Program Specialist, Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund

Calgary Economic Development (CED) is an opportunity-maker, helping to spark and fuel Calgary’s growth. Our mandate is to position Calgary for long term economic success, through the expansion, retention and attraction of companies, capital and talent. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world. We are passionate about our role in shaping and sharing Calgary’s story, a place of blue sky thinking and unexpected opportunities.

**Job Summary**

The Program Specialist, OCIF is responsible for analyzing funding opportunities, supporting beneficiaries, key partners, and driving processes aligned with the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund’s (OCIF) strategic direction. This role is a results-driven position that contributes to the overall productivity and efficiency of the OCIF program; working across departments within Calgary Economic Development (CED) as well as with a diverse set of stakeholders to advance OCIF priorities and to attract and support additional investments in Calgary.

This is a full-time permanent position with a minimum in-office requirement of 3 days a week.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Assist with research and analysis to support OCIF strategic initiatives.
- Assist in developing and implementing new program streams aligned with OCIF's strategic direction.
- Conduct the due diligence review of business proposals, including financial analysis, and contribute to the development of related board materials.
- Identify terms and conditions for funding agreements, as needed.
- Conduct monitoring and compliance reviews of funding agreements and related milestone requirements.
- Recommend contribution payments for successful milestone achievements.
- Responsible for documentation of files and activities for each stage of the OCIF process in SharePoint, WizeHive, and OCIF Dashboard
- Proactively update program materials, metrics, and other reporting requirements, and support development of other board materials, reporting to City Administration and Council, and funding partners.

**Let’s Talk About You**

You possess proven program execution skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and several sub-projects at once against tight timeline, demonstrating a strong skill base in organization, resourcefulness, schedules, and budget management, risk mitigation, quality assurance, documentation and stakeholder engagement.

You are highly skilled in developed research, communication and stakeholder engagement. Familiarity with government grants or venture capital fund programs are assets.

You are passionate about our city and are excited at the prospect of working on projects that build on the energy of our community. You are collaborative, detailed-oriented, deliver high-quality work and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

**Education**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or a related area.
- Project Management, CPA, or Financial Management Designation is an asset.

**Experience**:

- Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in a directly related area during which professional capability has been clearly demonstrated.
- Executing programs, strategies, processes, and internal controls in an environment with a high level of scrutiny and accountability.
- Reviewing and monitoring legal agreements.
- Creating reports for internal and external stakeholders.

**Key Skills & Competencies**:

- Collaboration - Understanding of information sharing with different stakeholder types & coordinates with others across groups
- Accountable - Works with others to ensure deliverables are completed, is able to perform quality assurance for self and others.
- Respectful - Motivates teams, focusing on team goals/priorities. Respects diverse opinions.
- Entrepreneurial - Leads teams and channels energies to group achievements.
- Strategic approach, and critical thinking to consider benefits and compromises between multiple potentially valid options.
- Sound ability to monitor key financial indicators, identify trends and develop strategies to improve financial position.
- Ability to pivot quickly to changing priorities, tasks, deadlines and look for creative or alternative ways to enable workflow.
- Understand and appreciate the implications of budgets, financial statements, venture capital metrics and financial reports.
- Ability to understand and appreciate quantitative information related to project and portfolio KPIs and progress metrics.
- Accuracy of work is critical to the success of the program.
- Decision making capability to deliver timely results in a responsible manner in a fast-paced environment.
- Able to engage a variety of stakeholders and collaborators to understand their respective interests and needs.
- Comprehensively understand project situations, dynamics, and plan; and ability to execute corresponding actions.
- Excellent work ethic and energy level
- Excellent oral and writ