– Director of Strategic Innovation (DSI)

Organization: Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA)

Reports to: Executive Director

Employment Type: Full time, Indefinite

Salary: $90,000 – $100,000 per annum

Location: A101 – 10095 Whalley Boulevard, Surrey, BC V3T 4G1

About FRAFCA The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) is an Indigenous-serving, community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the health and well-being of urban Indigenous peoples throughout the Fraser Salish Region.

FRAFCA provides culturally relevant programs, services, advocacy, and community connections that support Indigenous individuals and families across various stages of life. Our services span family development, children and youth, health and wellness, housing and homelessness prevention, cultural programming, and community support.

Guided by Indigenous values, cultural safety, reconciliation, and community-driven approaches, FRAFCA strives to strengthen the well-being, resilience, and connections of Indigenous peoples while responding to evolving community needs.

Position Summary The Director of Strategic Innovation (DSI) is a senior leadership position responsible for advancing FRAFCA’s organizational strategy, strengthening funder accountability and impact measurement, identifying new funding opportunities, and supporting the sustainable growth and expansion of the organization.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director (ED), the DSI will lead the execution and ongoing monitoring of FRAFCA’s Strategic Plan, translating organizational priorities into measurable objectives, coordinated initiatives, and tangible outcomes.

A central responsibility of this role is to strengthen organization-wide accountability for program outcomes and funder reporting. Working collaboratively with FRAFCA’s two Program Directors, Finance, and other organizational leaders, the DSI will establish systems and processes to ensure that program activities, performance measures, contractual deliverables, and reporting commitments remain aligned with funder expectations and FRAFCA’s strategic priorities.

The DSI will also lead strategic funding development, grant writing, partnerships, and expansion initiatives, ensuring that new opportunities are evaluated against FRAFCA’s operational capacity, financial sustainability, community needs, and long-term organizational goals.

This position requires a forward-thinking, results-oriented leader who combines strategic vision with practical implementation, financial and operational awareness, relationship-building, and a strong commitment to Indigenous community well-being.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning, Execution & Organizational Alignment

- Lead the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of FRAFCA’s organizational Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Executive Director, Program Directors, and senior leadership.
- Translate strategic priorities into actionable work plans, measurable objectives, timelines, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Develop and maintain an organization-wide strategic implementation framework to track progress, outcomes, milestones, and areas requiring attention.
- Facilitate regular strategic progress reviews with the ED and relevant leadership teams, identifying achievements, challenges, emerging priorities, and opportunities for improvement.
- Prepare periodic strategic performance updates and reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors, as required.
- Support organizational planning processes, including the development of future strategic plans, informed by community needs, organizational performance, funding realities, and emerging opportunities.
- Ensure that new initiatives, program development, and organizational investments align with FRAFCA’s mission, vision, values, and approved strategic priorities.

2. Funder Accountability, Impact Measurement & Reporting Alignment

- Develop and maintain an organization-wide framework for measuring, monitoring, and communicating FRAFCA’s program outcomes and community impact.
- Work closely with the two Program Directors to ensure that programs operate in alignment with their respective funding agreements, intended outcomes, contractual deliverables, and reporting requirements.
- Establish consistent reporting standards, performance indicators, and data collection processes across programs, while accommodating funder-specific requirements.
- Coordinate with Program Directors and Finance to monitor reporting obligations, submission deadlines, program deliverables, and contractual commitments.
- Provide strategic oversight of the completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of funder reports, while ensuring Program Directors remain accountable for program-level information and operational outcomes.
- Support the development of measurable impact indicators, including program reach, service utilization, participant outcomes, community needs, and other funder-specific performance measures.
- Analyze program performance data and identify trends, service gaps, emerging needs, and opportunities to improve service delivery and demonstrate community impact.
- Develop consolidated organizational impact reports, dashboards, and performance summaries for the ED, Board, funders, and other stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Identify potential reporting gaps, performance concerns, or risks to funding commitments and proactively work with relevant leadership to implement corrective measures.
- Promote accurate, culturally respectful, privacy-conscious, and evidence-based reporting that reflects both quantitative outcomes and the qualitative impact of FRAFCA’s services.

3. Funding Development,



Grant Writing & Revenue Diversification

- Lead FRAFCA’s strategic funding development efforts, identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities from government, foundations, philanthropic organizations, corporate partners, and other appropriate sources.
- Take a lead role in researching, preparing, writing, coordinating, and submitting high-quality grant applications, funding proposals, expressions of interest, and business cases.
- Develop a proactive funding pipeline that identifies upcoming grant opportunities, renewal cycles, funding gaps, and potential new revenue streams.
- Collaborate with Program Directors, Finance, and other relevant teams to develop comprehensive funding proposals supported by clearly defined program objectives, implementation plans, budgets, measurable outcomes, and sustainability considerations.
- Conduct thorough organizational readiness and due diligence assessments before recommending new funding opportunities or program commitments, considering:
- Alignment with FRAFCA’s mandate and Strategic Plan.
- Demonstrated community needs and anticipated outcomes.
- Available staffing, leadership, infrastructure, and operational capacity.
- Financial feasibility, cost recovery, and long-term sustainability.
- Contractual obligations, compliance requirements, and organizational risks.
- FRAFCA’s ability to deliver the proposed services effectively and responsibly.

- Ensure funding proposals are realistic, achievable, and aligned with organizational capabilities, avoiding commitments that could compromise existing program delivery or financial stability.
- Support negotiations, funding renewals, and the development of strategic funding partnerships in coordination with the ED and appropriate organizational leaders.
- Monitor emerging funding trends and policy priorities that may create opportunities or risks for FRAFCA.
- Support fundraising initiatives and donor engagement strategies that complement institutional funding and contribute to long-term financial resilience.

4. Strategic Growth, Program Expansion & Geographic Reach

- Lead research, planning, and feasibility assessments for the strategic expansion of FRAFCA’s programs, services, and geographical reach, particularly across underserved communities in Surrey and the broader Fraser Valley.
- Identify communities, service gaps, and emerging needs where FRAFCA may be well-positioned to expand its impact.
- Engage with Indigenous communities, local Host Nations, community organizations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure proposed expansion initiatives are culturally appropriate, community-informed, and responsive to demonstrated needs.
- Develop evidence-based expansion proposals, including needs assessments, operating models, funding strategies, implementation timelines, resource requirements, and risk assessments.
- Evaluate opportunities for new program development, partnerships, satellite service locations, and other service delivery models.
- Work collaboratively with Program Directors to assess whether existing programs can be expanded, adapted, replicated, or strengthened to reach additional populations.
- Identify and secure potential funding and partnership opportunities to support approved expansion initiatives.
- Present recommendations to the ED regarding growth opportunities, ensuring organizational expansion is strategic, financially sustainable, operationally feasible, and consistent with FRAFCA’s mandate.
- Support the implementation and evaluation of approved expansion projects, including monitoring progress against objectives, budgets, and intended outcomes.

5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

- Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective funders, government representatives, Indigenous organizations, local Host Nations, nonprofit partners, foundations, and other community stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities for collaboration, joint initiatives, resource sharing, and strategic partnerships that advance FRAFCA’s priorities.
- Support the ED in building high-level relationships and representing FRAFCA in strategic discussions, consultations, and partnership negotiations.
- Work with Program Directors to strengthen funder relationships and communicate program achievements, community impact, emerging needs, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Represent FRAFCA on relevant committees, working groups, community networks, and external engagements, as delegated by the ED.
- Ensure external partnerships and organizational development initiatives demonstrate respect for Indigenous knowledge, cultural protocols, community priorities, and self-determination.

6. Organizational Innovation, Systems Improvement & Sustainability

- Identify opportunities to strengthen FRAFCA’s organizational effectiveness through improved systems, processes, data management, performance measurement, and strategic coordination.
- Work with relevant departments to develop practical tools and processes that improve organizational planning, grant management, reporting efficiency, and cross-program collaboration.
- Promote the use of reliable data, evidence-based practices, and community feedback to inform strategic decisions and program development.
- Support initiatives that improve FRAFCA’s long-term financial sustainability, funding diversification, organizational resilience,



and operational effectiveness.
- Identify emerging service models, innovative partnerships, and sector developments that may benefit FRAFCA and the communities it serves.
- Support strategic facilities and infrastructure planning, including feasibility assessments and potential funding or partnership options for long-term space and capital requirements.
- Recommend organizational improvements that strengthen accountability, innovation, collaboration, and responsible resource utilization.

7. Executive Leadership, Governance & Organizational Accountability

- Serve as a member of FRAFCA’s senior leadership team, contributing to organizational decision-making, strategic direction, and collective accountability.
- Provide strategic advice, recommendations, and analysis to the Executive Director on organizational growth, funding opportunities, program sustainability, partnerships, and emerging risks.
- Work collaboratively with the two Program Directors, recognizing their accountability for day-to-day program operations, staffing, service delivery, and program-level performance.
- Facilitate cross-departmental coordination to ensure organizational initiatives and strategic priorities are implemented consistently.
- Support the preparation of strategic updates, business cases, funding analyses, and presentations for the ED and Board of Directors.
- Uphold FRAFCA’s governance framework, organizational policies, delegated authorities, and established approval processes.
- Exercise sound judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and accountability in all organizational and external dealings.
- Promote a respectful, collaborative, culturally protected, and results-oriented organizational culture.
- Undertake other strategic responsibilities as reasonably assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Indigenous Studies, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, professional experience, and demonstrated leadership capabilities.
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is considered an asset.

Professional Experience

- Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience in strategic planning, organizational development, program management, funding development, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience in a senior management or leadership capacity, preferably within the nonprofit, Indigenous-serving, community services, or public sector.
- Proven experience in grant writing, funding proposal development, and securing competitive funding.
- Experience interpreting funding agreements, monitoring contractual deliverables, and coordinating funder reporting and performance measurement.
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans and translate organizational priorities into measurable outcomes.
- Experience developing business cases, conducting feasibility assessments, or implementing organizational growth initiatives.
- Experience developing and maintaining relationships with government funders, community organizations, Indigenous partners, and other stakeholders.
- Experience working with Indigenous communities or Indigenous-serving organizations is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

- Robust understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, contemporary issues, reconciliation, and the systemic barriers affecting Indigenous individuals, families, and communities.
- Demonstrated commitment to cultural safety, Indigenous self-determination, relationship-based practice, and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent grant writing, proposal development, business writing, and presentation skills.
- Ability to interpret financial information, funding agreements, program budgets, performance metrics, and organizational risks.
- Strong understanding of nonprofit funding models, government funding processes, program evaluation, and outcome measurement.
- Ability to analyze complex information, identify opportunities, and develop clear, evidence-based recommendations.
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to coordinate initiatives across multiple departments and leadership teams without compromising established reporting relationships.
- High level of initiative, accountability, professional judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related reporting and data management tools.

Additional Requirements

- Satisfactory criminal record check, as applicable to the position.
- Ability to attend external meetings, community engagements, and events, including occasional travel within the Fraser Salish Region and surrounding areas.
- Flexibility to respond to organizational priorities and occasional work outside regular business hours, where required.

Commitment to Indigenous Employment & Reconciliation FRAFCA is committed to advancing reconciliation, respecting Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices, and creating meaningful employment opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference may be given to qualified Indigenous applicants.

FRAFCA is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and culturally safe workplace.

Application Process

We thank all applicants for their interest in joining FRAFCA. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is identified.

📌 Director of Strategic Initiatives (DSI) (Surrey)
🏢 Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre (FRAFCA)
📍 Surrey