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About Windmill Microlending

Windmill Microlending enables immigrants and refugees to build careers in Canada while reducing poverty and labour shortages. We do this by offering affordable loans along with career assessment coaching, financial literacy training, and mentorship for newcomers who lack access to mainstream credit.

Since 2005, Windmill has provided over 13,000 loans to clients in healthcare, IT, financial services, law, engineering, and many other fields to triple their incomes as a result of our affordable loans and support. Windmill is a registered Canadian charity supported by donations and community bonds from the private sector and grants from the public sector.

At Windmill, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of newcomers. Join a diverse, dynamic team at a leading Canadian not-for-profit where empowering our clients starts with creating an enjoyable workplace for our staff. Our commitment to a fulfilling environment is evident in our 85+% average employee engagement scores on our annual survey.

The role

Windmill's national Partnerships Team is tasked with growing a network of external partners that help to grow our loan applications from skilled newcomers across the country. Partners are essential to Windmill’s client acquisition strategy, and we are proud to have developed successful referral partnerships with educational institutions, settlement agencies, professional associations and corporations that refer hundreds of Windmill clients each year. Windmill’s partnership network is essential for building awareness and support for Windmill among key referral communities.

The Partnership Specialist, reporting directly to the Manager, Partnerships, will be a key member of the partnership team. This role will be responsible for growing current relationships and establishing new ones to ensure Windmill can meet its objective of supporting many more skilled immigrants each year.

This work will include executing Windmill’s ongoing strategic partnership plan – establishing a referral network of immigrant-serving organizations, learning institutions, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and ethno- and occupation-specific groups. While there is a geographic focus on Eastern Canada, the position will also represent Windmill nationally and will work collaboratively with the Partnership Team to build referral networks across the country.

The Partnership Specialist will have the following responsibilities:

Partnership generation and development (70%)

• Actively connect with referring organizations for prospective loan applicants:

- Seek out, schedule, and deliver information sessions and/or career planning workshops (in person or virtually) to groups of prospective loan applicants.

- Seek out and participate in education fairs and industry and community events likely to attract prospective applicants and/or improve Windmill’s community standing with our referral network.

• Keep abreast of the immigrant sector, licensing and training needs and labour market trends to ensure effective targeting of prospective loan applicants.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Windmill’s communications team to create digital media content, marketing materials, media events and build community among Windmill’s online network.
• Maintain and strengthen existing relationships with referral partners and cultivate new partnerships aligned with Windmill’s mission and vision.
• Foster knowledgeability and comfort with Windmill’s loan program amongst organizations in a position to refer eligible immigrants.
• Solicit information about partners’ programs and resources to strengthen the knowledge and responsiveness of Windmill staff in their work with clients.
• Maintain and refine promotional materials; collaborate closely with communications and development teams to ensure coordination on messaging.

Data reporting and research (30%)

• Support the partnerships team with data pulls, collection and analysis
• Maintain the integrity of the partnerships database/CRM; keep accurate and up-to-date digital files on all existing and new partnership contacts and activities, ensuring all leads are properly followed up
• Produce basic statistical analysis and reports for the management and leadership team as requested

Competencies and characteristics

• Skillful and engaging presenter in English, comfortable speaking to audiences of all sizes at varying stages of the immigration process.
• Familiar with and motivated to help immigrants succeed; experience addressing the labour market integration challenges faced by internationally trained immigrants.
• Proven ability to achieve results and meet deadlines; has strong organizational and problem-solving skills; has a high-energy, self-motivated approach and entrepreneurial attitude.
• Excellent people skills; experience in collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse and dynamic team
• Entrepreneurial mindset and approach, a true self-starter
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Professionalism in all aspects of work, including writing and in-person communications, with superior attention to detail.
• Proficient with data analysis

Qualifications and knowledge

• Two to five years’ experience in outreach or sales, partnership development, or business development roles with measurable performance targets; post-secondary education in this area is considered an asset
• Project management software and CRM experience
• Data analysis experience
• Comfortable using common digital media platforms for marketing and outreach.
• The ability to communicate in French is an asset.

Compensation and benefits

• Annual salary range $55,000-$60,000
• Eight-month contract, September 2025 – May 2026, with the potential for extension
• Full-time 40 hours/week
• Hybrid work solution with a minimum of two to three (2-3) days in the office
• Position available in Toronto, ON
• Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours due to events and presentations
• Vacation time, plus a company-wide winter break
• Evolving DEI initiatives – our staff is representative of our client base

How to apply:

We thank all candidates in advance. However, we will only contact those selected for an interview. To apply, please submit, in confidence, a résumé and cover letter that sets out your interest in the role and highlights your relevant experience. Please include your salary expectations in your cover letter. The preferred method of application is via email to hr@teamwindmill.org (reference: Partnerships Specialist, Eastern Canada – contract).

Windmill Microlending is an equal opportunity employer. Adhering to Canada’s Human Rights Act, Windmill grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, colour, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, ethnic origin, age, or place of origin. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

As an active participant in the Federal Government’s 50-30 Challenge, we are committed to building a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians by attaining gender parity and significant representation of underrepresented groups on our board and in senior management positions.