Job Description

Title: Senior Associate, Convening

Department: Philanthropy and Community

Reporting to: Lead, Ecosystem Partnerships & Convening

Location: Remote - Canada (Candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or willing to relocate)

Compensation: CAD 56,000 - CAD 71,000

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.

About the Opportunity:

As a member of the Community Power team, reporting to the Lead, Ecosystem Partnerships & Convening, the Senior Associate, Convening supports the planning and delivery of convening and capacity sharing activities that bring partners together around shared goals and collective action, increasing partners’ access to networks and enhanced connectivity and social capital, and supports partners capacity enhancement needs. This role focuses on turning convening strategies into well-organized, high-quality experiences that support collaboration and coordination across partners. It also plays a key “sensing” role, gathering partner feedback and insights from convenings to help improve future approaches and ensure activities remain relevant and responsive to partner needs. This role contributes to strengthening collective action by supporting innovative and inclusive convening approaches that help align partners and move shared priorities forward. Finally, this role contributes to the internal Philanthropy and Community operational coordination and supports the WES’ internal convening and learning activities related to the Community Power work.

What You'll Do:

Coordination, Delivery Support & Partner Engagement (45%)

• Coordinate with the Co-Lead Ecosystem Partnership and Initiative Lead to align convening activities with goals and broader priorities.
• Ensure consistent follow-through after convenings (notes, next steps, partner communication).
• Set the meeting agendas for cross-team sharing and learning forums and reporting routines so that insights feed into learning and strategy adjustment cycles.
• Contribute to crosscutting work in the US and Canada by surfacing comparative work, opportunities for shared partner engagements or connections where initiatives or learnings overlap.
• Support the Co-Lead Ecosystem Partnerships and Initiative Lead engagement with external vendors and consultants and lead the coordination of this work.
• Provide internal administrative and operational support to the Philanthropy and Community team and support special projects and cross-team efforts as needed.
• Engage with partners before, during, and after convenings to support participation and gather feedback.
• Follow equitable convening and capacity sharing practices to ensure convenings and capacity enhancement are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to partner needs.
• Track key partner engagement touchpoints in shared systems for visibility and to inform partner stewardship efforts.
• Maintain visibility into progress, risks, dependencies, and resource needs across multiple partners, and initiatives and provide timely status updates to their team and key stakeholders.

Convening Activities planning (30%)

• Support the planning and delivery of convenings, roundtables, partner gatherings, and capacity sharing activities, including planning and logistics with guidance from the Co-Lead and in collaboration with relevant WES teams.
• Translate convening strategies into clear agendas, activities, and run-of-show documents.
• Provide coordination and facilitation support to ensure smooth delivery and strong participant experience.

Field Insights & “Sensing” (15%)

• Capture insights and feedback from convenings and partner interactions.
• Identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities to improve convening approaches.
• Share clear, actionable insights with the team to inform future agendas and convening strategies.
• Support thought leadership by gathering and synthesizing insights from convenings and partner engagement to inform improvements and contribute to external learning and knowledge sharing.

Convening Tools & Improvement (10%)

• Support the development and refinement of convening and capacity sharing tools (e.g., agendas, facilitation guides, templates).
• Help test and apply new and innovative convening approaches based on partner needs.

Your Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as community development, social sciences, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ years of experience supporting events, convenings, or community-based initiatives
• Experience supporting multi-stakeholder convenings or cross-sector partnerships.
• Experience working with immigrant-led and serving, grassroots, or community-based organizations.
• Experience supporting the planning and delivery of workshops, convenings, or learning events.
• Exposure to the immigration systems, immigrants' employment sector, systems change, collective impact, or collaborative initiatives.
• Demonstrated skills using group engagement methods.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with diverse partners.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to gather and synthesize feedback from participants and stakeholders.
• Experience using feedback to improve programs, events, or engagement approaches.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered approaches.
• Experience designing or adapting agendas, facilitation guides, or convening frameworks
• Ability to work in fast-paced, evolving environments with a strong learning orientation

Desired

• Exposure to systems change, collective impact, or collaborative initiatives
• Experience working across multiple geographies or diverse partner groups.
• Competence with common collaboration and project tools and virtual convening platforms (e.g., Teams, Zoom, Miro/Mural) to support planning and coordinated delivery.

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work, which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.

Values:

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org

This position is an existing vacancy and is currently open for hire.