Manager of Programs & Operations

Empire Club Foundation Manager of Programs & Operations, 12-Month Contract

The Empire Club Foundation is seeking a Manager of Programs & Operations to lead the execution of Foundation programs and strengthen the operational systems that support them. This is a hands‑on role for a highly organized, detail‑oriented professional who thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

Reporting to senior leadership, the Manager will oversee the end‑to‑end coordination of programs while ensuring internal processes, stakeholder communication, and day‑to‑day operations run smoothly and efficiently. Acting as the central operational hub across programming, fundraising, and delivery, this role ensures commitments to students, partners, and stakeholders are met to a high standard.

For more than 122 years, the Empire Club of Canada has been the nation’s trusted forum for conversations that shape our world—welcoming leaders such as Winston Churchill, Indira Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Margaret Atwood, and Bill Gates. The Club's mission is to connect people to ideas and productive dialogue on diverse topics that impact Canadians and the world.

The Empire Club Foundation is the charitable arm of the Club. It exists to empower students and emerging leaders across Canada by expanding access to ideas, education, networks, and national dialogue. Through hands‑on learning, leadership opportunities, and real‑world exposure, the Foundation’s programming—including the Student Table Program, the Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards, and the Youth Ambassadorship Initiative—equips students to lead with confidence and help shape Canada’s civic, social, economic, and cultural future.

The Foundation works in close partnership with the Empire Club of Canada. While governance is distinct, strategy and execution are highly integrated.

• Lead the planning, coordination, and end‑to‑end delivery of all Foundation programs and initiatives—such as the Student Table Program, the Hal Jackman Future Nation Builder Awards, and the Youth Ambassadorship Initiative.
• Manage program timelines, work plans, and partner deliverables to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and to a high standard.
• Proactively identify and address risks or execution challenges as they arise.

• Oversee day‑to‑day operational functions to ensure systems, workflows, and timelines support effective execution.
• Act as the central operational point of contact across programming and delivery.
• Establish and maintain operational frameworks, documentation, templates, and playbooks to support consistency and scalability.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and logistics related to educational events and program delivery.
• Support governance and administrative functions in coordination with finance, legal, and external advisors.
• Work closely with the Foundation Board President and Corporate Secretary to support reporting and operational readiness.

• Act as the primary operational contact for students, academic institutions, and community partners.
• Support national outreach and program communications in collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Track program budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with donor intent and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate with the Chief Development Officer to provide timely impact updates, donor reports, and program outcomes.
• Prepare reports for the Board of Directors, senior leadership, and major donors.
• Lead data capture and continuous process improvement related to program delivery and operations.
• Work closely with the CMO to support donor impact reporting and external communications related to program outcomes.

• A program, operations or project manager with 3‑5+ years of experience and a strong track record of delivering on initiatives end‑to‑end.
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional…