Are you a governance professional? There is an exciting opportunity to join the Azrieli Foundation as a Board Relations Manager. The Azrieli Foundation is one of Canada’s largest philanthropic foundations, supporting initiatives in education, science & healthcare, research and the arts.

Position Overview

The Board Relations Manager is a strategic and operational leader responsible for strengthening and enabling the foundation’s governance processes, coordination, and communication. This role will serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the foundation’s executive leadership, ensuring Board members are well supported and effectively engaged in the organization’s mission and strategic direction. The Manager plays a critical part in embedding best-in-class governance within a growing, evolving philanthropic organization undergoing strategic transformation.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Manager will oversee Board and Committee meeting planning, communications, compliance tracking, and cross-functional coordination. The Manager will also manage the governance calendar and digital tools, develop, refine, manage, and coordinate Board materials and workflows, and support strategic initiatives that enhance Board effectiveness and organizational alignment.

Key Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The possession of a relevant professional designation, such as the GPC.D, will be considered an asset.
At least five years of professional experience in one or more of the following domains: C-suite or Board of Directors support; program administration or project management; nonprofit operations or governance; or major event planning and coordination.
Experience in a charitable, philanthropic, or mission-driven organization of comparable size and complexity.
Exceptional emotional intelligence and highly developed interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build trust-based relationships and manage complex dynamics with stakeholders, including the CEO, Board members, executives, and peers.
Deep understanding of Board governance, meeting coordination, compliance practices, and strategic communication.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and manage relationships across levels and functions.
Superior written communication skills and strong editorial judgment, particularly in drafting reports, memos, agendas, and high-level communications.
Superior proficiency in Microsoft 365 (including SharePoint, Planner, Teams, and other tools), with a strong track record of supporting key partners in board and meeting preparation/execution. Experience with contact management systems (e.g., Salesforce) and Board management platforms considered an asset.
Demonstrated diplomacy, professionalism, with effective use of discretion and independent judgment.
Proven track record of fostering collaboration, trust, and alignment across functions and with peers at the executive level.
Results and action-oriented work style with strong strategic, analytical, planning and problem-solving skills while able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
Intuitive thinker with an aptitude for creativity and ability to look beyond the assigned task to consider tangential and collateral connections, problems, opportunities and possibilities.
French fluency and/or bilingualism in French and English are considered assets.
Commitment to the Azrieli Foundation’s mission and values.

This position is currently structured as a hybrid role, with an expectation of three days per week in the Toronto office and two days remote. Please note that this arrangement is subject to change in the future as organizational needs evolve. Additionally, limited travel may be required in connection with Board meetings and other Director-focused events. Board meeting-related travel is generally expected 1–2 times per year, with potential for 1–2 additional trips annually depending on emerging needs.

Please submit your CV and cover letter by October 19, 2025 to hr@optimussbr.com to be considered immediately. We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Please note that only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodation

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you require any accommodations to remove barriers and fully participate in the interview process, such as accessible meeting rooms or captioning for virtual interviews, please let us know. Your needs will be met with respect and confidentiality.

The Azrieli Foundation

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Board Relations Manager, The Azrieli Foundation