Director of Strategic Initiatives

Who We Are

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity and has been operating for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario; we value all animals and advocate to treat them with respect and kindness. We strive to keep pets and families together and do so through a variety of community support services.

Your Impact

As Director of Strategic Initiatives, you will be a driving force behind transformative change for animals and the communities that care for them. By aligning organizational priorities with actionable strategies, you will ensure that every initiative is rooted in a clear theory of change and measurable outcomes. Your leadership will unlock new opportunities for multi-year funding and strategic partnerships, while strengthening internal systems that support sustainable growth. Through your work, you will empower teams, elevate program design, and secure the resources needed to deliver strategic priorities and programs.

Core Contributions

• Reporting to the CEO and partnering with the Leadership Team to align strategic priorities with actionable initiatives.
• Translating organizational goals into measurable programs grounded in a clear theory of change.
• Designing logframes and impact measurement tools to evaluate program success.
• Developing strategic funding proposals and multi-year grant packages for foundations, government, and corporate donors.
• Collaborating with the Development team to create materials that support donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Building and nurturing relationships with internal teams and external partners across the province.
• Facilitating cross-departmental alignment to ensure consistent program delivery and monitoring.
• Leading the refinement of the Northern Ontario strategy, including Indigenous and remote community engagement.
• Strengthening internal systems to support grant management, reporting, and compliance.
• Strategically designing volunteer recruitment frameworks, especially in veterinary roles and other skilled positions.
• Reviewing data and evaluation reports to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Representing the organization in strategic meetings, sector forums, and partnership development opportunities.

Key Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Nonprofit management or International Development
• 7 years senior-level experience in program strategy, fundraising, or impact measurement
• Track record of securing multi-year institutional funding annually (government, foundations, corporates)
• 10+ years working within the animal welfare / One Health sector with significant expertise focused on Indigenous partnerships, or Northern development.
• Proven track record of securing institutional funding (government, foundations, corporate) and knowledge of the key stakeholders in Ontario (PetSmart, IDEXX, Zoetis, Merk, MARS, Provincial / Federal agencies)
• Proven experience working within the veterinary community, OVMA, and Veterinary schools.
• Expertise in developing TOC, logframes, results-based management, and impact measurement.
• Strong ability to facilitate partnerships across cultures and sectors.
• Expertise in designing and managing performance measurement systems, dashboards and outcome evaluations
• Familiarity with volunteer management in veterinary/health contexts is an asset.
• Strong analytical skills with proven experience in data review, evaluation, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence with adaptability and collaboration.
• Ideally, a strong network of pre-established relationships with high philanthropic influence in Northern communities.

Annual Salary Range: $130,000 - $140,000, plus comprehensive benefit plan.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society embody a culture that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (“DEIB”) and welcomes applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds. Our DEIB practices foster a fair and consistent environment, enabling everyone to feel welcomed, supported and valued in the workplace.

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society provide accommodation during all stages of the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodation, please advise us if you are contacted for an interview and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs. For any questions, suggestions or required documents regarding accessibility in a different format, please contact us at 888-668-7722.