Lead, Community

If youre excited about building systems that empower others to lead and want to help shape Canadas next generation of entrepreneurial AI-ready talent for the future of work wed love to hear from you!

Venture for Canada is a national registered charity equipping talent across Canada with the entrepreneurial skills mindset and opportunities to succeed in a 21st-century economy increasingly shaped by rapid change and emerging technology. We believe that to be entrepreneurial is to act upon opportunities to create value for others. The resourcefulness and creativity of people across Canada are essential to addressing our countrys greatest challenges. Venture for Canada serves as a catalyst by empowering individuals to create a more prosperous inclusive and innovative society.

Since 2013 Venture for Canada has grown in meaningful ways and were excited to expand our team with values-aligned individuals who can contribute to what were building. To learn more about our hiring process and workplace philosophy visit our Careers page.

Role Overview

Venture for Canadas program communities are our most important asset. Every year thousands of participants alumni mentors employer partners and supporters engage with Venture for Canada through our programs creating a national network that shares a common orientation toward entrepreneurship innovation and impact.

We are looking for a Community Lead who leads with curiosity and empathy who invests first in understanding what community members value and then designs experiences in-person and virtual that deliver on that understanding. The ideal candidate has a demonstrated track record building and growing communities from early inception through to maturity developing the strategies offerings and engagement rhythms that move a group from a loose network to a cohesive and active community.

This role sits at the intersection of community strategy and experience design. The Community Lead is responsible for strengthening the communities that form around Venture for Canadas programs creating opportunities for participants and alumni to build lasting relationships continue learning and contribute back through mentorship leadership and volunteerism. Working collaboratively across the organization the role also helps connect these communities to broader organizational priorities including participant recruitment employer engagement storytelling and strategic partnerships while ensuring community members continue to receive meaningful value from their relationship with Venture for Canada.

Key Role Responsibilities

Segment and Understand the Community

• Analyze our base across multiple programs cohorts and stakeholder groups
• Develop meaningful audience segments
• Identify high-potential groups for activation and relationship-building

Build a Core Engaged Community

• Grow a defined group of key community members who regularly participate in events and initiatives
• Identify and nurture highly engaged individuals as champions contributors and connectors
• Create opportunities for relationship building across programs

Create Pathways for Community Involvement

• Develop clear ways for community to engage beyond attending events (e.g. mentoring speaking supporting programs)
• Collaborate with program teams to connect community to meaningful opportunities
• Ensure community feel connected both to their original program and the broader network

Activate Community as an Organizational Asset

• Develop strategies that encourage community members to become ambassadors advocates mentors and champions for Venture for Canada
• Collaborate with External Affairs to activate the community in support of participant recruitment employer engagement partnership development fundraising and thought leadership
• Identify opportunities to leverage community stories expertise and networks to strengthen Venture for Canadas reputation and ecosystem presence

Strengthen Ongoing Community Engagement

• Manage and evolve core engagement channels (e.g. newsletter Slack social platforms)
• Improve the effectiveness of communications through segmentation and targeting
• Ensure consistent high-quality touchpoints that keep the community connected over time
• Develop engagement journeys that deepen long-term relationships with community members and create opportunities for ongoing participation across Venture for Canadas programs and initiatives

Who You Are

• You are energized by bringing people together and creating opportunities for meaningful connection engagement and belonging
• You understand that different audiences engage in different ways and can tailor outreach communications and experiences to meet people where they are
• You build strong relationships quickly and are skilled at developing trust with community members partners and colleagues
• You combine creativity with execution turning ideas into programs events and initiatives that drive participation and deliver impact
• You use data feedback and experimentation to continuously improve engagement strategies and community experiences
• You are a collaborative and proactive team member who enjoys working across functions to achieve shared goals and strengthen community outcomes

What You Bring

• At least four years of experience building managing and growing communities with a demonstrated ability to develop strategies that move groups from loose networks to active connected communities
• A community-first mindset grounded in curiosity and empathy with the ability to understand what different audiences value and translate those insights into meaningful engagement opportunities
• Strong experience designing and delivering engaging in-person and virtual sessions events and community experiences supported by an understanding of adult learning and participant experience principles
• The ability to independently lead multiple projects from idea through delivery and evaluation while collaborating effectively with learning logistics program and cross-functional teams
• A proactive solutions-oriented approach with experience using community or CRM tools such as HubSpot

Job Details

The purpose of this job posting is to fill an existing vacancy. The anticipated start date is immediate.

Arrangement

Venture for Canada is a remote-first organization with offices based in Toronto and Vancouver. This is a remote position open to candidates across Canada. While all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply preference may be given to candidates based in the Greater Toronto Area to support occasional in-person collaboration and team connection. Moderate in-person attendance of program-related events is required.

Language Requirement

As a national organization serving communities across Canada professional proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in both English and French is considered a strong asset for this role.

Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility

Venture for Canada is dedicated to fostering an inclusive equitable and accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds experiences and identities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation please contact

Applicant Notice

Venture for Canada may use artificial intelligence-enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by our talent acquisition stakeholders. Only selected applicants will be contacted for an accordance with applicable laws candidates who are interviewed will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their final interview. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada at the time of application; we are unable to provide employment sponsorship or support work permit applications for this position.