Senior Program Director

TFO Canada is an Ottawa-based non-profit organization founded in 1980 with a mandate to confront global poverty through economic development. Unlike agencies focused on expanding domestic exports, TFO Canada drives international growth by acting as a bridge that helps small and medium-sized enterprises in developing nations access international marketplaces, particularly Canada. By providing trade information, advice, and commercial contacts, the organization elevates smaller exporters while enabling Canadian consumers to benefit from a diversified marketplace.

The core of TFO Canada’s operation is its international team, which represents at least 15 countries and speaks over eight languages. This workplace brings together new immigrants and professionals in an open environment to deliver global programming. Operating under the principle of creating development impact through trade, TFO Canada aligns its activities with global priorities, including commitments to gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

The organization has built a track record working across South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

As global markets face volatility, TFO Canada’s role in promoting trade diversification is increasingly relevant. By helping Canadian buyers and importers discover alternative supply sources in emerging economies, the organization plays a role in mitigating supply chain risks. This positioning ensures that international aid is delivered as a sustainable commercial solution that lifts communities out of poverty while enriching the resilience of the Canadian market.

Summary of the Role

The Senior Program Director is a newly established leadership position within TFO Canada's Senior Management Team, reporting directly to the Executive Director. This role acts as the operational head of the department, holding accountability for the team’s capacity, global resource allocation and program execution. Alongside day‑to‑day operations, you will serve as a key external face for the organization, managing communication with donors, such as Global Affairs Canada, and representing TFO Canada’s programming footprint across international development networks, forums and stakeholder events.

You will serve as the departmental representative at the board committee level, liaising with the Board's Operations Committee and translating project milestones and resource utilization metrics into clear updates for board members.

As TFO Canada scales up its international commitments, this role provides the comprehensive perspective needed to anchor a growing department. In this role, you will directly manage, mentor and support an established team of experienced Program Directors, helping them balance their respective portfolios effectively. Rather than managing isolated divisions, you will lead this group within an integrated structure, replacing separate tracking methods with centralized project management tools.

You will establish standard workflows to monitor project milestones, evaluate performance indicators and maintain compliance with donor Results‑Based Management frameworks.

An essential part of your role involves evaluating potential new project opportunities alongside internal leadership. You will assess upcoming proposals against your team's current bandwidth and technical constraints to make sure the department has the necessary resources that ensure it can deliver on every commitment.

Is This For You?

You bring an extensive track record in international development program delivery, with at least fifteen years of progressive leadership experience directing complex, large‑scale programs within the non‑profit, NGO, civil society organization or government sectors. Direct hands‑on experience navigating institutional donor frameworks is essential, with specific expertise managing Global Affairs Canada contribution agreements and Results‑Based Management tracking systems as definite assets.

While your expertise is in development program delivery, a broad understanding of international trade capacity building, global donor networks and the operational realities facing emerging market exporters is a highly valued asset. Given the organization's footprint, full professional fluency in written and verbal communication in both English and French is mandatory, while proficiency in Spanish is considered a strong asset.

You are a solutions‑driven professional who handles uncertainty well, bringing the energy necessary to outline a path forward while managing multiple priorities at once. As an experienced leader, you excel at orchestrating resources and planning for future capacity. Your management style is defined by your ability to delegate effectively and work through your team, holding them accountable to project timelines while guiding them out of the weeds and into high‑level program management.

You possess robust financial management capabilities, partnering effectively with the Finance team to analyze monthly variance reports, track project burn rates, and run quarterly forecasts across multi‑million dollar grant portfolios to protect long‑term financial sustainability.

Interpersonally, you bring a patient and adaptive communication style, allowing you to work comfortably across diverse cultural backgrounds, demonstrate active listening and show an appreciation for diverse workplace practices. Your goals must align tightly with TFO Canada's core mission of confronting global poverty through trade‑based, sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Your communication style remains collaborative, allowing you to establish immediate credibility across your programming team, internal stakeholders, and external partners alike.

What Success Looks Like at the End of Your First Year

By the end of your first year, you will be an integrated member of the senior management team, having earned credibility across the organization by balancing higher‑level systems design and your core execution plans with the day‑to‑day realities of the project delivery teams. You will have established yourself as a reliable, trusted point of contact for institutional donors, confidently managing project scope and compliance expectations. Your collaborative approach will have helped you gain a comprehensive understanding of all active programs, including their specific project goals, key field partners, and historical implementation challenges.

Operationally, your first year will be defined by clear reporting and modernized project management systems. You will have successfully implemented the department's project tracking systems, moving the team completely away from separate manual spreadsheets and individual program documents.

Most importantly, your operational leadership will have a positive impact on the tangible outcomes of your department. Through your supportive and firm guidance, you will have built trusting relationships both internally across your team and externally with global partners. Your oversight of departmental resources and proactive tracking of budget burn rates will ensure the expanding program portfolio is delivered smoothly and on schedule, achieving the results and clear program outcomes that donors and stakeholders expect.

*Compensation package includes a 15% management incentive

#J-18808-Ljbffr