Manager, Partnerships & Engagement

Department: Communications and Public Relations

Posting Date: May 15, 2026 - May 28, 2026

Term: Indefinite-term contract

Hiring Range: $84,000 - $94,000 annual salary

Benefits: Extensive benefit package inclusive of health, dental, RRSP matching, and paid personal days. Hybrid working options available for team members.

Vacancy: New Position

About the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable non-profit organization that partners with the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, and Schlegel Villages to enhance care and quality of life for older adults. Through engagement with key partners and collaborators, RIA supports practice relevant research and knowledge mobilization. Research evidence is used to inform programs, education and training, and influence practice and policy.

The RIA’s Community Relations department is passionate about building strong connections and sharing the RIA’s impact on the lives of older adults. The department is responsible for communications, public relations, community and partner engagement, and fundraising. They collaborate across the RIA to deliver consistent branding and effective marketing. In partnership with local, national, and international networks, the department helps to amplify the RIA’s mission and help to change the way we age.

Role Overview

The Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to community relations initiatives, guiding cross-functional teams and overseeing a small team to ensure the successful delivery of programs that enhance the well-being of older adults. This role will be accountable for the strategic direction of projects and community engagement initiatives, driving impact through collaboration and the knowledge mobilization of RIA resources. As an experienced leader, you will provide mentorship and oversight to ensure project success while identifying and securing grant funding to advance partnership goals. This role focuses on nourishing key relationships with government, industry, and community partners. By building cross-functional capacity, you will play a critical role in aligning work across the RIA to maximize the reach and impact of RIA’s programs.

The successful candidate is aligned with RIA’s vision, mission, and values and is motivated to improve the quality of life for older adults and those who care for them.

Key Accountabilities

1. Leadership: Provide strategic and operational leadership to a team of people in alignment with project and organizational strategic priorities. Work closely with the Community Relations team and the broader RIA team to build cross-functional capacity, providing oversight to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to partnership development that maximizes organizational impact and reflects the RIA’s commitment to collaboration, relevance, and inclusion. Lead the identification of and secure grant funding to advance partnership and engagement initiatives. Work collaboratively and provide supervision and mentorship to team members to ensure project success in alignment with RIA’s culture and values.
2. Community Engagement: Provide leadership to RIA’s community engagement initiatives to connect community members and organizations with the RIA and profile the RIA’s research, programs and impact. Lead the identification and implementation of opportunities to bring community organizations and members into the Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Aging, including tours and events. Identify and develop opportunities for sustained, meaningful engagement with community partners, and opportunities for RIA engagement in community initiatives and events.
3. Partnership Development: Provide strategic direction and lead the identification, development and nourishment of key partnerships that drive impact through increased collaboration and engagement, and knowledge mobilization of RIA resources. This includes partnerships with government, industry, associations, community groups, individuals and/or research organizations. Lead the execution of deliverables related to partnerships in collaboration with cross-organization teams.
4. Budget Management: Manage multiple project budgets. Provide regular reporting of expenditures to leadership and funding agencies, as required. Responsible for the management of spending related to each project and ensuring that all spending is in alignment with RIA policies and funder guidelines. Ability to effectively source and work with consultants and vendors to ensure successful outcomes. Responsible for all funder financial reporting.
5. Communication and Reporting: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences. Present and discuss matters with partners through a variety of virtual and in-person events and meetings. Proactively report to funders, team members, and key partners on activities, and contribute to the writing and dissemination of various written products, including grant applications, technical reports, and program reports. Ability to chair or facilitate meetings and document meeting outcomes.
6. Other: Take on additional tasks, activities and special projects, as they arise.

Position Requirements

Education:

University degree in social sciences, public health, gerontology, or health services research or equivalent experience.

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience providing strategic direction and leadership to projects in alignment with organizational and funder priorities.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in leading and supervising a project team in alignment with organizational values and project goals.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience managing project budgets.
• Proven experience in building effective relationships with diverse partners, including funding organizations, government, industry, and people with lived experience (older adults and care partners).
• Demonstrated success in grant writing, knowledge mobilization, and the coordination of program/project impact reporting in collaboration with evaluation teams.
• Highly motivated and detail-oriented with a proven ability to multitask, manage change, and meet tight deadlines within a high-demand environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with experience setting agendas, chairing meetings, and driving collaboration and decision-making across in-house and remote teams.
• Familiarity with the senior living sector and/or the Waterloo Region community services sector is considered a strong asset.
• Proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with databases or CRMs (e.g., HubSpot) and webinar platforms is an asset.

Additional Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Fluency in French is an asset but not required.
• Must have a valid driver’s licence and be available for frequent travel.
• Eligible to obtain a clear police background and record check.
• Eligible to work in Canada.

Scope of Work

• Interpersonal Skills: Communicates effectively with internal team members and external partners; professionally represents the RIA in all communications and at events.
• Level of Responsibility: Responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation and budget management of multiple projects.
• Decision-Making Authority: Responsible for the day-to-day operations of a variety of projects with support from a director for strategic decisions.
• Physical and Sensory Demands: Minimal demands, typical of a position operating within an office environment; periods of extensive sitting at a desk and in meetings and concentrated use of visual senses; substantial repetitive keyboard/mouse movement; high sensory demands because of required concentration and attentiveness to detail and regular distractions and interruptions.
• Working Environment: Much of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunities to move about. Office is located in a comfortable indoor area and options for hybrid work are available for this position. The work is varied and assignments may change frequently. Work will involve regular interaction with RIA team members and external partners and collaborators. There are deadline pressures, while at the same time there is a demand for thoroughness and accuracy. Frequent travel is required.

Vaccination Statement

All researchers, employees and students of the RIA who will work with long-term care homes, colleges, universities and other partners are required to comply with the vaccination policies of those external organizations to complete their work. Of note, vaccination policies are subject to change. The requirement to comply with those evolving policies does not change.

Equity Statement

The RIA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion within its community and organization. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities and people from other equity-deserving groups.

The RIA is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) within our recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.

Funding Statement

Please note that all positions at the RIA and the continuation of these positions are conditional upon funding.

How to Apply

RIA invites applications (cover letter and resume) to be submitted on our website: https://the-ria.ca/working-at-the-ria/

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging may use artificial intelligence technology to assist in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.