Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Programs and Partnerships

Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Programs and Partnerships

Engagement: Full-time contract (up to 18 months), 35 hours per week; consultancy or another proposed engagement model may also be considered

Location: Remote, Canada

Reports to: Vice President, Programs and Partnerships

Compensation: For a full-time, fixed-term employee, the annual salary range is $100,000–$110,000. Consultancy fees will be determined through the proposal process based on the proposed engagement model, scope, level of effort and deliverables.

About Kinvia

Kinvia, previously known as Canadian Feed the Children, envisions a world in which children, youth, and their communities thrive, realizing their full potential. Kinvia works in partnership with local NGO’s and communities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Bolivia, and with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Kinvia is here with communities who are building local, self-reliant, sustainable systems to provide food for their children, youth, and families across generations. It works in solidarity with communities to impact all areas of nourishment at all stages of their lives, including income generation, education, gender equality, racial justice, and climate impacts. 

About the Opportunity

Kinvia is seeking a Strategic Advisor to assess our current Indigenous programs and partnerships, identify opportunities to deepen impact, strengthen donor engagement and advance organizational learning related to Indigenous food systems transformation in Canada.

The work requires a relationship-based approach grounded in Indigenous self-determination, community leadership, cultural humility and accountability. The advisor will work closely with senior leadership, staff, Indigenous partners and the Philanthropy team to provide practical recommendations for organizational decision-making.

This opportunity is intended for candidates who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis. This requirement reflects the importance of Indigenous lived experience, knowledge and relationships to the work. Candidates invited to move forward in the recruitment process will be asked to complete Kinvia’s Indigenous self-identification and verification process. Information will be handled respectfully and confidentially in accordance with Kinvia’s Indigenous Self-Identification and Verification Policy. We are seeking someone with strong connections to Indigenous communities and demonstrated experience in strategic thinking, relationship-building and collaborative leadership.

Flexible Engagement Options: Contract, Consultancy or Other Models

Our preferred arrangement is a full-time, fixed-term contract. We are also open to engaging an independent consultant, consulting team or another suitable arrangement. Applicants proposing an alternative model should submit a brief proposal as outlined below.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and assess Kinvia's current programs, partnerships, outcomes and positioning in Indigenous food systems transformation in Canada to Identify strengths, gaps, risks and opportunities, and recommend how resources or approaches should be adapted to increase impact and strategic alignment.
• Oversee related operational priorities, work planning, coordination and follow-through, including supervision of the Senior Officer, Indigenous Programs and Partnerships.
• Conduct a landscape scan and map relevant Indigenous organizations, communities, networks, funders, researchers, governments and other sector partners.
• Identify emerging priorities, policy and funding trends, collaboration opportunities and appropriate approaches to relationship-building.
• Advise on where Kinvia should lead, support, amplify, partner differently or step back in alignment with Indigenous-led priorities.
• Strengthen donor engagement by articulating Kinvia’s contribution, outcomes, learning, distinctive value and future funding needs.
• Contribute to proposals, reports, briefing notes, presentations and donor stewardship materials.
• Translate findings into practical guidance, tools and knowledge-sharing sessions that build staff capacity. 

• Prepare clear, prioritized recommendations covering immediate and longer-term opportunities, partnership and funding implications, capacity needs, risks and next steps.

Desired Experience and Qualifications

• This opportunity is intended for candidates who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis. Strong connections to Indigenous communities, with demonstrated experience in strategic thinking, relationship-building and collaborative leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in program review, evaluation, strategy and organizational learning.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous food sovereignty, food systems transformation and Indigenous-led community development in Canada.
• Experience building respectful, reciprocal relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners and Indigenous-led organizations.
• Experience in donor relations, stewardship, grant writing, proposal development, reporting or fund development.
• Excellent analytical, systems-thinking, writing, facilitation and communication skills.
  

Expected Scope and Deliverables

• Program and impact assessment: Evaluate the effectiveness of current partnerships and Kinvia’s partnership approach; assess where current programming and partnerships are generating impact; identify gaps, risks and areas where resources, approaches or implementation should change; and recommend how programming and partnerships can better reflect Indigenous leadership, priorities, knowledge and governance.
• Landscape scan and collaborator map: Map Indigenous organizations and communities, networks, NGOs, funders, researchers, governments, food-sector organizations and other relevant actors, including non-Indigenous organizations working with Indigenous partners.
• Sector trends and opportunities analysis: Identify important sector developments, funding trends, policy shifts, emerging approaches, resources and collaboration opportunities, with recommendations for appropriate engagement and relationship-building.
• Kinvia role and value proposition: Analyze Kinvia’s current role, contribution and distinctive value within the Canadian food systems transformation landscape, including how to increase impact without duplicating others’ efforts.

• Strategic recommendations and opportunity roadmap: Provide a prioritized list of opportunities, rationale and practical next steps to strengthen or diversify partnerships, respond to emerging priorities, address organizational capacity needs and manage reputational, operational and implementation risks.
• Community and partner engagement guidance: Recommend appropriate approaches to relationship-building with Indigenous communities and organizations, and support engagement plans for prioritized partners, including where Kinvia should lead, support, amplify, partner or step back.
• Philanthropy and donor support: Work closely with the Philanthropy team to identify and prioritize strategic funding opportunities, contribute to proposal development, participate in donor meetings and engagement activities, and serve as a subject matter expert in external meetings to articulate Kinvia’s Indigenous programming, outcomes, impact and funding needs.

• Learning agenda and capacity-building: Identify key questions, knowledge gaps and learning priorities related to Indigenous food systems transformation, and lead knowledge-sharing webinars or workshops to share findings and build staff capacity.

How to Apply

For the fixed-term contract: Please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest.

For a consultancy or alternative engagement: Please submit a concise proposal that includes:

• Your proposed approach and engagement model.
• A high-level work plan, timeline and key deliverables.
• The proposed team or consultant profile and relevant experience.
• Availability, level of effort and fee structure.
• Two relevant examples or references, where available.

Applications and proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The opportunity will remain open until a suitable candidate or consultant is selected. Only those under consideration will be contacted.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Kinvia is committed to inclusive, accessible and barrier-free employment practices and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of our community. We encourage and welcome applications from qualified applicants including members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Please let us know if you require an accommodation and we will work with you to ensure a barrier-free hiring process. For further information about Accessibility or Accommodation process at Kinvia, please contact our People and Culture Department.

Compensation: $100,000 - $110,000