Director, Program Development, Community Programs

Who we are 

At Heart & Stroke our mission is to promote health, save lives and enhance recovery. We are committed to a culture that exemplifies our core values: champion health, practice humility, embrace change, drive impact, learn and grow and be heartfelt as we work together to beat heart disease and stroke. 

We believe in equity, diversity and inclusion ― it’s embedded in our values and core mission work to support all people in Canada to lead healthier lives. We are committed to applying this principle to cultivate a welcoming environment that embraces diversity among our employees. Candidates from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

To learn more about our mission, values, commitment to EDI, and the difference Heart & Stroke makes in the lives of people in Canada at every age, please visit our website. 

The opportunity 

(Candidates can work from anywhere in Canada) 

The role is responsible for the development of program strategy and executional plans for Heart & Stroke’s community-based programs (with current priority placed on CardiacCrash and Memorial Giving) to drive growth through both programs in order to deliver maximum impact from both a mission and fundraising perspective. The role will focus on testing and learning in order to continually innovate and iterate on longstanding community-based programs and newer programs. 

This is a complex role that will require an ability to lead and influence several internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, it will require central program development for numerous audiences; for example, within CardiacCrash: schools, community groups and corporate Canada.  

This role will work with cross-functional partners and senior leadership to ensure all programs align with the overall Community Programs & Engagement mission and strategy and the broader foundation-wide plans. 

The ability to think strategically, be flexible, embrace uncertainty, manage multiple priorities, and support several different target audiences will be critical to success. 

How you will make an impact every day 

Strategic Business Planning 

• Work closely with the steering committee and vice president, community programs and engagement to develop the five-year vision and roadmap for the growth of priority community programs (CardiacCrash and Memorial Giving) 

• Lead Steering Committee pre-work and meetings, working closely with vice president, community programs & engagement and sr. managers (as required) 

• Lead development of the annual strategic plans and execution for all priority community programs, with a focus on testing and learning to continue innovating and scaling the program 

• Work collaboratively with Lead, Strategic Initiatives in the development of the program development and innovation approach 

• Lead and influence key stakeholders to ensure cohesive foundation strategies and cross-functional support for functional areas of the business.  

• Work with the Director, School Relationships on determining the correct approach and support model for CardiacCrash in schools 

• Work closely with the Lead, Strategic Initiatives on the overall program strategy for the Corporate and community markets for CardiacCrash 

• Solicit strategies and action plans from Sr Mgrs based on program evaluation and key insights 

• Ensure a constituent-first approach to program development and delivery for all audiences/programs; ensuring industry best practices and enhancements are considered to modernize the programs  

• Define marketing and communication strategies and lead execution with internal and external partners as required 

• Act as main contact with the Development team to identify opportunities for corporate sponsorship and partnerships and major gift opportunities 

Constituent Experience Development 

• Working with cross-functional partners and vendors as necessary, lead the development of concepts for program extensions and innovation  

• Ensure appropriate resources are in place to support the implementation of agreed strategies and to secure cross-functional support as needed 

• Ensure lead generation tool/approach is effective for CardiacCrash community and corporate audiences and work closely with Lead, Strategic Initiatives to ensure tech stack supports overall approach and objectives 

• Guide team in the creation and management of critical paths and align stakeholders to ensure that critical timelines are met 

• Lead work with partners to design and execute content for program experiences 

Program Execution Management 

• Lead development and oversee implementation of standardized program execution plans for all community programs and audiences  

• Oversee team in development of integrated communications and tools to support relationship teams, consistent with brand standards and key messaging 

• Lead national program rollout and execution strategies, ensuring timelines are maintained and key learnings are captured 

Research, Metrics and Data Management 

• Define and track impact and financial goals for all community programs 

• Effectively lead test and learn plans and ensure proper tracking and assessment to inform future plans/adaptations 

• Lead any required research studies, business analyses, reporting and testing 

• Oversee team in the analysis and development of business recommendations for approval by senior leadership  

• Draw conclusions and recommend action plans using data and key metrics to support findings 

• Monitor and measure results. Develop contingency plans as required 

Financials 

• Establish gross/net revenue targets, impact goals, and manage budgets required to deliver on key priorities. 

• Work with the finance department to oversee and manage the budget process (i.e. invoicing, accruals, etc). 

• Work with operations for procurement needs, as necessary. 

• Update quarterly budget outlooks and monitor spending. 

• Identify cost-saving measures within the program 

Talent Management 

• Lead talent development, ensuring high standards, competence and that staff is well supported in fulfilling their accountabilities, developing their skills and achieving their career potential.   

• Provide clear direction on business goals and priorities; ensure optimal deployment of resources to achieve business goals.  

• Establish individual performance plans and objectives; provide coaching and feedback to direct reports and comply with performance review cycle 

• Develop direct report(s) to be strong people leaders, enabling the development of a high performing team by following established best practices 

• Partner with Human Resources to recruit skilled talent aligned with Foundation practices 

• Familiarize and comply with all HSF policies while ensuring accurate administration of employee related information: absence records, vacation, title, etc 

Who we need 

Education 

• University Degree (BBA preferred) 

Experience 

• 10+ years program development experience with a proven track record of achieving targets (eg fundraising and/or mission impact) 

• Experience developing marketing plans that incorporate digital channels 

• Experience using data/analytics to support program / strategy recommendations 

• Proven leadership experience driving program/business growth from an early concept phase to scale  

• 7+ years of experience managing senior leaders / direct reports  

• Experience leading cross functional teams, including senior level stakeholders 

Skills  

• Strong business sense and demonstrated ability to define program strategy and executional plans, to business results (revenue, mission impact) 

• Able to influence without authority, tact and diplomacy   

• Ability to navigate and work within a large, matrix organization with multiple stakeholders/partners and execute plans 

• Excellent time management and organizational skills 

• Superior communication and interpersonal skills; able to influence outcomes, build persuasive arguments and gain support to achieve business goals 

• Self-motivated, flexible, agile and able to adjust to changing priorities 

• Advocates for and leads by example in building the culture aligned to the organization’s values 

• Strong technical abilities, computer skills and experience working with a CRM database and online fundraising platforms would be an asset 

What we offer 

At Heart & Stroke, we make it a priority to foster a culture of caring by implementing practices and programs that foster respect, compassion, trust and attentiveness to our own and others’ health and well-being. 

In addition to a competitive salary, we believe that time off is integral to the personal health and wellness of our employees. We offer a generous paid time-off package including vacation days, personal days, wellness days, and paid company-wide closure between December 25 and January 1. We also provide competitive health, medical, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, an employee assistance program (EAP) and a defined contribution pension plan with employer matching. Our employees also enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and reimbursement for mobile phones and home office setup, as well as opportunities for professional development.  

Apply now 

If you want to join the fight to beat heart disease and stroke, please apply by sending your resume by February 23, 2025. Applicants must be currently residing in Canada and legally entitled to work in Canada. 

Only those candidates that qualify will be selected for an interview. At this time, all interviews are being conducted via phone and/or video call ― we look forward to “virtually” meeting you!  

Accommodation 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible environment. If you have been contacted for an interview and require accommodation to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please let us know and we will do our best to address your needs.