Hiring: Program Manager
- Niamh Leonard
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
Euphrosine Foundation – July 2025
Montréal-based | 2-3 days/week in-office
About the Foundation
The Euphrosine Foundation is a newly established private philanthropic foundation based in Montréal. Our mission is to support charities dedicated to democracy and human rights. We are in our start-up phase, with a $60 million endowment and a deliberately time-limited 30-year mandate.
We are currently developing our theory of change and overall approach to grant-making. Our aim is to strengthen civil society’s ability to protect and expand the spaces—legal, digital, and cultural—where democratic dialogue occurs and power is held to account. We envision a democracy where all people have a meaningful say in the systems that shape their lives. We take a systems change approach grounded in clarity, humility, curiosity, equality, agility, and transparency.
Our office is located on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation—land occupied without cession or conquest. We believe any effort to strengthen democracy in Canada must begin with this truth and a commitment to advancing Indigenous self-determination.
About the Position
We are hiring a thoughtful, strategic, and relationship-oriented Program Manager to help shape and implement the foundation’s emerging grant-making strategy. This mid-level role offers significant ownership and growth opportunity.
You will:
Manage grants and build strong, trust-based relationships with partners
Develop programs and evaluation practices grounded in our values
Contribute to the foundation’s ongoing learning and its engagement within the broader ecosystem
You will play a central role in shaping how the foundation engages with civil society—supporting grantees, collaborating with funders and movement actors, and advancing shared goals.
Core Responsibilities
1. Grants Management
Conduct research and landscape analysis to inform strategic priorities
Ensure timely processing of grant applications, agreements, payments, and reports
Conduct due diligence on grant applications and make recommendations for decision
Manage a portfolio of grants across thematic and strategic areas
Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with grantee partners
Assisting grant partners with grant applications, project planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Understanding the needs of partners and devising possible solutions.
Collaborate with the Executive Director to refine funding approaches, based on partner feedback and field trends
Represent the foundation at events and convenings
2. Learning, Evaluation, and Transparency
Track, synthesize and analyse information from grantees to support continuous improvement and learning
Contribute to the development of monitoring and evaluation practices
Draft documents in French and English to share information internally and externally (e.g., briefing notes, newsletters, annual report)
3. Collaboration and Internal Systems
Collaborate with the Operations Manager to align program processes with internal systems
Support team-wide learning, reflection, strategy, and planning
Assist with administrative tasks related to program management and overall foundation operations
Qualifications
We recognize the value of both paid and unpaid work experience. We encourage candidates who meet some or all of the following qualifications to apply.
Skills and Abilities
5-10 years of experience in program management, grants management or policy advocacy within a mission-driven organization
Strong understanding of the Canadian nonprofit and policy landscape
Experience managing programs or grants, including strategy, partnerships, and evaluation—as a grantor or grantee.
Demonstrated systems thinker – comfortable mapping root causes, noticing patterns, identifying leverage points, and designing strategic interventions
Ability or interest in facilitating participatory processes such as community convenings, co-creation processes, or multi-stakeholder collaborations
Understanding of democracy and its intersections with civic engagement, media ecosystems, inequality, and pluralism
Strong writing and editing skills for a variety of audiences, from board memos to public blogs to policy briefs
Fluency in French and English (spoken and written), or strong ability in one and working proficiency in the other
Comfortable analyzing and integrating both quantitative and qualitative data
Excellent organizational and project management skills—able to manage shifting timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder coordination
Comfort with digital tools: Google Workspace, Word, Excel, Airtable, Miro, etc.
Comfort working in start-up or growth-phase environments, with the ability to create structure where little exists
Qualities and Attributes
Deep commitment to democratic values, equality, and systems change
Strategic and analytical, with the ability to connect insights across grants, policy, and movements
Able to navigate the power dynamics inherent to philanthropy with humility, thought and care
Exercises sound judgment in complex or sensitive environments
Collaborative and adaptable, comfortable navigating ambiguity and learning in public
Balances strategic thinking with operational execution
Self-motivated, responsive, and accountable
Brings a spirit of inquiry, creativity, and care—ready to ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, and try new approaches
Please note: Only candidates who are legally authorized to work in Canada will be considered.
Start Date | August 28, 2025 (flexible) |
Hours | 40 hours/week with flexible schedule |
Location | Based in Montréal, with 2-3 days/week in office or as required by responsibilities and team |
Reports to | Executive Director |
Languages | French, English |
Travel | Occasional travel with notice |
Salary | $100,000-$115,000 annually, based on experience |
Benefits |
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Contract | Permanent contract, with a 3-month probationary period |
Application Process
All applications are to be submitted through this online form. The deadline to apply is at the end of day on July 30th, 2025. All candidates are asked to submit a CV and a cover letter in a single PDF titled “Your Name_Program Manager Application”.
Please write in the language (French or English) that is most comfortable for you and limit your letter to a maximum of two (2) pages. The letter is a chance to tell us about yourself, why you want to work at the Euphrosine Foundation, and the skills and experiences you would bring to this role and our team, whether through professional, volunteer, or lived experience. Writing is a significant portion of the role, so the letter is also a chance to demonstrate your writing style and communication skills.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@euphrosine.ca. This inbox is for inquiries only; applications must be submitted through the online form to be considered. All inquiries and applications will be kept confidential.
Hiring Process
The hiring committee will review applications. Candidates may be contacted for a brief phone screening to assess verbal communication skills in French or English in advance of in-person interviews.
In-person interviews will take place the week of August 4th, 2025.
Interviewees will receive the main interview questions 48 hours in advance.
Interviewees will receive a $100 honorarium to acknowledge their time and effort.
Given that it is the summer holiday period, should you be invited to an interview, we will attempt to work around pre-planned vacations.
If needed, the hiring committee may conduct a second round of interviews, which could include an assignment.
The Executive Director will send the selected candidate an Employment Agreement, which the candidate will have time to review and return.
All candidates will be informed once the position has been filled.
Accessibility
The Euphrosine Foundation’s offices are located at Notman Philanthropy House, at 51 Sherbrooke Street West. The office space is presently only accessible via stairs. The Trottier family is planning renovations to the building to add an access ramp and elevator. The timeline for completion of these renovations is not yet determined.
In the meantime, interviews can be held off-site at an accessible location, and a temporary workspace can be arranged if needed. If you have specific questions regarding the accessibility of our space or of the position, please email info@euphrosine.ca.
Employment Equity
The Euphrosine Foundation values the contributions of individuals who experience systemic barriers to engaging in public life. We encourage, among others, Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities, people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, recent immigrants, and people from working class backgrounds to apply.
We are committed to creating an organization as diverse as the communities we serve. If you wish to be considered under our employment equity process, you are welcome to self-identify in your cover letter. This information will be kept confidential and used only to support equitable hiring practices.
A PDF version of the job posting is available below: