Senior Associate, Partnerships

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Partnerships & Strategy, this role supports the development, implementation, and execution of BOF's external engagement strategies, with a focus on building and fostering positive relationships with Indigenous partners and communities. This person will provide expertise, research and analysis, and outreach to inform BOF's investments across sectors that support Indigenous rightsholders, as well as the BOF's administration of the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (IOFP).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Through research and collaboration, supports the development and implementation of BOF's engagement strategies with rightsholders and stakeholders, including governments, project proponents, communities, investors, and other agencies.
• Plans and facilitates roundtables, including engagements around the IOFP, ensuring BOF's decision-making is informed by Indigenous perspectives and economic development priorities.
• Serves as a primary liaison for Indigenous partners to maintain respectful, trust-based relationships across Ontario. Conducts outreach and coordinates with internal teams to provide timely and accurate responses to external inquiries.
• Leads research and intelligence gathering on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges, including those impacting Indigenous economic development and infrastructure financing.
• Prepares and presents reports and briefing materials for senior management and investment teams ahead of external meetings.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams across BOF to support strategic initiatives, active investment projects, and engagements.
• Tracks partnership performance against defined KPIs and key metrics and provides data-driven reports on partnership impact and insights. Continuously refines engagement strategies based on feedback and performance analysis.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Post-secondary degree in Indigenous Studies, Public Policy, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 5 – 7 years of experience with Indigenous and/or community engagement, economic development, or partnership management.
• Familiarity with government and/or Building Ontario Fund priority sectors (assets).
• Lived experience as an Indigenous person or extensive experience working with Indigenous communities (assets).

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep understanding of Indigenous rights, governance structures, and economic development priorities in Ontario.
• Familiarity with reconciliation frameworks, Indigenous financing models, and government funding programs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including tact, diplomacy, discretion, and cultural competency.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret financial data and market trends.
• Collaboration skills to influence and work with diverse internal stakeholders, including finance, legal, and senior management.
• Ability to develop and execute engagement strategies that align with broader BOF objectives.
• Advanced knowledge of engagement processes, best practices, tools and techniques.
• Leadership skills and the ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with rightsholders and stakeholders.
• Prioritization and organization skills and the ability to effectively managing multiple deliverables simultaneously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex financial and business information and create clear, compelling materials backed by thorough analysis.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams) and other internal applications, as required.
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages and protocols (assets).