The Associate, Inuit Initiatives | MakeWay Foundation

The Associate, Inuit Initiatives at MakeWay Foundation will play a pivotal role in advancing grantmaking activities within the Arctic region, specifically in Inuit Nunangat. This individual will be integral in ensuring that grantmaking decisions are guided by Inuit values, worldviews, and priorities, particularly emphasizing Inuit stewardship of lands and waters, culture and language resurgence, and emerging leadership. This position reports to the Manager, Inuit Initiatives.

If our values align with yours and you want to learn, grow, and develop within a supportive team that shares knowledge and cares, then we want to hear from you!  Join us and make a difference.

What You’ll Do:

Grantmaking

• Lead grantmaking efforts in the Arctic, particularly within Inuit Nunangat, ensuring alignment with Inuit values and priorities.
• Identify and recommend grant opportunities to the northern program team, facilitating consensus-based decision-making processes.
• Support grantmaking streams that emphasize Inuit stewardship of lands and waters, culture and language revitalization, and the cultivation of emerging leadership.

• Help the development of community-led initiatives to increase their readiness to receive grants and sustain their impact.
• Engage with Inuit communities to ensure grantmaking strategies and program activities are aligned with Inuit needs and desires.

Foster Strong Relationships

• Support the development of relationships and collaborations with partner communities, leaders, and organizations across Inuit Nunangat.
• Support the development of relationships with foundations and other donors.
• Organize and coordinate convenings, meetings, and gatherings that complement our grantmaking objectives and reflect Inuit values.
• Manage logistical aspects of events, including but not limited to hotel bookings, travel arrangements, agenda preparation and other necessary preparations.
• Represent MakeWay at meetings, conferences, and other convenings.
• Listening to the needs of community partners to ensure thorough understanding.
• Clearly communicate about MakeWay’s activities and approaches to diverse audiences.

Contribute to Team Efforts

• Participate in the development of Northern Program strategy, planning, and budgets.
• Work with the Northern Program team to advance programmatic and organization-wide goals and strategies.

Who You Are:

• Relationship Builder: You establish and maintain meaningful connections with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinker: You have the ability to analyze complex issues and develop innovative solutions.
• Strong Communicator: You have excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey ideas effectively.
• Project Manager: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Cultural Competency: Deep understanding and respect for Inuit cultures and communities.

Experience You Bring:

• Experience working closely with Inuit communities and familiarity with the cultural context of Inuit Nunangat.
• Strong research skills to gather and analyze relevant data for decision-making.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.

It Would Be a Bonus if You Have:

• Demonstrated success in grantmaking, community engagement, or similar roles.
• Fluency in Inuktut.

If you are interested in this role but are unsure if you qualify, send us your application anyway and tell us about why you can be a good fit for this position. We’d love to hear from you! 

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to enable community-led impact in the North.
• Annual salary of $91,000 – $96,000 (dependent on experience you bring).
• In addition to the annual salary above, MakeWay also pays a Northern Living Allowance, calculated using the National Joint Council’s most current rates. Depending on your community and whether you have dependents, the allowance may range from $12,000 – $40,000+.
• Comprehensive employer-paid extended health, vision, and dental benefits package, including an annual $300 Health Spending Account starting Day 1.
• Year-end RRSP contribution.
• Three weeks’ vacation plus statutory holidays. MakeWay has implemented a Substitution Statutory Holiday policy which allows employees the flexibility to substitute another day for a statutory holiday. In addition, the MakeWay office is closed annually for a winter holiday break, Indigenous Peoples Day, and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• 10 sick and personal days.
• Flexible, diverse, and engaging work environment.
• An active Indigenous Employees Network.
• Committed colleagues and a culture of collaboration, caring, and learning.
• High level of responsibility and autonomy.
• Opportunities and support for professional learning, including an annual $500 professional development fund.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter by clicking “Apply Now” or to careers@makeway.org by September 23, 2024.

In your cover letter please share what makes you an ideal fit for this position and why you want to join the MakeWay Team. If you have any questions prior to submitting your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Preference will be given to Indigenous and northern candidates. 

MakeWay is strongly committed to equity and creating a diverse workplace community. We recognize that our recruiting and hiring processes are key to this commitment. We strive to reflect the diversity of our society on our teams and to provide a respectful workplace and equal working opportunities for all employees and applicants. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. If you require accommodations at any point during the application or hiring process, please contact us at careers@makeway.org.

Our sincerest appreciation to all those expressing interest in the position, however, only those applicants invited for an interview may be contacted. Thank you!