Associate, Strategic Initiatives

If you’re excited about building systems that empower others to lead and want to help shape Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurial, AI-ready talent for the future of work, we’d love to hear from you!

Venture for Canada is a national registered charity equipping talent across Canada with the entrepreneurial skills, mindset, and opportunities to succeed in a 21st-century economy increasingly shaped by rapid change and emerging technology. We believe that to be entrepreneurial is to act upon opportunities to create value for others. The resourcefulness and creativity of people across Canada are essential to addressing our country’s greatest challenges. Venture for Canada serves as a catalyst by empowering individuals to create a more prosperous, inclusive, and innovative society.

Since 2013, Venture for Canada has grown in meaningful ways, and we’re excited to expand our team with values-aligned individuals who can contribute to what we’re building. To learn more about our hiring process and workplace philosophy, visit our Careers page.
Role Overview

The Strategic Initiatives Associate is a highly cross-functional role that works closely with Venture for Canada 's executive leadership to advance strategic priorities beyond day-to-day program delivery. This supporting role spans government relations, strategic initiatives, thought leadership, and executive enablement, helping strengthen Venture for Canada 's partnerships, influence, and long-term impact.

Working across multiple priorities, the Strategic Initiatives Associate cultivates relationships, identifies collaboration opportunities, researches emerging opportunities in entrepreneurship and workforce development. The role also contributes to policy reports, strategic initiatives, and government engagement while helping strengthen Venture for Canada 's broader role within Canada's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

This role is well suited to someone who thrives in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and can comfortably move between research, relationship management, project coordination, and executive support. Success in this role comes from exercising sound judgment, working proactively, and translating ideas into action with minimal direction.
Key Role Responsibilities
Strategic Initiatives & Partnership

- Partner cross-functionally with senior leadership on high-priority strategic initiatives as organizational priorities evolve

- Research emerging opportunities in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and innovation

- Support the leadership and program teams in development of new program concepts, partnership opportunities, and international collaborations

- Contribute to and maintain partnership tracking systems and CRM records

- Support initiatives that strengthen Venture for Canada 's engagement within Canada's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem

Government Relations

- Prepare briefing notes, meeting materials, and background research for government relations engagements

- Coordinate with external government relations firms and support RFP preparation as needed

- Research government priorities, policy developments, and funding opportunities relevant to Venture for Canada 's work

- Help maintain stakeholder engagement records and support relationship tracking

Thought Leadership & Research

- Support development of policy reports, white papers, and strategic publications, including Venture for Canada 's work on AI adoption among SMEs

- Develop case studies, research summaries, and other materials that showcase Venture for Canada 's impact and strategic priorities

- Translate research and external insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership

Strategic Enablement & Executive Support

- Provide executive support to senior leadership, including calendar coordination, scheduling, email support, network management, and other administrative support as needed

- Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and talkin