Programs Director

POSITION TYPE: 1 year position. Full-time, 37.5hrs/week

REPORTS TO: ACGC Executive Director

LOCATION: Edmonton preferred. Successful applicants may be approved to work remotely from locations across Canada. 

ANTICIPATED TRAVEL: 20% travel required within Canada.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 24, 2024

START DATE : July 2, 2024

OTHER : ACGC is open to a 1 year secondment with another Canadian international cooperation organization to provide opportunity to an emerging leader and encourage greater sector collaboration. 

The Inter-Council Network (ICN) is a coalition of the eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation. The independent Councils are committed to global sustainable development, social justice and social change. They are rooted in communities across Canada and represent 300+ diverse civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Canada. Council membership varies from locally based cultural community civil society organizations to highly recognizable international organizations.

As part of the ICN, the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) aims to mobilize Albertans to become global citizens engaged in sustainable development. We do this by building the capacity of network organizations, representing members’ interests with government and others, and increasing the awareness, knowledge, and connections of Albertans in global issues and sustainable development.

ACGC, on behalf of the Inter-Council Network, implements a capacity building initiative entitled Spur Change: Capacity-Building & Knowledge Sharing for SMOs , to enhance the contribution of Canadian Small and Medium Organizations (SMOs) to Canada’s international development efforts towards achieving gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, poverty reduction, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Reporting to the Executive Director of ACGC, the Director, Programs will be responsible for managing a team to develop and implement program activities, including Spur Change activities, in accordance with Global Affairs Canada standards.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Work with implementing partners to implement the annual work plan; 
• Provide strategic guidance on the design and implementation of a national capacity-building conference (Fall 2024) and other events, including overseeing all programming and logistics;
• Provide programming oversight to program team members in implementing program activities including (but no limited to) planning distance learning opportunities, including training series, coaching opportunities and community of learning; 
• Work with external stakeholders to design and implement a consultation on future programming for SMOs;
• Oversee the implementation of a capacity building plan to support SMOs funded via Global Affairs Canada’s Development Impact Window;
• Create and manage a roster of SMO experts to offer timely and diverse coaching opportunities for SMOs; 
• Maintain the monitoring and evaluation strategy in line with funding requirements; oversee the production of quarterly and annual output reports, as well as other reporting as required;
• Work with the Executive Director and ACGC Financial Manager to manage a comprehensive budget, and produce quarterly financial reports in line with funding requirements;
• Manage donor relationships, including coordinate with Global Affairs Canada to offer timely support to SMO funded via the Development Impact Window; 
• Coordinate and/or attend strategic meetings including Spur steering committee, MEL committee, and other ICN collaboration meetings as needed;
• Manage a remote team across Canada, including recruitment, supervision, coaching, and professional development.

The selected candidate will:

• Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the not-for-profit, public and/or private sector, with experience at a managerial or leadership level;
• Fully bilingual in English and French is mandatory;
• Have a strong understanding and experience working with Global Affairs Canada and managing contribution agreements;
• Experience organizing large in-person events will be an asset;
• Possess strong decision-making, communication, and leadership skills; ability to manage a team and build a collaborative team environment in-person and remotely;
• Strong ability in partnership brokering and multi-stakeholder relations;
• Strong project planning and reporting skills with experience in Results Based Management, and Performance Measurement Frameworks; ability to set goals and achieve results;
• Have experience managing subcontractors recruitment via RFP process and contract negotiation; 
• Have strong experience managing budget, financial processes and preparing previsional annual budget;
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced work environment;
• Skilled in using MS Word, Google and Adobe applications; experience using virtual webinar, team management tools, and stakeholder meeting technology in bilingual settings.
• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Must provide a clean criminal record and vulnerable sector police record. 

Other preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the international cooperation sector in Canada;
• Knowledge of non-profit funding mechanisms and government policies;
• Experience developing and/or carrying out capacity-building activities, conferences or similar activities;
• Understanding of human rights-based and feminist approaches to development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Position Details:

This position will report directly to the Executive Director and is preferred to be based at the ACGC office in Edmonton or in any region of Canada for the right candidate. ACGC is open to secondment with another organization in the sector to provide opportunity to an emerging leader and greater sector collaboration. 

ACGC is strongly committed to anti-racism and diversity within its community, and especially welcomes applications that may contribute to the further diversification of ideas in the workplace, including visible minority group members, Indigenous persons, persons living with disabilities, newcomers to Canada with credentials from non-Canadian universities, and members of under-represented gender and sexual orientation groups.

The candidate must provide a clean criminal record-check with a vulnerable sector check upon hire with explicit questions asked to references for safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

To apply:

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, résumé, and the names of two references to employment@acgc.ca by May 24, 2024. While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted. 

Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC)

The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) is a network of organizations and individuals, located in Alberta, working locally and globally to advance sustainable development and global citizenship. We are committed to ensuring all people can fulfill their potential and prosper, become engaged citizens in peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, and thrive in a healthy, sustainable world. For more information about ACGC please visit