Grants Specialist

Join the team that is building a trusted internet for Canadians! CIRA is best known for managing the system that keeps more than 3 million .CA domains running as smooth as maple syrup, but we do so much more to help Canadians thrive on the internet.

Whether it’s our cybersecurity products that protect Canadians online, our advocacy work that fights for a better internet, or our Net Good Grants that support hundreds of community-led internet projects across Canada—we work every day to keep the internet strong and free. Join us!

Who you are:

You’re passionate about helping everyone in Canada thrive online and believe every community and organization deserves access to the internet—bringing your exceptional administrative and communications skills to help make that happen.

As Grants Specialist, you will be responsible for the day-to-day execution of CIRA’s flagship annual Net Good Grants program. This includes everything from software setup, national marketing and communications, applicant support and recipient onboarding to reporting coordination. You understand the value of communicating impact and are a natural storyteller across multiple platforms for a variety of audiences, both external and internal. You are excited by the opportunity to support the search for the best community-led internet projects across Canada and know first-hand the difference funding can make to a community’s development. You are comfortable navigating software and workflows and have a keen sense of process and attention to detail.

What you will do:

• Own the annual Net Good Grants application process from start to finish.
• Develop, lead, and execute the communications outreach strategy for CIRA’s annual grants program, including targeted outreach to priority regions and communities.
• Coordinate grants program activities across internal teams, including Brand and Communications, Finance, Legal and other stakeholders.
• Support applicants throughout the application process by updating online content, delivering webinars and responding to email and phone inquiries.
• Manage the online application system and workflows, including configuration, testing, troubleshooting and coordinating system improvements.
• Coordinate eligibility reviews and committee decision-making processes.
• Manage applicant and recipient documentation throughout the grants lifecycle.
• Develop a variety of communications materials such as blogs, videos, social content and event collateral to engage our community and support the Net Good Grants program.
• Identify, develop and coordinate project impact stories that showcase the outcomes of Net Good Grants and contribute to CIRA's broader Net Good storytelling.
• Prepare reports for management and the board of directors.
• Maintain annual program plans, operating calendars, procedures and supporting documentation.
• Identify and implement improvements to the grants program, including applicant and recipient experience, assessment processes, technology workflows, communications and internal operations.
• Travel occasionally to represent Net Good Grants at events across Canada.

What you bring:

• 3+ years of experience in the non-profit sector, a community-based organization, corporate giving and/or program administration.
• Education in communications, marketing, non-profit leadership, business administration or equivalent.
• An understanding of Canada's digital divide and a keen interest in helping close it.
• Experience owning and driving a multi-track, complex process drawing heavily on your practiced organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively across a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Excellent written communication, storytelling and oral presentation skills, including copywriting, proofreading and editing.
• Curiosity and confidence working with grants management software and online application systems. Experience with SmartSimple is considered an asset.
• Enjoyment working in a role with lots of variety— planning application workflows, troubleshooting system issues, answering applicant questions, reviewing spreadsheets, writing video scripts or producing project stories.
• Experience creating, editing and publishing multimedia content (text, audio, video) and working with HTML. Experience with fundraising and/or grantmaking.
• Team-oriented, with an ability to build relationships with stakeholders and external committees.
• Social media savvy across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.
• Proficiency in English is required. Bilingualism in French is considered a strong asset.

Who we are:

At CIRA, we’re driven by a passion to make a positive impact on Canada’s digital future. We’re not just asking, ‘What more can we do?’—we’re actively exploring new frontiers to enhance and secure the internet for all Canadians. Our recognition as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers for ten years is a testament to our vibrant culture. We believe in fostering an environment where collaboration and candour are second nature and where diverse perspectives are integral to our success, because we know that great ideas come from everywhere. If you’re passionate about innovation and ready to make a difference in a dynamic field, join us and help shape the future of the internet!

CIRA embraces a blend of remote and IRL in-office work to keep our team connected and engaged. Our Ottawa headquarters is a hub for regular events and social activities that bring our team together, encouraging a strong sense of community within our organization. No matter where you work from, you'll always feel part of our vibrant team and our shared mission.

At CIRA, people remain at the centre of our recruitment process. While CIRA uses recruitment platforms that include artificial intelligence-enabled features, which may be used to support administrative processes or skills-based assessments, these features are intended to assist our recruitment activities and do not replace human judgment. All applicant screenings, interviews, evaluations and selection decisions are conducted by our staff. Artificial intelligence is not used to make autonomous or final hiring decisions.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. CIRA is committed to fair, inclusive and accessible recruitment practices. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment, assessment and selection process. If you require any assistance or accommodation, please contact us at [email protected].