Director of Operations – Full-time, 12-month Contract
Location: Preference for candidates based in Vancouver or Toronto for close collaboration with local teams, but open to remote candidates across Canada (except Quebec)
Salary: $125,000-$140,000 (dependent on experience)
MakeWay is hiring a strategic and solutions-oriented Director of Operations to help strengthen the core of how we work. As the Director of Operations, you’ll lead initiatives across both MakeWay Foundation and MakeWay Charitable Society that improve our systems, strengthen day-to-day operations, and ensure our Shared Platform operating model is sustainable and values aligned. Reporting to the CFO and in partnership with our Senior Management Team (SMT) and cross-functional teams, you’ll help build processes and structures that support our staff, partners, and projects to do their best work.
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 60+ innovative community-led projects staffed by 200+ change makers; and MakeWay Foundation where about 75+ 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.

EXPERIENCE YOU BRING:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in operations, project management, and/or organizational leadership roles, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership capacity.
• Experience supporting organizational planning processes and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong understanding of operational systems, digital tools, and technology transformation, including process improvement methodologies, change management and user adoption strategies.
• Ability to analyze workflows and manage complex operational improvements.
• Excellent project management, facilitation, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Values-aligned leadership with a commitment to equity and collective decision making.
• Experience working in or with nonprofits, social enterprises, and/or shared platform models, with an understanding of sector-specific opportunities and constraints.
• Familiarity with nonprofit compliance, risk management, and governance requirements.

The Director of Operations will lead and steward operational and project management support in four core areas:

Shared Platform & Operational Model

• Co-lead strategy process for the Shared Platform, together with finance leadership, to ensure the Shared Platform balances effective delivery of core programmatic components while operating in a financially responsible and sustainable manner operating in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.
• Facilitate analyses of programmatic and operating components to support assessment of the Shared Platform delivery structure and operating mode
• Oversee the review of Shared Platform operations, systems, processes and technical tools in ways that incorporate community feedback, right-size risk, and create value for projects.
• Review and sign off on Shared Platform expenses and agreements as necessary.
• Co-lead with the VP Thriving Leadership and CFO a process for the Shared Platform to effectively engage the shared platform leadership team, broader shared platform team and projects in MakeWay’s strategic planning process and operating model review.

Operational Efficiencies

• Support Shared Platform and other operational teams with evaluating operational workflows, identifying efficiencies and areas to automate, through deployment of process improvement tools and methodology.
• Oversee and track progress on key initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope and budget.
• Support execution of operational policies, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and risk management requirements.
• Support the identification and mitigation of operational risks through proactive planning and cross-team collaboration.

Technology & Systems Transformation

• Contribute to technology governance structures and decision-making frameworks to ensure operational alignment and long-term sustainability of digital systems.
• Champion change management efforts related to new technology rollouts, working with Information Systems (IS) to ensure staff engagement, training, and adoption are well-supported across operational teams.
• In partnership with the Technology Transformation Advisor, identify, prioritize, and execute technology-enabled process improvements that enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Act as operational co-lead on enterprise technology transformation initiatives, ensuring operational needs, staff workflows, and cross-departmental impacts are integrated into system design and implementation.

Operationalizing Annual and Strategic Plans

• In collaboration with SMT, translate MakeWay’s strategic and annual plans into clear operational goals, actionable workplans, and implementation processes to ensure organization-wide execution.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and the development of integrated implementation plans to drive strategic priorities forward.