Senior Advisor, Philanthropy And Charitable Partnerships

We are seeking a Senior Advisor, Philanthropy & Charitable Partnerships that brings strategic insight, strong judgment and innovative thinking to lead the development, evaluation, and evolution of high-impact charitable partnerships across Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and Western Canada. As a recognized subject matter expert in corporate philanthropy and charitable giving, you will play a critical role in shaping how our organization invests in communities, develops meaningful partnerships, and creates measurable social impacts aligned with our purpose, values, and strategic priorities with provincial and national partnerships. This role requires a highly credible professional capable of engaging confidently with senior executives, foundation leaders, advancement professionals, and key decision-makers from leading hospitals, universities, charitable organizations, and community institutions. You will combine strategic thinking, analytical rigor, strong judgment, and collaborative leadership to develop recommendations, influence decision-making, and bring innovative partnership programs to life. Acting as both a strategist and integrator, you will work across business sectors, support functions, agency partners, and external stakeholders to deliver initiatives that create value for communities while strengthening our brand, reputation, and organizational objectives. This role will elevate the organization’s philanthropic impact, strengthen relationships with leading charitable institutions, and help develop programs that create lasting value for communities while advancing organizational priorities. More specifically, you will be required to:
Develop and manage a pipeline of charitable partnership opportunities, identifying and evaluating organizations that align with strategic priorities, values, and community investment objectives.
Lead the development, negotiation, and management of high-value charitable partnerships that deliver meaningful community and business outcomes
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders and decision-makers across hospitals, foundations, universities, research institutions, and charitable organizations
Serve as the primary strategic contact for a portfolio of high-profile partnerships and represent the organization at industry and stakeholder events
Develop strategic recommendations, business cases, and investment rationales to support executive decision-making and philanthropic investments.
Establish and oversee measurement frameworks, KPIs, and reporting methodologies to assess partnership performance, social impact, and return on investment
Conduct environmental scans, market research, benchmarking, and impact assessments to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and risks in the philanthropy sector
Design and implement innovative partnership, cause marketing, and community engagement programs that enhance organizational visibility, employee engagement, and social impact
Ensure all partnerships comply with organizational policies, risk management practices, brand standards, and regulatory requirements while continuously improving processes and evaluation frameworks
Provide thought leadership, coaching, and subject matter expertise in philanthropy, social impact, and partnership strategy, while leading cross-functional collaboration and strategic initiatives.
What we offer*
Competitive salary and annual bonus
4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year
Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement
Group insurance including telemedicine
Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment
* Benefits apply based on eligibility criteria.
#LI-Hybrid, #ON10*, #ON10-
What you bring to the table
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Nonprofit Management, or in a related field
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in philanthropy, charitable partnerships, community investment, corporate social responsibility, sponsorships, foundation management, advancement, fundraising, or a related field
Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered
Graduate degree or professional designation
Demonstrated experience managing complex strategic partnerships and stakeholder relationships at executive levels
Experience developing strategies, recommendations, business cases, and executive presentations for senior leadership
Experience working in complex, matrixed organizations
Proven experience leading large-scale initiatives, governance projects, or organizational transformation efforts
Knowledge of corporate philanthropy, charitable sector trends, community investment strategies, and partnership development
Knowledge of evaluating opportunities through both social impact and business value lensesAction oriented, Collaborates, Communicates effectively, Customer Focus, Differences, Ensures accountability, Interpersonal Savvy, Nimble learning, Persuades, Strategic mindset
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and AccessibilityAt Desjardins, we believe in equity, diversity and inclusion. We’re committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all. At Desjardins, we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. We believe our teams should reflect the diversity of the members, clients and communities we serve.
If there’s something we can do to help make the recruitment process or the job you’re applying for more accessible, let us know. We can provide accommodations at any stage in the recruitment process. Just ask!
Trade Union (If applicable)Job FamilyMarketing (FG)
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