Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Affairs

If you are looking for a career opportunity, want to give meaning to your professional achievements and contribute to making the world a better place by playing a part in international development, and are passionate about Leading Corporate Affairs, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is the place for you!

IDRC is home to people who share a passion for international development research. We look for employees who believe that knowledge and innovation can help solve the world’s most critical challenges. Guided by the values of respect, accountability and intention, IDRC fosters collaboration to create meaningful and inclusive change. Please visit our website to learn more about our work: What We Do

Come join our team and help us build a more sustainable and inclusive world!

Our employment opportunity of the moment: Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Affairs

Location: Ottawa, Canada (Hybrid Mode)

Employment Status: Temporary until August 2027

Step into the opportunity

As the Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Affairs, you will be joining an organization that values and models diversity, inclusion and equity while being responsible for:

• Leading strategic planning, setting priorities and overseeing implementation of the same for the President’s Office.

• As a member of the Management Executive Committee, you will be planning, coordinating and participating in weekly executive committee meetings with the President and vice-presidents, with a view to supporting executive functioning and decision-making.

• Leading the development of internal plans to implement initiatives with broad impact on employees.

• Ensuring Centre management and the Board discharge their risk management and oversight responsibilities.

• Managing, motivating and leading a team of professionals in a manner that is consistent with IDRC’s mandate, culture and values, and providing leadership, guidance, support, and supervision in a team environment characterized by mutual respect and clear and open communications.

Take a minute to see if your profile fits IDRC

You Have:

• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as International Affairs, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration and Business or a combination of education and relevant experience.

• Proficiency in both French and English (reading, writing, and speaking).

• A minimum of five (5) years relevant experience navigating complex interactions that consider the structure and culture of the organization, political, social and economic climate which the organization operates.

• A sound understanding and knowledge of Canadian government priorities in general, as well as more specifically in the areas of development, research, and foreign policy.

• Excellent knowledge of stakeholder engagement and issues management principles.

You Are:

• Aligned with the IDRC’s culture and value statements: At IDRC we are respectful, intentional and accountable.

• A skilled communicator with great interpersonal skills, tact and discretion with exceptional work ethic.

• Recognized for your sound judgement, initiative, and ability to set priorities effectively

• Competent in demonstrating strong leadership and building effective relationships.

• A team player within a multidisciplinary group of people from diverse cultures.

If this sounds like the right fit, we’d love to hear from you.

Additional Information:

• Hybrid Mode: The Centre provides a hybrid work environment, and your presence at the office is governed by the teleworking policy.

• As a result of this process, the Centre may establish a pool of pre-qualified candidates for future permanent and term opportunities.

Your next chapter begins here. Let’s shape a brighter, more inclusive future together.

Our recruitment team carefully reviews all applications to identify candidates who best align with the role’s criteria. If selected, you will hear from us regarding the next steps in the process. We thank all applicants for their interest and encourage you to stay connected with IDRC for future opportunities.

The International Development Research Centre is committed to creating and fostering a respectful, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the people’s lives we impact and the Canadian community we work within, where everyone can truly be themselves. We welcome Indigenous peoples and persons from all races, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, as well as persons with physical or mental disabilities to be part of our team. At IDRC, we place human rights and dignity at the center of our work. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the delivery of our mandate and during our research-for-development activities.

We strive to ensure barrier-free selection processes. If you are contacted regarding a career opportunity, testing or interview, please advise the People and Corporate Culture Division representative of the accommodation measures that must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

All IDRC employment offers will be contingent on satisfactory references and self-declaration results. IDRC will request information from references provided by job applicants about any findings related to sexual exploitation, abuse and/or harassment in the context of employment.

By submitting an application, job applicants confirm their understanding of the recruitment process above.

Who can apply? Canadian citizens and permanent residents.