Project Specialist

Project Specialist - Full Time, 2 year term with possibility to extend
Location Flexible (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario)

Are you a highly organized person who enjoys building relationships and establishing connections? Do you value and want to contribute to community led work that supports changemakers to be impactful in their communities?

We are looking for a new team member who will help facilitate social, economic, and environmental solutions led by communities. The Project Specialist will provide direct support and advice to a portfolio of environmental stewardship, social justice, and cultural revitalization projects. The Specialist is also responsible for leading or supporting a variety of work to enhance both the project experience and advance the Shared Platform throughout the country.

The Project Specialist is part of a team that spans the country that supports MakeWay’s Shared Platform. This position is supported by the Director, Shared Platform and works with a large team of Project Specialists and Project Coordinators that are located throughout the country.

MakeWay builds partnerships and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together. We are made up of two legal charitable entities: MakeWay Charitable Society, a shared platform home to over 65 innovative community-led projects staffed by 150 change makers; and MakeWay Foundation where about 70 people are advancing place-based programs that support Indigenous-led solutions and conservation in the North, Pacific, Manitoba, and beyond via grant-making, funder collaboratives and other tools. Our people, projects, and partners are based across the country.

If our values align with yours and you want to learn, grow, and develop within a supportive team that shares knowledge and cares, then we want to hear from you Join us and make a difference.

**What You’ll Do**:
Project Support
- Provide a portfolio of diverse projects with day-to-day support including charitable guidance, compliance monitoring, grants management, preparation of contracts, financial review, and timely and informative responses to support requests. A significant portion of Projects are Indigenous led and/or Indigenous focused.
- Assist projects with achieving commitments to funders, including ensuring timely and satisfactory submission of funding proposals and reports.
- Review and administration of contractual arrangements.
- Collaborate with the Finance department to ensure effective financial management of projects.
- Actively manage risk to MakeWay and its projects through day-to-day issue identification and problem solving to ensure compliance is met and aligned with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and internal policies.
- Work with projects to monitor and track political activity, fundraising activity, and other charitable reporting requirements.
- Provide thoughtful strategic advisory to projects to help them expand their work, explore possibilities, and facilitate connections among other similar projects or work.

Special Project Support Areas

**Here are some other cool things you’ll be working on**:
In addition to direct project support, you'll work with the team including other Project Specialists and Managers across Makeway to lead and support initiatives that deepen MakeWay's engagement with Projects and develop new tools and approaches to help them deepen their impact.

We don’t expect anyone to be able to do all these things right away. We are looking for an individual who shares our values and wants to learn in a supportive workplace and is willing to step into new opportunities.

**Who You Are**:

- People person: You’re a natural relationship builder who can establish connections in communities and build trusting partnerships.
- Adaptable: You can juggle priorities and deliver on multiple assignments while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
- Analytical: You have an attention to detail paired with analytical and problem-solving abilities. You are practiced at digesting information, assessing importance and risks, and making clear and timely decisions.
- Tech-savvy: You have strong computer skills.
- Team oriented collaborator: You are self-motivated and comfortable working in-person and virtually with colleagues across Canada.

**Experience You Bring**:

- A deep appreciation for community-led initiatives.
- Proven cultural competency, including working from a place of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to connect with many people.
- Experience working in relationship with Indigenous Peoples and other equity-deserving groups.
- Experience in the charitable/non-profit sector; exposure to or understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by groups carrying out fundraising, advocacy, or community programming is an asset.
- Strong project management capabilities, including using a variety of project management approaches and tools.