Team Lead Partnerships, Funders and Donors

The SOI Foundation is recognized globally for delivering life-changing polar expeditions. But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our mission.

Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges, making youth voices, ideas, and action more important than ever. Through educational expeditions, cross-cultural experiences, science and outreach initiatives in the Arctic, Antarctic, and places in-between, SOI Foundation inspires new perspectives, ideas, connections and collaborative solutions for a nature-positive world. The outcome is a global network that takes action and contributes to building healthy communities and a sustainable future for people and our planet.

The SOI Foundation is at the brink of a period of significant growth as we expand and diversify our youth-focused programming. Within this context, we are looking for an energetic, proactive, and creative person to lead our Partnerships, Funders, and Donors team in mobilizing new resources and growing and nurturing our strong base of partners, funders and donors.  

Do you have a keen eye for opportunity? 

Do you have experience in successfully building and managing funding, grant and donation pipelines? 

Do you have the skill and creativity to translate the needs and objectives of partners, funders and donors into great funding proposals for new and existing programming? 

Do you have a proven track record in closing funding and grant agreements? 

Are you motivated to make a significant contribution to the global journey towards a nature-positive world? 

Are you looking to join an amazing team and contribute your energy and skills to furthering our strategic plan by mobilizing the needed resources? 

Then we warmly invite you to apply for the role of:

Team Lead Partnerships, Funders and Donors

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the primary duties and responsibilities of the Team Lead Partnerships, Funders and Donors are:

• Partnership development and management (25%)
  • Developing and nurturing productive relationships with funders and partners to identify opportunities for funding and collaboration; 
  • Networking and representing the SOI Foundation at conferences and events.
  • Conducting prospect research and outreach to potential new partners.

• Proposal development and writing (25%)
  • Leading the development of ideas and concepts for programs and proposals in collaboration with relevant teams within the SOI Foundation;
  • Writing, assembling and submitting funding and grant proposals for different levels of governments, foundations and other grant-making organizations, that persuasively communicate the organization’s mission, programs and impacts.

• Donor management (20%)
  • Developing SOI’s donor management function in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, President/Founder and the Media/Communications team, including donor appreciation and recognition as well as donor engagement with the objective to cultivate a growing pool of high value donors as well as regular and monthly donors.
  • Overseeing the planning and delivery of fundraising events.

• Managerial responsibilities (25%)
  • Developing a strategy and annual work plans for the Partnerships, Funders and Donors team;
  • Providing day-to-day leadership to the team;
  • Developing and maintaining a funding pipeline and calendar and ensuring timely creation and submission of letters of inquiry, proposals and reports;
  • Prioritizing tasks to keep multiple initiatives moving in a timely manner, meet deadlines and manage gathering and
    creation of supplemental material required for proposals.

• General (5%)
  • Contribute to a collaborative and positive work environment by attending all-staff meetings, participating in SOI events, representing SOI at external events and conferences when applicable and assisting with other duties as assigned.

Required experience, key competencies and character profile

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience, incl. managing a team;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and building relationships with partners, funders and donors;
• Proven track record in writing funding and grant proposals; 
• Curious, creative and resourceful;
• People person with effective and demonstrated interpersonal and relationship building skills;
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit demonstrating a strong capacity to work independently and collaboratively;
• Organized and efficient multi-tasker with great attention to detail;
• Adaptable to change, diplomatic and patient with a positive outlook;
• Demonstrated interest in environment and/or ocean issues an asset;
• Bi-lingual French/English or Inuktut/English an asset.

Eligibility
Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada. 

Application process
SOI offers a dynamic environment, an exciting international network of alumni, a strong partnership network and state-of-the-art education programs. To apply for this exciting position, please email your resume and cover letter to henk@studentsonice.com. We will accept applications on a rolling basis.

SOI is committed to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion among its staff and programs and invites all qualified applicants to submit a resume and cover letter.

While we thank all applicants for their applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Thank you so much for your interest in The SOI Foundation!