Application Deadline: March 16, 2026
Harbourfront Centre is a leading cultural institution in Toronto, celebrated for its vibrant arts, culture, community and recreational programs. As a not-for-profit organization, we are committed to enriching the lives of diverse communities through creativity, innovation, connection and excellence. A multi-faceted campus, Harbourfront Centre includes programming across arts, culture, recreation and learning, as well as commercial businesses that generate essential revenue to support operations.
We are currently seeking a motivated and experienced Director, Strategic Partnerships to help manage and support a number of revenue initiatives across the Strategic Partnerships Department, including corporate partnerships, commercial opportunities and development.
Position Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships
Department: Strategic Partnerships
Reporting To: General Counsel and Head, Strategic Partnerships
Direct Reports: To be confirmed
Number of Vacancies: 1
Type of Employment: Full-time
Work Location: At our lakeside campus in downtown Toronto
Summary Of Function
The Director, Strategic Partnerships is responsible for contributing to the creation of strategic plans to secure corporate sponsorships and commercial growth. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in corporate sponsorship prospecting and sales, along with outstanding communication and relationship-building skills. The incumbent will play a key role in cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with corporate partners and sponsors to advance the organization’s mission and impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development and execution of comprehensive corporate sponsorship strategies to grow revenue and align with the organization’s vision and strategic priorities.
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate donors, with a focus on securing multi-year corporate partnerships.
- Support the management of a portfolio of existing corporate partners, serving as a resource to manage and ensure consistent stewardship and tailored communications to foster lasting relationships.
- Support in the development and design of impactful fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
- Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the arts and culture sector and stay up to date with sponsorship trends and best practices specific to the sector.
- Represent the organization at events and actively engage with sponsors to strengthen relationships and visibility.
- Help establish annual sponsorship goals and critically assess and evaluate success against established goals.
- Identify and explore opportunities to grow new revenue channels.
- Review sponsorship agreements in concert with General Counsel.
- Support and collaborate with all Strategic Partnerships functions, including out-of-home activations, fundraising, development and programming, and across departments including marketing, event operations, finance and site operations.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in corporate sponsorship and development, with relevant, recent experience in the arts and culture sector.
- Proven success in pitching, securing and stewarding new corporate sponsorships.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with a diverse range of corporate partners.
- Strong project management and organizational skills; able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Familiarity and experience in the arts and culture sector is required.
- Director-level experience with demonstrated ability to lead and take initiative and to work closely and collaboratively with members of the team and across departments.
- Demonstrated success in corporate partnership sales.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada on a full-time ongoing basis.
- This role is based in Toronto.
Our Values
At Harbourfront Centre, our values—Open, Brave, Rigorous, and Kind—reflect our commitment to inclusivity, imaginative risk-taking, excellence, and respect, ensuring enriching experiences for all.
How To Apply
If you meet these qualifications and are excited about the opportunity to make a significant impact in the arts and culture sector, we encourage you to apply for this position.
Harbourfront Centre is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Acceptable applications must include a current resume and a cover letter indicating why you wish to join the team and how you would meet the criteria for this position.
We invite qualified applicants to submit their candidacy to jobs@harbourfrontcentre.com by March 16, 2026. Please quote Director, Strategic Partnerships in the subject line of your application.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. Suitable accommodations will be available upon request during the hiring process. Please know that our recruitment process does not involve the use of Artificial Intelligence tools; the review of received applications and hiring decisions are made by a team of people.