Environmental funding, philanthropy

Position: Program Director, Environment
Organization: The Hilary & Galen Weston Foundation
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Position details: Full Time, Permanent
Reports to: Executive Director
Website: https://hgwf.org/

THE ORGANIZATION

The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation (HGWF) empowers passionate leaders to build thriving communities and regenerate ecosystems, by nurturing innovation and scaling proven solutions to deliver transformative change. Its grantmaking supports organizations focused on the environment, neurodegenerative diseases of aging, youth, and humanitarian crises. Based on recent strategic planning, and recognizing the connections between human health, thriving communities, and rich biodiversity, approximately 25% of the HGWF’s granting will be devoted to the environment, with two focus areas: urban greenspaces across Canada and freshwater and estuaries in Atlantic Canada.

THE POSITION

In this newly created role, the Program Director, Environment (“Program Director”) will report to the Executive Director and will be responsible for developing and executing the HGWF’s strategies in two areas:

1. Urban Greenspace: supporting accessible parks, inclusive programming, and community-led stewardship so more people – especially those historically underserved – are connected with nature, leading to healthier communities, richer biodiversity, and more equitable access to greenspaces across Canada.
2. Freshwater / Estuarine Ecosystems in Atlantic Canada: supporting the restoration and stewardship of freshwater and estuarine habitats through Indigenous-led conservation, community-based action, and catalytic investments, leading to thriving Atlantic Canada ecosystems and communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Development & Program Design

• Develop ambitious philanthropic strategies and funding programs.
• Develop, maintain, codify, and communicate understanding and knowledge of the HGWF’s environmental funding.
• Use subject-matter expertise to help identify potential new opportunities.
• Champion the creation of appropriate monitoring and evaluative metrics and approaches for programs, projects, and activities.
• Support the Executive Director in ongoing HGWF-wide strategic framework.

Grants Management

• Manage portfolios of grants, including monitoring and measuring impact, analyzing reports to ensure appropriate financial management and deliverables, and reviewing grant payments.
• Coordinate and support the assessment of proposals to the HGWF, analyzing their quality, potential impact, program alignment and organizational viability; obtaining appropriate expert advice and references; helping to reach a funding judgement through development and implementation of expert reviews; and handling relationships throughout the process.
• Serve on grantee steering committees and advisory groups and assist grantees with the development of strategies, as appropriate.
• Ensure the operational effectiveness and efficiency of granting processes, including identifying and implementing process improvements.

Relationship Management

• Manage and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the HGWF’s Directors, other HGWF and enterprise colleagues, contractors, advisors, prospective and current grantees, and government or community representatives.
• Convene multi-stakeholder groups to engage and build a constructive dialogue, including the planning, coordination, execution, and facilitation of convening activities (e.g., workshops, forums, speaker events, and webinars).
• Communicate with prospective and current grantees to manage expectations, provide clear guidelines, provide advice, raise concerns or awareness, and celebrate successes
• Attend relevant events, conferences, etc. to enhance knowledge or represent the HGWF, as appropriate.

Operations

• Organize and maintain meticulous records of the HGWF’s environmental grants, activities, and impact.
• Support the development of agendas and generate materials for Grants Meetings.
• Draft, negotiate, and finalize relevant grant-making materials (e.g., grant agreements), effectively liaising with legal counsel as necessary.
• Track grant payments against budgets.

Communications

• Generate materials for external communications, including:

• The HGWF’s website
• Press releases
• Social media
• Third-party communications projects

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• An advanced degree in a related field, such as; urban planning, ecology/biodiversity, conservation, water and natural resources management or experiential equivalent.
• Minimum five years in a leadership role in a related field, with a preference for environmental grantmaking and a proven background in developing new strategies and programs.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial acumen, bringing new ideas from concept to implementation, and adapting to changing needs as projects evolve.
• Experience and understanding of grant-making and program design.
• Experience in performance measurement, evaluation, and adjudication.
• Strong background in project management, budgeting, and financial tracking.
• Advanced communication skills to develop relationships at all levels, and analytical skills to drive initiatives forward.
• Ability to network and convene multi-stakeholder groups and build constructive dialogue to advance foundation focus areas in a collaborative way.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and manage multiple demands and competing priorities with a minimum of direction.
• Strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, ability to make decisions, sound judgment and experience applying creative solutions to problems.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with grants management systems, e.g., SmartSimple, is an asset.
• Experience working for a family foundation or family business is an asset.
• Ability to travel occasionally for conferences (<15%), events, site visits, and meetings.

CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES

• Passion for contributing to thriving communities and biodiversity.
• Entrepreneurial, analytical, and impact-focused
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to take initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to build strong, respectful working relationships.
• Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a team player.
• Adaptable and open to change and evolving priorities.
• Openness to feedback and continuous learning.

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package including base salary between $110K and $148K plus benefits, including a 15% Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP).

HOW TO APPLY

We invite candidates to apply by email with your cover letter and résumé no later than October 11, 2026. Send to: WestonEnvironment@searchlightpartnersgroup.com

The Hilary & Galen Weston Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. We know our success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees and that diverse backgrounds and experiences make us stronger.

If you are contacted for an interview by Searchlight and require accommodation, please inform us, so we can ensure you have an accessible candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. All requests are confidential and used only to meet candidate needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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