The position offers flexible location within or in relative proximity to the Y2Y landscape in Canada and the US, within easy access of an airport, including the option of working in Y2Y’s office in Canmore, Alberta.
Organizational Profile
About the Organization
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a collaborative effort between a U.S. non-profit organization and a Canadian public charity that together connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to the Yukon so people and nature can thrive. Yellowstone to Yukon takes a scientific and collaborative approach to conservation and highlights and focuses on local issues that affect the region. Y2Y has partnered with over 700 scientists, conservation groups, landowners, government agencies, Indigenous governments and communities, and businesses to stitch together this landscape.
Without a unified vision for this deeply interconnected landscape, local conservation efforts may be isolated and less effective. Y2Y seeks to ensure conservation efforts are aligned in support of large-scale objectives, and therefore become continentally significant. Today, Y2Y is recognized as one of the planet’s leading mountain conservation initiatives.
For more information, please visit y2y.net.
Position Description
Y2Y is seeking an experienced Grants Specialist with exceptional communications skills to identify and realize grant funding opportunities, and steward relationships with funders. As a key member of Y2Y’s Development team, this individual will be working closely with a highly collaborative staff in a results-driven environment, and report directly to the Grants Director. This person will also work closely with staff in other departments, as part of integrated multi-disciplinary teams that collectively advance conservation goals towards achieving the Y2Y vision.
Responsibilities
The Grants Specialist will undertake a range of activities to secure and retain support for Y2Y’s vital conservation programs across Canada and the US.
Core activities include:
• Funder stewardship: Cultivate relationships and maintain communications with funders such that relationships with existing and potential Y2Y audiences are nurtured, primarily through written communications, as well as through phone calls and occasional visits. This includes maintaining correspondence, responding promptly to requests, travelling to meet with funders, other stewardship needs as identified.
• Proposal and report writing: Work with Program and Finance staff to obtain programmatic information, and to write and/or edit and format letters of enquiry, proposals, progress reports, and budgets.
• Grants management and tracking: Manage grant cycles for specific funders, including the production of grant documents, including pre-proposals, proposals, reports, ad-hoc communications. Track timelines for proposals, reports and other communications; coordinate research, preparation and submission; maintain accurate database records and files. Work with Finance and Program to ensure planning and spending in line with grant agreement.
• Integrated team contribution: Help position programmatic work strategically with funders, identify specific engagement opportunities, and advise on grant stipulations, prospects, and preferred approaches for funders supporting the team’s work.
• Funder prospecting: Research possible new sources of grant funds from foundations, governments and corporations, including through databases, online resources (including iWave), conversations with staff/board, and travelling to meet with prospective funders.
Candidate Profile
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• A clear commitment to Y2Y’s vision and mission.
• 5-10 years experience in fundraising, grant-writing, and related fields/experience.
• Strong computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Adobe), including formatting and basic formulas.
• Self-starter who works well independently, but who can take direction and effectively communicate progress.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of individuals, and with a dispersed team.
• Strategic thinker with first-rate organizational skills and good attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects to deadlines and to reprioritize a busy workload to respond to emerging needs in a fast-paced, highly collaborative and complex work environment.
• Ability to travel to meet with funders (2-3 times/year) and to travel to the main Y2Y office in Canmore (if the successful applicant is in a different location).
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modelling inclusive behaviours, and proactively managing bias.
CONSIDERED AN ASSET:
• An interest in large landscape conservation or related environmental issues, and knowledge of the Yellowstone to Yukon region.
• Grant prospecting experience.
• Knowledge of Customer Relationship Management systems/databases such as DonorPerfect.
• Knowledge of fundraising platforms such as iWave.
• Experience with Artificial Intelligence as applied to Grants.
Terms of Employment
• The position offers flexible location within or in relative proximity to the Y2Y landscape in Canada and the US, within easy access of an airport, including the option of working in Y2Y’s office in Canmore, Alberta.
• This is a full-time position, 37.5 hours / week with and excellent benefits package.
• Salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $60,000 - $70,000 per year
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada or the US.
Additional Information
At Y2Y we value diversity — in backgrounds and in experience, and we need people from all backgrounds to help achieve our mission of connecting and protecting habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive. Y2Y’s team is empathetic, caring, and supportive. We are intentional about the team and culture that we are building, seeking team members that are not only strong in their own aptitudes but care deeply about supporting each other's growth.
Y2Y is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in science, conservation, and society. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups that are underrepresented and/or excluded from these sectors, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. All our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility.
Short, preliminary interviews may be held via conference call or Zoom. If you anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application or interview process you may contact, in confidence, Robyn Barton, HR Consultant at [email protected].
