Sr Director, Global Programs & Partnerships

Senior Director, Global Programs and Partnerships

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada's largest and most activated business network - representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 businesses of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country - to create the conditions for our collective success. Our vision is to build a Canada of thriving business opportunity, a strong economy and a better life for all. Our mission is to drive change, partner broadly and be the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. We do this through policy and advocacy, our Canadian Chamber Network and our suite of essential business services.

Our team will drive our transformation and expansion as part of Chamber 2025

We are in an exciting period of transformation and expansion to meet the changing needs of our members.

Through our Chamber 2025 Strategic Plan, we will give each of our members more of what they need to succeed:

• Insight into markets, competitors and trends
• Influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success
• Impact on business and economic performance

That is why we want to recruit top talent who understand today's business realities and have an entrepreneurial mindset that can support our business building goals as well as emerging business needs and opportunities.

What We Offer

• Advancement opportunities
• Annual salary range: $125,000 - $135,000
• Comprehensive benefit package covered by the Canadian Chamber at no cost to employees
• Competitive vacation
• A defined pension plan starting after one (1) year of service
• Compressed-work week during the summer
• Hybrid work environment

Term and Location

This role is based in Ottawa and is a full-time position.

Summary of the Role and Opportunity

As seismic geopolitical happenings take place and create unprecedented volatility on global and domestic markets, Canadian businesses are faced with new and emerging challenges and opportunities that are already having impacts on trade, supply chains and the regulatory environment. With the introduction of its Gateway to the World (GTW) program one year ago, the Canadian Chamber is playing a more pronounced and deliberate role in global affairs, both from a policy and trade enablement perspective.

Reporting to the Vice President, Strategic Policy and Global Partnerships and as part of the Canadian Chamber's wider Public Policy Team, this new senior position will allow the GTW program to reach new heights as it builds on its inaugural year's success. The Senior Director, Global Partnerships, will develop and lead global engagement opportunities, including international business missions, that are aligned with the Canadian Chamber's membership needs and its broader international strategy. This entails the project management and execution of international events and strategic engagements, while building key global partnerships.

The senior director will also be responsible for managing the Canadian Chamber's relationship with some of its existing internationally-focused partners, including the International Chamber's of Commerce (ICC)'s Arbitration Committee and the Business for the OECD (BIAC), among others.

Further, the role's responsibilities include supporting and collaborating with the VP of Strategic Policy and Global Partnerships in developing a bold international strategy that heightens the Canadian Chamber's brand on the global stage. The senior director will act as a key player in delivering high-caliber international policy programming and engagement opportunities for its members, alongside its team members.

Lastly, the senior director will contribute to the success of special international projects as they arise. In 2025, this will include playing a senior role in the planning and delivery of the Business 7 ("B7") Summit which the Canadian Chamber will be hosting in May 2025, along with a number of other B7/G7 events and activities.

Essential to this position will be multidisciplinary skills that range from a customer-centric mentality based on a proven record of partnership building, stakeholder management and business development; an understanding of the interconnectedness between the Canadian business community and the global and domestic policy landscapes; and the ability to develop and execute, in collaboration with Canadian Chamber team members and external partners, high-impact policy programs, events and earned media that are aligned with the Canadian Chamber's GTW objectives.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Vice President, Strategic Policy and Global Partnerships, in delivering a highly-relevant program offering related to international policy and engagement.
• Core to the role will be to lead, develop and support international business missions and related domestic events, as detailed in our annual GTW plan.
• Manage the Canadian Chamber's ICC Arbitration program, including:

• ensuring smooth day-day operations for related stakeholders (primarily members and co-chairs, but also with ICC headquarters POCs as needed);
• developing, managing and executing on an annual operations and marketing plan;
• playing a central role in ensuring a diplomatic and effective approach to issue management, as it may arise; and,
• overseeing the planning and delivery of the ICC Canada Arbitration Committee's Annual Conference, alongside the conference co-chairs.

• Identify and seek out relevant organizations (related to trade, national security, geopolitics, multilateral initiatives, international business etc.) that could complement the Canadian Chamber's global efforts in a tangible manner - and ensure that those relationships are actively maintained and growing.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of major special international projects as they may arise, including the B7 Summit and related B7/G7 initiatives throughout 2025.
• Manage the development of high-quality external communications materials (including marketing pieces and program summaries) for business and government audiences and related partners.
• Collaborate frequently and effectively across internal teams, including with events, communications, member relations, finance and other Canadian Chamber colleagues. In addition, collaborate closely with all policy team members to gain a meaningful understanding of how GTW can support domestic policy objectives, and partner to execute on some of those cross-cutting deliverables.
• Leverage international platforms, forums and relationships with existing partners like ICC and EDC to deliver more benefits for members and prospective members.
• Maintain a strong awareness of geopolitical developments especially as they impact priority international markets, while building relationships with key partners, diplomatic staff, business representatives in target markets, and others, to advance the Canadian Chamber's advocacy objectives and gain insights on related policy, legislative and regulatory developments.
• Represent the Chamber at industry events and other public-facing speaking opportunities to articulate member views.
• Identify and leverage opportunities for senior and executive leaders of the Canadian Chamber to support delivery of advocacy work, and provide necessary support for meetings with officials or events, such as speeches, briefing notes, etc.
• Lead other GTW service offering or program management responsibilities, as assigned and in alignment with our strategic planning.
• Overnight international and domestic travel will be required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• University degree in public administration, international relations, political science, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years' experience in roles with multi-disciplinary responsibilities covering project management, stakeholder management, communications, and the delivery of sophisticated programs and events in a political and corporate context.
• Deep experience in collaborating with a variety of complex stakeholders (especially international stakeholders) and in delivering results despite evolving and at times ambiguous and challenging circumstances.
• Understanding of how developments at the international level play a role shaping domestic Canadian policy.
• Understanding of government decision-making and legislative processes, ideally at, but not limited to, the federal and multi-lateral level.
• Strong analytical thinking with the ability to identify issues and recommend and act on alternative courses of action.
• Strong and effective writing skills, especially for a business audience.
• Advanced ability to work effectively across internal teams.
• Experience and transferable skills in government relations and sector-specific advocacy are highly valued. Existing relationships with international government or state leaders, Parliamentarians, political staff and senior government officials in the public service is a strong asset.
• Experience in international trade and marketing, international business development, conflict resolution, international development, or multi-lateral initiatives is highly valued.
• Ability to work in both official languages is a strong preference.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As such, we will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the recruitment process.

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of all segments of society. We are dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive culture amongst the whole workforce and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire will be based on merit, competence, performance and business needs.