Director of Strategic Partnerships

**About Waapihk Research**

We are an Indigenous-led research and consulting firm supporting transformation in health, education, and community well-being. Since 2015, we’ve partnered with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, governments, and health authorities to deliver evidence that drives policy and real-world outcomes. Our team combines expertise in economics, epidemiology, political science, medicine, and Indigenous knowledge.

**Position Overview**

Waapihk Research is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven leader to serve as **Director of Strategic Partnerships & Outreach**, joining our senior management team to strengthen and grow the partnerships that drive Indigenous health, education, and research transformation.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Director of **Strategic Partnerships & Outreach** will build trusted, long-term partnerships with Indigenous organizations, governments, and sector leaders; lead business development; and ensure a best-in-class client experience.

**Responsibilities**
- **Partnership Strategy & Outreach**_
- Develop and lead an integrated partnership strategy that advances Waapihk’s mission and five-year goals.
- Initiate partnerships with governments, health authorities, organizations, and industry leaders to enhance service delivery, shape policy, and improve health and well-being outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
- **Business Growth & Innovation**_
- Lead and oversee the business development team in identifying, pursuing, and securing new business opportunities.
- Oversee and refine proposal development and execution to ensure timely, values-aligned submissions.
- Bring back market and community insights to sharpen our services and new product lines.
- With support from the Executive, develop and launch new products and services.
- **Client Engagement & Representation**_
- Define and monitor client satisfaction measures, ensuring a consistently exceptional client experience.
- Represent Waapihk Research publicly, including at industry conferences, public forums, and high-level stakeholder meetings, to maintain positive client relationships and develop new prospective client opportunities.
- Present research findings and act as client liaison in the assessment, design, execution, delivery, and evaluation phases of projects.
- **Team & Organizational Leadership**_
- Oversee, grow, and mentor a team of 0-5+ staff engaged in business development-focused initiatives.
- Collaborate with internal teams, including Research and Operations, ensuring external communications, relationships, and business development align with organizational objectives.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets, ensuring effective resource utilization and measurable outcomes.

**Essential Qualifications**
- 5+ years of experience in client-facing leadership roles (consulting, public/health systems, research, or adjacent).
- Undergraduate education in any field, with a preference for those with business, economics, quantitative analysis, or a health-related field.
- Proven business development, account growth, and relationship management record.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience leading people and managing budgets.
- Ability to travel interprovincially as needed.
- Commitment to Indigenous community engagement and understanding of Indigenous issues is essential.

**Assets**
- A graduate degree in business, health economics, public health or other related fields is considered an asset.
- Experience working in or with small-to-mid-sized consulting environments is an asset.

**Compensation & Benefits**
- **Salary**_
- On-target earnings of $90k+ as a combination of base salary and performance bonus.
- **Benefits**_
- Health Spending Account (HSA).
- Wellness Spending Account (WSA).
- Radon Mitigation Benefit.
- Professional Development Fund.
- RRSP Matching.
- Education Savings Program.
- **Vacation**_
- Two (2) weeks of paid vacation annually, plus paid time off between December 24th and January 1st each year.

**Work Style**
- We offer a comfortable, friendly, and professional work environment.
- Hybrid working environment (3 days in office).
- Our downtown Winnipeg office is conveniently located near bus routes for easy commuting.
- Flexible working hours.
- Meaningful work.

**Working Conditions**
- Must have legal eligibility to work in Canada.

**Our Commitment**

**How to Apply**

**Timeline**

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; first conversations begin **within two weeks** of the original posting.

**Our process includes**: 1) a 30-minute intro, 2) a follow-up interview, 3) a brief task (proposal/relationship plan), and 4) references check.

Pay: Up to $90,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
- Wellness program
- Work from home

Work