Director, Policy and Partnerships

POSITION: DIRECTOR, POLICY AND PARTNERSHIPS

STATUS: 1.0 FTE

REPORTING TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

WORK LOCATION: This role operates within CanWaCH’s virtual office model and maintains regular business hours. The Ideal Candidate is based in Ottawa or able to travel there regularly as the position requires frequent travel to Ottawa and occasional domestic and international travel.

WHO WE ARE:

The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is coalition of more than 100 Canadian organizations committed to advancing the health and rights of women and children everywhere. Our members bring deep expertise across women and children’s health, international development, humanitarian response, research and advocacy. CanWaCH connects this expertise across the sector while providing timely intelligence, practical resources and opportunities to collaborate. Together, we unlock the collective power of Canada’s global health sector and strengthen its contribution to women’s and children’s health.

We are a completely virtual organization, with all staff operating from home offices across Canada. The ability to thrive in a fast paced and complex environment is essential. CanWaCH is a good fit for you if you are able to juggle multiple priorities, navigate changing realities and work effectively with a range of styles and approaches. CanWaCH strives to create an environment of radical candor, matched with a ‘can-do’ attitude and ambition. You would be an excellent fit if you enjoy thinking outside the box, see yourself as a ‘builder’ and inspire community and connections.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Director, Policy and Partnerships is a key member of the senior management team and a strategic partner to the CEO. The Director is responsible for shaping and advancing CanWaCH’s policy, advocacy, government relations and strategic partnership agenda in Canada and globally. Responsibilities include:

1. Strategic leadership on policy and government relations

• Lead CanWaCH’s non-partisan policy, advocacy and government relations strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and emerging political, policy and funding opportunities.
• Advise the CEO, Board and senior leadership on key global health, gender equality, human rights and foreign policy issues, including associated risks, opportunities and strategic positions.
• Oversee, and where required lead the development of political, policy and advocacy materials including briefs, statements, submissions and correspondence that advance CanWaCH’s positions.
• Direct monitoring and analysis of political, policy, funding, expenditure data, and emerging issues relevant to CanWaCH’s mandate, providing timely insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Lead advocacy initiatives, government and parliamentary engagement, budget submissions and coordinated responses to elections, budgets, major policy announcements and global health financing in collaboration with members and sector partners.

2. Member, Stakeholder and Coalition Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for CanWaCH’s stakeholder engagement priorities, maintaining strong respectful relationships that positioning CanWaCH as a trusted, solutions-focused partner to government, members and sector allies and enable collaboration and constructive dialogue on complex issues.
• Lead the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies that strengthensrelationships with parliamentarians, ministerial offices, government officials, multilateral partners, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders in Canada and globally.
• Lead and represent CanWaCH on high level coalitions, collective advocacy initiatives, coordinated sector responses and working groups and sector initiatives, effectively advancing CanWaCH’s positions.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Working Group, including the development of its agenda, workplan, consultations and deliverables.

3.Strategic Partnerships, Funder Relations and Resource Mobilization

• Lead the development and implementation of strategies, including cultivating and managing senior relationships with philanthropic institutional funders, to secure and steward funding that advances CanWaCH’s policy, advocacy, government relations, and related public affairs priorities.
• Identify and assess funding and partnership opportunities that advance CanWaCH’s advocacy objectives and lead the development of concepts, proposals, partnership models and agreements in collaboration with the CEO and internal colleagues.
• Provide strategic oversight of grants, contribution agreements, partner agreements and subawards, including intended outcomes, workplans, budgets, risks, compliance requirements and reporting.
• Ensure that externally funded advocacy activities remain aligned with CanWaCH’s strategic priorities, protect the organization’s independence and credibility, and comply with applicable funding and lobbying requirements.

4. Organizational leadership and team management

• Contribute as a member of the senior management team to organizational strategy, annual planning, risk management and cross-functional coordination.
• Operate as a hands-on leader effectively balancing strategic leadership, policy development, stakeholder engagement and execution.
• Lead, mentor and manage staff and consultants within the Policy and Partnerships portfolio, providing clear direction, coaching and performance support.
• Foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, learning and accountability, that enables deliver high of impactful, quality works.
• Oversee project budgets, ensuring sound financial management, alignment with grant and contribution agreement and timely reporting for funders and internal stakeholders.

5. Events, convening and external representation

• Provide strategic leadership for policy related events, workshops, roundtables, briefings and webinars led or co-led by CanWaCH, ensuring clear objectives, quality content and follow through.
• Collaborate with colleagues, members and partners to shape agendas, identify participants and speakers, prepare senior representatives and ensure that convenings strengthen relationships, sector alignment and policy influence.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson and representative in relevant fora, including speaking engagements, high level meetings, conferences, panel discussions, and media opportunities in Canada and internationally.

Other duties may be assigned as needed to meet the mandate and evolving needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

As the successful candidate, you have:

• Post-secondary education in international development, public policy or administration, political science, public, global health, gender studies, or a related field, or combination of education and experience; a graduate degree is an asset.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in government relations, public policy, international cooperation, global health, or related fields, including senior advisory or management roles.
• Demonstrated success engaging government stakeholders, including preparing for and participating in meetings with parliamentarians, ministerial offices, and senior public officials.
• Strong understanding of Canada's international assistance, global health, and gender equality policy landscape, including key institutions, priorities, and decision-making processes.
• Proven ability to develop clear, credible, and actionable policy briefs, submissions, recommendations, and public positions for political, government, and sector audiences.
• Experience designing and executing government relations and stakeholder engagement strategies, managing complex issues, and delivering high-quality results in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with experience working across coalitions and multi-stakeholder initiatives and leading negotiations and dialogue with diverse partners.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to political, government, technical, and civil society audiences and serve as an effective spokesperson.
• Strong discretion, judgment, tact, diplomacy, negotiation and facilitation skills, with the ability to navigate differences in opinion and difficult conversations.
• Self-directed and accountable, with the ability to manage priorities independently while contributing effectively to a high-performing virtual team.
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights, gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Ability to undertake government relations activities in compliance with applicable federal and provincial lobbying regulations.
• Fluency in English and French is desired.

Compensation

This is a full-time position. CanWaCH offers a competitive package, including a starting salary between $112,000 and $124,300, based on skill and experience.

To apply

Please email a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in this position to careers@businesssherpagroup.com by November 2, 2026. Please indicate ‘Director, Policy Application’ and your name in the subject line.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

CanWaCH is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We accommodate people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process. Please indicate your need for accommodation in your application.

CanWaCH complies with current employment standards that restrict the use of Canadian work experience requirements in job postings. Applicants will not be assessed based on whether their experience was obtained in Canada.

This posting is for an existing vacancy and is open to both internal and external candidates.