Community Animator, Networks for Change
Tamarack Institute
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America) has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. We recognize that, in this territory, Indigenous rights holders have endured historical oppression and continue to endure inequities that have largely resulted from the widespread failure of non-Indigenous treaty people to hold up their responsibilities.
We acknowledge those who came here as settlers — as migrants either in this generation or in generations past — and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and enslavement. We pay tribute to ancestors of African origin and descent and thank them for their contributions towards transforming systems in ways that promote everyone’s sense of belonging and safety.
The Tamarack Institute is looking for a passionate Community Animator to nurture relationships with members across our Networks for Change, with a focus on members advancing just and equitable climate transitions and Francophone members. This is a full-time 40-hour per week 8-month contract position. The successful candidate can be based anywhere in Canada and will primarily work remotely from their home office with occasional travel.
About Tamarack
Tamarack catalyzes collective action with diverse leaders to solve major community challenges including ending poverty, building youth futures, building belonging, and addressing climate change. Our vision is to build a connected force for community change. Through our Networks for Change, we support changemakers focused on four outcomes.
- Communities Ending Poverty: A network and movement dedicated to ending poverty in Canada, made up of more than 400 municipalities and represented by 90 regional roundtables.
- Communities Building Belonging: Strengthening neighbourhoods and ending social isolation and polarization in Canada. We are a network of 8000+ learners and growing, helping communities to build belonging and thrive.
- Communities Building Youth Futures: A youth-led and youth-centered network of 20 communities across Turtle Island that supports the creation of new pathways from high school to post-secondary, training, employment, and community leadership opportunities.
- Community Climate Transitions: A movement of 35+ collaboratives across 10 provinces and one US state that are advancing local climate action and equity through multi-sector partnerships and approaches that centre residents and the community.
Our Skills for Change initiative supports changemakers by transforming community-developed knowledge and success stories into practical tools and skill-building resources. These resources advance the five interconnected practices of community change.
Since its founding, Tamarack has sought to centre those with lived and living experience of poverty in its work. More recently, in the Tamarack 2030 Plan, we committed to interrupting the roles that racism, colonialization, and xenophobia play in communities in Canada.
Tamarack Principles
- Community Connections: We strengthen connections and collaborations between diverse people, organizations and sectors to grow and align our capacity to make a difference.
- Place Matters: We focus our efforts on places where people live.
- Hope and Optimism: We focus on the possible and our collective potential for making positive change.
- Equity and Inclusion: We engage and elevate the voice of those most impacted by issues who have the greatest insight into possible solutions.
- Courage and Learning: We ask difficult questions about the systems and structures which hold people and communities back and engage in peer-to-peer learning to build our capacity.
- Action and Impact: We emphasize action and focus on impact.
The Position
The Tamarack Institute is seeking a bilingual Community Animator to better serve communities across Canada and help them navigate through their community change efforts from idea to action to impact. This role will be anchored within our Networks for Change, with a focus on our members advancing just and equitable climate transitions, as well as Francophone members from across our Networks for Change.
On-going Responsibilities
As the Community Animator, you will contribute to the results above, using the Tamarack 2030 plan as a guide. You will:
- Support and deepen relationships with a set of member communities, supporting them in their work to create cross-sector partnership tables, and/or create and implement plans for transformational change. Tamarack has a flexible, evolving, yet proven methodology to engage and support communities to achieve place-based change.
- Act as guide/matchmaker for peer-to-peer learning across the Networks for Change, with a focus on the Community Climate Transitions network.
- Build relationships with communities to reach modest network growth targets, prioritizing Francophone members across the Networks for Change.
- Design and lead communities of practice, webinars, workshops, and conferences (a vast majority of which are virtual).
- Continually hone (mostly online) facilitation and facilitation support skills.
- Coach communities in the processes of community change, collective action, and outcomes-focused collaboration.
- Write case studies, issue papers, and stories of learning and impact to support and inspire members, inform public policy, and galvanize resources for place-based work.
- Support our members’ success, track outcomes and work with members to understand and report on impact.
- Be an active member of the Networks for Change team and be involved in the overall planning and implementation of an operational plan tied to Tamarack’s 2030 Strategic Vision.
- Represent Networks for Change at in person and online events, as required.
- Participate in strategic planning and evaluation, including in quarterly reflection weeks designed to spread learning across the team and to plan for the time ahead.
- Support online learning and website updates.
- Additional tasks that emerge, including during quarterly work planning
- Support Tamarack’s commitment to Equity and Reconciliation.
- Work towards an understanding of Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and embed equity and reconciliation principles into day-to-day work.
- Be an active member of one of Tamarack’s cross-functional teams.
- Participate in weekly update meetings with team.
Position Requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience working on issues related to climate adaptation and resilience, just transitions, and climate justice.
- Experience working with municipal governments and familiarity with municipal processes and realities.
- Excellent command of French (written and oral) and good understanding of English.
- Experience in facilitation, community engagement or project coordination.
- Research, analytical, and strategic writing skills.
- Sensitivity to the dynamics of Francophone minority communities.
- Experience using HubSpot is asset.
- Self-motivated and results-oriented with a keen attention to detail.
- Excellent organizational skills necessary to manage multiple projects at once within established deadlines.
- Experience working with diverse communities and understanding of the realities of equity-denied communities.
- Ability to work virtually, both independently and in co-operation with a small team.
- Strong computer and technical skills with proficiency in MS Office, Canva, Mural, and Zoom.
- Willingness/ability to travel, as required.
- Shares Tamarack’s values for Equity and Reconciliation in the workplace.
- Positive, enthusiastic, flexible, and passionate about Tamarack’s mission.
Tamarack’s Commitment
Tamarack is committed to inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplaces that represent the communities we support. We are a learning organization who is continuously working to improve our systems, policies, and practices to remove barriers to support the success of our staff and learning community. As an organization, we are accountable for creating equitable opportunities and a sense of belonging not only for our team, but also for our network and communities we support. We value applicants with a diverse range of experiences, skills, and backgrounds, and encourage you to apply.
At Tamarack we are committed to engage and elevate the voice of those most impacted by issues who have the greatest insight into possible solutions.
Tamarack strives to provide reasonable access and accommodation throughout the application and selection process. We have a space in the application form where you can let us know of any accommodation you may need and if anything comes up later, please let us know.
Supervision and Reporting
The Community Animator, Networks for Change (N4Cs) will report to the Director, Networks for Change or delegate. They are a member of the Communities Climate Transitions (CCT) team and are required to contribute to the overall achievement of Tamarack’s strategic goals and deliverables of the Tamarack team as a whole.
Work Environment
This is a full-time 40-hour per week 8-Month contract position. As with most positions at Tamarack, you may reside in any location in Canada. Tamarack is a remote work environment, and your designated office space may be in your home. In some cases, Tamarack will rent team members office space near their preferred location in Canada, preferably co-located with another nonprofit organization.
Conflict of Interest Policy
For all positions, Tamarack asks team members to devote their attention to Tamarack’s operations and conduct themselves in accordance with our Conflict of Interest Policy. If you are invited for an interview, we would ask that you review the policy in advance and bring any questions you may have for discussion with the interview panel.
Salary & Benefits
Tamarack provides a competitive salary and benefits, annual professional development fund, technology fund, an annual gratitude fund for team members to express gratitude to partners and teammates, flex time, and Focus Fridays, one day per week where we are encouraged to take only critical meetings. Our paid time off includes the flexible option to take three (3) statutory holidays on days that hold meaning to you. We close our offices the last week of December. Tamarack operates within a progressive management philosophy. This is a full-time 40-hour per week 8-month contract position and the starting salary range is rated between $60,000 and $65,000 a year. The successful candidate will be offered a salary that is commensurate with experience.
Application Process
Tamarack is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.
The interview process will be led by current Tamarack team members familiar with the role. Tamarack designs interview processes to support applicants to learn about the organization, its culture and commitments. Interview questions will be provided in advance.
Application Deadline: 11:59pm, July 13, 2025.
Start Date: As soon as possible.
Please attach one document that includes:
- a cover letter that explains your interest in the role, how you think your skills and experiences align with Tamarack’s goals, and any other information you’d like to share.
- a resume that provides the names of places you’ve worked or volunteered with dates, key duties, and accomplishments.
While we thank all interested applicants, only successful candidates will be contacted.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Remote
