Join us in shaping Canada's sustainability energy future

The Pembina Institute is seeking a leader based out of Toronto with a passion for building transformative partnerships and driving impactful change. Come lead our fundraising efforts and cultivate strong relationships that power our mission of advancing a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Who we are

At the Pembina Institute, it's all hands on deck and it has been for the last 40 years. 

Our 55+ person team, distributed across the country, are passionate and dedicated, but we don't sweat the small stuff. We’re too busy tackling one of the most important issues of our time: Canada’s clean energy transition.

In that transition, we don’t leave anyone behind and believe each member of our team plays a critical role in achieving our goals. We ensure equity but promote individuality. We lead with curiosity — challenging our own ideas and limiting beliefs, being open to diversity of thought and opinion. We use evidence-based thinking to inform our recommendations to decision-makers and understand that to make long-lasting changes, we need to take a practical approach when collaborating with others. 

Our commitment to responsible development, and our “tough, but fair” approach, using research, consulting and convening, gives us credibility with decision makers whose actions today are setting the direction for the planet. Are you ready to join us?

Meet the team

The Strategic Partnerships team leads the Pembina Institute’s efforts toward financial resiliency and growth through attracting partnerships, grants, donations and sponsorships. They work closely with  teammates across the organization to enable the overall strategic plan by identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individuals and organizations to secure diverse and reliable funding sources.

The Pembina Institute is a national, charitable, clean energy policy advocacy organization with a $9.1 million budget, headquarters in Calgary and offices in B.C. and Ontario.

The opportunity

As part of Pembina Institute’s Senior Leadership Team and reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships leads planning and execution of the Pembina Institute’s fundraising strategy. This role will oversee the Strategic Partnerships team, cultivating a diversified funding portfolio and integrating that team with other functional groups to ensure alignment between funding efforts and the organizational mission, and fostering long-term sustainability and growth.

The incumbent will directly represent the organization by building key relationships with partners and funders, and support leaders across the organization in crafting compelling stories of opportunity that funders will want to invest in.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that ensures long-term financial sustainability and supports organizational growth.
• Drive impact: Build and manage a diversified funding portfolio that includes grants, major gifts, partnerships and innovative campaigns.
• Inspire collaboration: Lead and mentor the Strategic Partnerships team, fostering a culture of creativity and excellence.
• Engage partners: Represent the Pembina Institute with key partners and funders, building meaningful relationships and amplifying our mission.
• Innovate: Oversee donor engagement strategies, fundraising campaigns, and events like our signature unGALA, driving increased participation and support.
• Guide organizational direction: Set organizational strategic direction as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with the mission of the organization.

What we’re looking for

You are a dynamic and ambitious senior professional with a deep understanding of Canada’s philanthropic landscape and a strong track record of positioning an organization to achieve tangible outcomes in a competitive fundraising environment. You are a well-connected network builder, adept at cultivating and leveraging relationships across the philanthropic and corporate sectors. You bring a keen ability to secure multi-year funding, corporate partnerships and event sponsorships, and to envision opportunities to increase international outreach and diversify revenue streams. With a strategic eye for growth, you excel at assessing strengths and weaknesses in current approaches, fostering a cohesive team environment with staff embedded across the organization, and engaging external resources effectively.

You are skilled in donor stewardship, capable of guiding the Executive Director and others in building critical relationships with major donors and expanding fundraising capacity through various communication strategies. Collaborative by nature, you work seamlessly with different partners, bringing energy and expertise to events, sponsorships, and initiatives that drive impactful results.

What you bring

Education and credentials

• Post-secondary education in business, economics, public policy, communications, or a related field.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset.

Professional experience

• 10+ years of professional work experience in fundraising, with demonstrated success securing multi-year funding and growing diversified funding portfolios in the Canadian philanthropic landscape.
• Proven experience developing and executing fundraising strategies for a national charitable organization, ideally in climate, energy, or environment.
• Expertise in identifying prospective donors, cultivating relationships, soliciting gifts, and acquiring major donors.
• Direct experience overseeing fundraising events, securing sponsorships, and managing event logistics.

Leadership and management

• 10+ years of progressive leadership and management experience, including mentoring and developing both direct and indirect reports.
• Ability to lead teams through change, challenges, and ambiguity with optimism and structure.

Expertise in fund development

• Strong understanding of CRA guidelines, charitable tax law, and philanthropy best practices.
• High financial competence in fund development and revenue forecasting.
• Knowledge of Canadian fundraising trends, particularly in climate, energy, and environment.

Strategic and tactical skills

• Strong planning, problem-solving, and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience setting competitive sponsorship rates, building sponsorship packages, and managing donor and partner engagement strategies.
• Advanced skills in public speaking, media engagement, and high-stakes communication, conducted with diplomacy and tact.

Technical proficiency

• High proficiency with software tools for donor and data management, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with platforms like Salesforce and Canada Helps is considered an asset.

Networking and influence

• An established network of local and national connections within relevant sectors, with a strong preference for networks in the Toronto area.
• Prior experience in corporate sustainability, climate tech, or energy development, with a deep understanding of climate and energy policy challenges.

Flexibility and passion

• Ability to work flexible hours and travel locally and nationally as required.
• A commitment to advancing sustainability, with the ability to engage meaningfully in discussions on climate science and social policy.

Compensation and benefits

The hiring range for the position is $110,376 to $132,452 annually based on a 37.5-hour work week, with a range maximum of $147,084. Within this range, individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, related experience, education and/or training, and internal equity.

We know that to meet these ambitious goals, our people are the core. We also know that one size does not fit all, therefore we offer employees a flexible office and home schedule that allows individuals to find an optimal balance. Our employees receive a generous paid time-off package starting with four weeks of vacation, time to cover health and wellness, professional development and offices closed annually from December 25 to January 1. In addition, we offer RRSP matching, parenthood top-ups, extended health and dental benefits, and yearly development funds.

Note: the incentive programs have certain eligibility requirements and may be subject to employment type.