Impact Strategy & Operations Coordinator AKA Owl Organizer

Start Date: ASAP 

Application Deadline: June 12, 2026

 

About Canopy 

Canopy is a solutions-driven, environmental not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting forests, species, and climate. For more than 25 years, Canopy has been a driving force in transforming wood-based supply chains, including publishing, packaging, and textiles, to eliminate fibre coming from the world's most critical forests and ensure a livable planet for all. 

 

Position Overview 

The Impact Operations and Strategy Coordinator is a highly trusted, central role designed to strengthen the effectiveness, coordination, and execution of Canopy’s Impact function. This is a highly trusted role that works closely with the Head of Impact. This role acts as a force multiplier across strategy, planning, internal coordination, external engagement, and special projects. 

This role is a light version of a chief of staff and is ideal for someone who is organized, thoughtful, proactive, and able to move fluidly between logistics and strategy. The coordinator helps ensure priorities are translated into action, teams are aligned, meetings are purposeful, partnerships and projects stay on track, and the Head of Impact is supported in leading a complex, fast-moving portfolio. 

Why This Role Matters 

This role helps create the internal coherence and execution discipline needed for Canopy to deliver ambitious impact in a complex external landscape. By strengthening coordination around the Head of Impact/ED and across the wider team, the Impact Operations Coordinator will help accelerate the work that protects forests, advances Next Gen Solutions, and deepens Canopy’s influence across markets and systems. 

 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Coordination and Planning (40%)

• Support the Head of Impact in managing strategic priorities, workflows, and follow-through across the Impact portfolio. 

• Coordinate internal planning processes, including annual planning, Impact Leadership Team meetings, quarterly priorities, team objectives, and progress tracking. 

• Track priorities, deadlines, dependencies, and key decisions across workstreams to ensure alignment and execution. 

• Identify opportunities to improve team effectiveness, internal communications, and operating processes. 

Internal Operations and Team Rhythm (25%)

• Prepare high-quality briefing materials, meeting agendas, notes, action trackers, and internal summaries. 

• Help manage the rhythm of the Impact team, ensuring meetings are purposeful and outcomes are captured and followed through. 
• Organize and maintain core team materials, including strategy documents, dashboards, partner trackers, and briefing notes. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)

• Support coordination with Impact, Impact Communications, Policy, Research, Philanthropic Partnerships, Culture & Engagement, and leadership teams. 

• Ensure alignment across teams and help translate strategy into coordinated action. 
• Provide light project management support for cross-cutting initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. 

External Engagement and Special Projects (15%)

• Support preparation for external meetings, convenings, donor conversations, and partnership discussions. 

• Track key initiatives and special projects led by the Head of Impact, ensuring progress and follow-through. 

• Provide research, synthesis, and logistics support for high-priority engagements. 

Desired Outcomes 

• The Head of Impact is able to operate more strategically with strong support on priorities and follow-through. 

• The Impact team operates with greater coordination, visibility, and consistency. 

• Meetings and engagements are well-prepared and action-oriented. 

• Key initiatives move forward with clarity and reduced friction. 

Qualifications and Experience 

• 3-5 years experience in project coordination, team operations, strategy support, program management, or related roles. 

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• Excellent writing and synthesis skills. 

• Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive information. 

• Comfort working in a fast-moving environment. 

• Experience supporting senior leaders is an asset. 

• Passion for environmental conservation, social impact, or mission-driven work strongly preferred. 

• Embrace a “Yes, AND...” mindset to foster innovation and collaboration (link to https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-does-mean-say-yes-change-jordan-hirsch/)  

• A passion for protecting the world’s forests. 

Key Qualities 

• Calm under pressure 

• Highly organized and dependable 

• Proactive and solutions-oriented 

• Good at seeing around corners 

• Collaborative and low ego 

• Able to hold both detail and big picture 

• Thoughtful communicator 

Key Competencies 

• Organizational excellence and attention to detail 

• Strategic thinking and execution 

• Communication and synthesis 

• Collaboration and relationship-building 

• Proactivity and problem-solving 

• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with detail 

 

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit your CV, a cover letter, and a separate response to the prompt below. Applications missing either the cover letter or the prompt response will not be considered. 

On AI use and authenticity: You may use AI tools to brainstorm, edit, or proofread, but please do not use AI to write your cover letter or prompt response for you. We want to hear your voice, experiences, and perspective, not a polished, generic version generated by a model. If you use AI for minor editing assistance, please add a short note at the end of your prompt response (e.g., "I used [tool name] to proofread this response"). Applications written in a genuine, original voice will be prioritized. 

Cover letter: 

At Canopy, this role helps ensure that priorities are clear, teams are aligned, and work moves forward effectively across a complex and fast-moving Impact portfolio.  

Prompt: 

Imagine you are supporting the Head of Impact in preparing for a quarterly Impact Leadership Team meeting where there are multiple competing priorities and limited clarity on next steps. 

In your response, briefly describe: 

• How would you help structure and prioritize the meeting to ensure it is focused and productive?  

• One simple way you would track decisions and follow-through after the meeting. 

• One example of how you would proactively improve team coordination over time. 

 

Please keep your response to 300–400 words. 

Canopy is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs. 

Canopy embraces equity and diversity and is committed to a workplace that is enriched by the people, needs, and desires of our diverse community. We thank all applicants; however, we will only contact candidates who successfully secure an interview. 

For applicants outside Canada, the salary will align with a benchmarked salary band based on location. Please reach out to Anna for more information. Canopy offers a competitive salary range. We believe in fostering a supportive work environment where employees can thrive. We also offer comprehensive benefits packages, professional development opportunities, and a supportive workplace culture dedicated to environmental conservation. At Canopy, we prioritise the well-being and growth of our team members, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to excel in their roles and contribute meaningfully to our mission.