Senior Advisor, Commercial Contracts

Organization: Plan International Canada

Reports to: VP, Program and Business Development

Location: Toronto (Hybrid)

Status: Full-time, Permanent

Contact level with Children: B

Grade: 8

What can you expect from a leading organization in the global movement to advance children’s rights and equality for girls? 

Plan International Canada is the first non-profit organization to ever be inducted into Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame by Waterstone Human Capital. Here’s why: together, we have created a climate of trust and inclusivity – where diversity in people, ideas and approaches is not only respected, it’s encouraged. 

We remain agile amid an ever-changing global landscape. Though we continue to evolve, our mission and strategic ambition will not change – and our work has never been so imperative. We will never stop believing in the multiplying power of girls and that every child deserves that right to learn, lead, decide and thrive. Our future success will be founded upon Plan International Canada’s 80+ year history of focusing on our mission, our core values, responding to challenges and seizing opportunities with purpose, relevance and impact. 

Further information can be found at: plancanada.ca 

The Position 

This role is responsible for shaping and guiding our commercial contracting approach to ensure we secure high-quality, sustainable funding that enables us to scale our impact, extend our reach, and deliver meaningful, measurable results. 

With a focus on strategic alignment and risk mitigation, the Senior Advisor will collaborate across teams to develop and implement best-in-class commercial bid strategies. This work will help unlock new opportunities, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure our programming is both effective and resilient—supporting our ambition to drive positive change for children and communities around the world.

What does success look like? 

• You champion a culture of excellence in commercial contracting by building internal capacity, delivering tailored training, and sharing best practices across Plan International Canada. 

• You lead the development and implementation of tools, systems, and strategies that enhance our ability to competitively bid for and manage complex commercial contracts, including Payment by Results (PbR) models. 

• You provide strategic guidance and hands-on support throughout the commercial bid lifecycle—ensuring proposals are compliant, competitive, and aligned with donor expectations and Plan Canada’s values. 

• You collaborate cross-functionally to strengthen contract management practices, ensuring effective oversight, risk mitigation, and value-for-money across all stages of implementation. 

• You serve as a trusted advisor to program and business development teams, offering expert insights on donor regulations, pricing strategies, and contractual obligations. 

• You foster a learning culture by facilitating knowledge exchange, capturing lessons learned, and driving continuous improvement in commercial contracting processes. 

• You contribute to organizational thought leadership by engaging with global colleagues and external stakeholders to shape and influence best practices in commercial contracting. 

• You model feminist leadership principles and inclusive practices in all aspects of your work, ensuring equitable participation and capacity building across teams. 

As our ideal candidate you will have: 

• Extensive experience in securing and/or managing large-scale commercial contracts funded by institutional donors such as FCDO, the World Bank, and others—within both non-profit and for-profit contexts. You bring a strong understanding of donor regulations, compliance standards, and value-for-money principles. 

• Deep knowledge of contractual and financial management frameworks, including various contract types such as cost-reimbursement, time-and-materials, fixed-price, framework agreements, and performance-based models. 

• A collaborative mindset with a proven ability to build strong, trust-based relationships across diverse teams—both within Plan International Canada and with our global partners—to drive shared goals and outcomes. 

• Communication skills, with the ability to translate complex contractual and financial concepts into clear, accessible guidance and training materials tailored to different audiences. 

• A team-oriented approach, with a passion for mentoring and empowering colleagues across departments to build capacity and confidence in commercial contracting. 

• Strategic thinking and sound judgment, especially when navigating competing priorities, making decisions under pressure, and developing creative, practical solutions. 

• Adaptability and openness to change, with a demonstrated ability to thrive in dynamic environments and embrace new ways of working. 

• A commitment to inclusive and participatory practices, ensuring equitable engagement and representation in all aspects of your work. 

• A strong understanding of the international development sector, including the operational realities of INGOs and the evolving funding landscape. 
• Alignment with Plan International Canada’s values, including a deep commitment to feminist leadership principles, equity, and child rights—and a desire to model these values in your everyday work. 

How to apply: 

To express interest in this exciting opportunity, submit your resume and cover letter to https://plancanada.ca/apply by closing date.  

Plan International Canada is a hybrid workplace. You will work from the office and from home.  

Plan International Canada hires based on merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community and to providing an inclusive workplace. Plan International Canada especially welcomes applications from Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.   

If you have a disability that may affect your ability to perform in a role in which you are interested, we will be happy to discuss with you what adjustments or arrangements we can make to accommodate your needs. If your disability is likely to affect you adversely within the application process itself, please let us know (as soon as you feel comfortable to do so) by emailing [email protected] so that we can consider any adjustments to the process that will allow you to be considered fairly for the role. 

Consistent with our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a police background check, including the vulnerable sector screen. 

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for the duration of the work term. Proof of eligibility will be required. 

Thank you for your interest in a career at Plan International Canada!