Jobs

Director of Partnerships

The team 

The Dais is a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, working at the intersection of technology, education and democracy to build shared prosperity and citizenship for Canada.

Since 2015, the Dais has worked across Canada and internationally to develop bold ideas and better leaders, resulting in measurable change in economic, education and technology policy, and thousands of people whose lives have been changed through our leadership programs.

The opportunity

Make the future with us as our next Director of Partnerships!

Step into a high-impact leadership role where you’ll shape strategic alliances that amplify the Dais’ mission, drive business growth and expand our influence across industry, government and a broad range of partners in Canada and beyond. We’re looking for an experienced Director of Partnerships to build and steward bold, cross-sector collaborations that drive impact and advance our organization’s strategic goals. 

As a member of our senior leadership team, you will strengthen the relationships that fuel our work at the intersection of technology, education and democracy; ensuring mutual value, performance, and long-term sustainability.

Role responsibilities include:

• Identify, pursue, manage, and oversee a portfolio of current and potential stakeholders/partners/clients/ donors to meet the growth objectives of the organization. 
• Strategize, develop, and execute plans for the creation, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of such partnerships, sponsorships, and gifts for the Institute.
• Co-develops, with the Executive Director the detailed annual revenue generation plan for the Institute, as well as higher-level multi-year planning budgets. Co-leads the development of a long-term revenue sustainability strategy for the Institute.
• Leads revenue generation, forecasting, and attainment activities quarterly with input from the leadership team.
• Leads and directs the development and execution of a comprehensive strategy for engaging with the members of the broader public policy and leadership development ecosystem, including establishing extensive partnerships between external stakeholders and the Institute
• Prepares necessary funding proposals and responses to complex RFPs, in collaboration with the Executive Director.  Negotiates terms of proposals with funders and other relevant agencies and works with relevant university stakeholders to award and manage contracts. 
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (faculty, research offices, advancement, etc.) to identify partnership opportunities and support proposal development.
• Oversees the tracking, analysis, and reporting on partnership performance, using data to refine strategies and demonstrate ROI to senior leadership.
• Manages and supervises staff, assigns and prioritizes tasks, establishes goals, sets expectations and evaluates performance. Hires, trains, develops and performance manages assigned staff.

Leadership Competencies

Acts with Integrity: Demonstrates behaviors aligned with high ethical standards and personal integrity and acts in accordance with TMU values.

Builds Relationships of Trust & Collaboration: Actively builds a culture of trust and fosters meaningful relationships.

Leads Inclusively: Creates an inclusive environment where everyone is respected, recognized, empowered to achieve their potential, and valued for their differences.

Demonstrates Organizational Acumen: Understands and respectfully navigates complex internal and external environments using sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact.

Drives Vision & Results: Creates and implements a vision grounded in sound decision-making to achieve desired outcomes.

Qualifications

To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications:

• Completion of a university degree is required in business, public policy or other related fields.
• A minimum of five to ten (5-10) years of relevant work experience as a strategic leader in one or more of the following areas is required: public policy, leadership development, stakeholder management, program development, partnership building.
• Experience managing a team responsible for cultivating strategic partnership and relationships.
• Experience achieving business development annual targets of at least $1 million
• Ability to work effectively and lead teams. Effective people management skills
• Excellent ability to problem solve, showing innovative thinking in approaching initiatives
• Demonstrates entrepreneurial skills, with an excellent track record for building programs and/or initiatives, and excellent track record of on time and on budget program development and delivery
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written); ability to speak effectively to a variety of audiences, as public speaking and presentations will comprise a significant portion of the position
• Ability to structure contracts to engage professional partners in the activities and initiatives of the Institute

Additional details

About Toronto Metropolitan University 

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

TMU welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and in every unit of the university. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from members of equity deserving groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada, First Nations Peoples in the United States, racialized people, Black people, persons with disabilities, women, and  2SLGBTQ+ people. Preference will be given to candidates with lived experiences as people from equity deserving groups, as well as experience working with these communities with which the University works every day. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and we welcome newcomers and immigrants to Canada.

In April 2022, the university announced our new name of Toronto Metropolitan University, which will be implemented in a phased approach. Learn more about our next chapter.