to Lena Courcol at lcourcol at newmarketfunds.ca by March 4, 2020.
We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as LGBTQ2SI, veterans, and people with disabilities. If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please contact us.
(2) Research Leads:
The research lead(s) will work with the Executive Director of the NIIPt to manage and produce the State of Affairs study.
Job details:
- Direct and coordinate the studies being carried out by the mappers in each region to understand and identify opportunities for impact investment by Canadian social finance intermediaries
- Conduct an assessment to identify trends, emerging needs and best practices to bridge the gap between supply and demand for impact investment funds
- Draft a State of Affairs overview on the status of the social finance ecosystem in Canada, with a focus on:
- Assessing the investment readiness of at least 10 impact investment funds from across Canada
- Identifying key barriers to attracting new capital
- Summarizing the needs, feasibility, and market opportunity for shared service supports to investment funds and initiatives.
Availability and compensation:
- Available by March 15, 2020, and available for fortnightly conference calls with the national mapping team between the period of March 15 and June 30.
- Able to commit to the following drafting schedule: (1) a complete draft due by October 31, 2020, (2) a final draft by January 31, 2021, so as to allow for French translation by March 15, 2021.
- Compensation commensurate with experience and division of labour.
Skills and qualifications:
- Credentials - Post-secondary degree in a related field
- Relevant background - 5+ years experience in Canada’s social finance space with a sophisticated understanding of the role of intermediaries, including 2+ years in project management research direction or similar role.
- Research-driven - strong analytical skills and confident undertaking primary and secondary research, asking big questions and structuring research to dig deeper. An organized thinker who sees the forest and the trees - grasps the big picture and tends to the details.
- Proactive - able to spot problems well in advance and mitigate risk appropriately.
- Forward-thinking , able to plan ahead, anticipate obstacles and problem-solve effectively.
- Excellent communications skills, verbal and written - thoughtful, effective and comfortable with diverse audiences in formal and informal settings.
- Collaborative and team-oriented; also self-motivated and comfortable working remotely
- Excited about social finance - relishing the opportunity to help enhance and accelerate the growth of Canada’s social finance sector and marketplace..
To apply, please send your resume, letter of motivation (indicating your preferred region or pan-Canadian lens for research), and the names of two academic or employment references. A letter of support from a relevant institution willing to provide some in-kind resources (guidance, introductions, workspace, sounding board, for eg.) is also desirable. Please send these to Lena Courcol at lcourcol at newmarketfunds.ca by March 4, 2020.
We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as LGBTQ2SI, veterans, and people with disabilities. If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please contact us.
