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The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is a not-for-profit organization focused on strengthening ties between Canada and Asia through its research, education, and convening activities, such as the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership.

We are seeking a proactive  Program Manager/Senior Program Manager for the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership on contract, full-time employment. This position reports to the Vice-President, Research & Strategy.

Phase Two of the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership is a five-year project (2022-2027) funded by the Government of Canada that aims to improve inclusive economic growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially those led by women and young women.

The application deadline is April 13, 2025 (at 11:59 p.m./PT). Applications must be submitted via BambooHR. Please ensure your application is complete prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Major Responsibilities

• Oversees the entire project life-cycle of the Phase Two, APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership from Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring, Reporting, and Closing;
• Manages the project team, including direct supervision, performance management, and coaching, mentoring, and motivating team members to achieve project goals;
• Coordinates and manages meetings, consultations, and partnership events linked to the project, including conferences, roundtables, workshops, and training sessions with leaders and experts from Canada and other APEC economies;
• Leads the production and maintenance of project outputs such as research papers, surveys, technical workshops, policy briefs, and other capacity-building-related activities;
• Develops APF Canada's networks with institutions and individuals working on MSME growth and economic development in Canada, other APEC economies, and abroad, fostering relationships with international stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, civil society organizations, MSMEs, and program beneficiaries;
• Prepares comprehensive annual and semi-annual project work plans and narrative reports to the project donor to ensure effective project management and accountability;
• Monitors the project budget, reviews Financial Reports, and implements project budget based on APF Canada and Global Affairs Canada reporting requirements, ensuring good-practice funding management and accountability frameworks are in place;
• Coordinates with and consults the Project Team Lead (PTL) at Global Affairs Canada on all matters pertaining to the project;
• Liaises with relevant Canadian government agencies, government officials in the project focus regions, and international organizations;
• Travels abroad to represent the project at events in the project’s focus economies and other relevant APEC activities in the Asia Pacific region;
• Represents APF Canada at public and private events as needed; and
• Other duties are required to meet the role's needs in relation to organizational goals.

Successful applicants will have the following qualifications:

Education: 

• A master’s degree, or equivalent, in related fields such as international development, public policy, public administration, business administration, political science or international political economy.

Experience:

• At least 5 to 7 years of previous work experience in government, think tanks, non-profit organizations, or international development-related organizations;
• Track record of partnership development and securing institutional funding for international cooperation and implementing development programs (ideally $2M+);
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with institutional donors (especially Global Affairs Canada) and funding modalities, including eligible costs, subcontracting, cost-sharing and management of indirect/overhead costs;
• Demonstrated experience fostering relationships with international stakeholders including government officials, business leaders, civil society organizations, MSMEs, and program beneficiaries;
• Extensive experience working with internal and external teams to design international development programs/projects;
• Experience negotiating contracts and procurement and overseeing subcontracting agreements with regional partners;
• Experience in reviewing and drafting project reports and coordinating or supporting evaluations;
• Experience working within a multilateral organization;
• Experience managing others and coaching, mentoring and motivating teams;
• Ability to work in challenging, high-pressure situations and navigate challenging diplomatic environments;

Desired Skills and Abilities:  

• Certification in project management (e.g. PMP, Prince2, PM4DEV), is an asset;
• Completion of the Government of Canada’s Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) certificate or other certifications or training related to gender equality is an asset;
• Experience working in and with stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific region, with a preference for experience in Southeast Asia, is an asset.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a legal status to work in Canada upon submission of an application. The successful applicant will ideally work out of Vancouver, BC, on a Hybrid Schedule (two days onsite/three days off-site) from APF Canada’s head office in downtown Vancouver, Monday to Friday, during regular office hours (approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). 

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $70,000 to $85,000. The final salary offer will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and expertise, typically from the minimum to the midpoint of the range. APF Canada’s total remuneration package for this role includes a non-contributory extended health care coverage, including dependents, above mandatory paid time-off days and a flexible and hybrid work schedule.

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted via BambooHR and should include the following documents MERGED in ONE PDF file. 

Please click here to apply

• One-page Cover Letter detailing the applicant’s career interests and goals and why they are interested in working with the Foundation
• Résumé detailing the applicant’s academic background, skills, and professional experiences.
• Original Writing Sample of no more than 10 pages, single-spaced in English. A functioning URL to a writing sample is acceptable.
• Name, title, and contact information (email and phone number) for two professional references. References will only be contacted if the applicant is short-listed for the role.

Please add notifications@app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure delivery of our correspondence.

For questions, please send an email to apfcanada-msme@asiapacific.ca.

At the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, we recognize that AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, and we see its potential to enhance innovation, streamline processes, save time, and ultimately amplify our mission. All applications are reviewed by a human. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, language, national or Indigenous origin, family or marital status, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.  We view AI as a tool to support creativity throughout your job search when used for such things as polishing résumés. However, please ensure that any AI tools are turned off during interviews. Otherwise, we will not be able to assess your ability to showcase original ideas or get a true sense of your skills and passion for joining the Foundation. 

We appreciate the interest of all applicants, but due to the anticipated high volume of applications, we will only be able to reach out to those who best meet the qualifications and requirements for the position. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. Thank you for your understanding. 

Furthermore, submitting your application in response to our job postings is deemed to be consent to the collection, use and necessary disclosure of personal information for the purposes of recruitment and assessing your suitability for employment. APF Canada respects the privacy of all applicants and the confidentiality of personal information.   

 

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening Canada’s relations with Asia. We are currently seeking applications from journalists (four) based in the Indo-Pacific to visit Canada to research and prepare stories for media audiences in their home economies. 

An inbound version of APF Canada’s Media Fellowship program for Canadian journalists, this program is designed to help Asia-based journalists become better informed about Canada in order to write or broadcast insightfully on the Canada-Asia relationship to audiences in their home jurisdictions.

About the Program:

The Indo-Pacific Media Fellows program, with support from the Government of Canada, is part of APF Canada’s new programs in the Indo-Pacific region. Asia-based journalists selected under this program will produce and publish three or more written or broadcast pieces on topics related to these themes: maritime security, emerging technology (AI, innovation, and emerging and clean tech), economic and energy security (supply chain management, critical minerals, and energy transitions), or another area demonstrably relevant to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. 

Selected journalists will receive up to $C10,000 each to visit Canada under this Indo-Pacific Media Fellows program.

Duration and Commitment:

Indo-Pacific Media Fellows will spend up to three weeks in Canada researching and preparing their stories and must provide confirmation from an editor, publisher, or producer that their stories will be published or broadcast upon their return to their home jurisdiction.

Eligibility:

This call for applications is open to journalists from any Indo-Pacific jurisdiction, including Southeast Asia, South Asia, North Asia, or Northeast Asia.  

Qualifications:

• Employed by an Asia-based magazine, newspaper, news service, business publication, radio, television station, new media or multimedia outlet as a reporter, feature writer, columnist, or as a freelancer.
• At least two years’ experience as a journalist with an established history of publication in Asia-based news media.
• The ability to acquire the appropriate visas to enter Canada for the duration of their visit. (APF Canada will provide a support letter to successful applicants.)
   

Deliverables: 

• A minimum of three stories, with at least one intended for digital media published within three months (90 days) of their return to their home jurisdiction.
• Implementation of a social media strategy (including, but not limited to X, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook) promoting their stories to a wider audience.
• One 60-second video, podcast, or blog post aggregating their work upon completion of the fellowship for APF Canada’s website.
• Participation in one event organized by APF Canada. 
   

Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit:

• A 500-750-word (max.) proposal; it should include a detailed outline of concrete steps for the assignment, including a plan of execution and dissemination highlighting where the resulting articles/programs will be published or broadcast.
• A budget of up to C$10,000, including travel, accommodation, and in-country expenses.
• A current CV.
• Two examples of written or broadcast work; where possible, please provide links to the examples of previous work or copies as a single PDF or as digital media files.
• A letter from a prospective editor/producer stating a willingness, in principle, to run stories resulting from this trip, subject to normal editorial judgment.

Selection:

Successful applicants will be selected by a jury formed by APF Canada. The key criteria are: significance of the topic, project feasibility, potential impact, and personal qualifications. The judges’ decision will be final.

Applications and questions may be emailed to: michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca or mailed to:

Communications Director
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
680-1066 West Hastings St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3X2

Applications are accepted in English and French. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2025.

I. Introduction

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) invites proposals from qualified consultants/contractors to conduct research on the economic value and environmental costs of powering the digital economy, with a sectoral focus on sustainable energy solutions for data centers in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

II. About APF Canada and ABAC 

APF Canada is an independent, not-for-profit organization focused on strengthening ties between Canada and Asia through research, education, and convening activities. The Foundation produces a range of research outputs, including reports, policy briefs, case studies, surveys, and digital media, and provides Asia Competency training for Canadian organizations and students. APF Canada serves as the Secretariat for Canada’s APEC Business Advisory Council members. 

This project is being conducted on behalf of ABAC and the AI & Digital Innovation Working Group. The intended audience is senior business leaders from ABAC and APEC policymakers. 

III. Project Description and Objectives

Across APEC, the growth of data centers is a prerequisite to meet the increasing computing requirements of the digital economy. There has been a surge in demand for data center capacity as businesses and consumers increasingly rely on digital services, from AI, cloud computing and data analytics to e-commerce and streaming. Both the growth of data centers and the adoption of AI rely on the availability of electric power, with electricity use by the 13 largest data centers (mostly in the APEC region) expected to double by 2026. 

More and more major tech companies are beginning to explore more sustainable solutions to power data centers like nuclear power, hydrogen and solar power. Solutions are required to balance the digital economy’s demands with APEC climate goals. The research project aims to:

• Define and assess the data center dilemma, incorporating relevant reports on GHG emission offsets.
• Identify the top five best practices to sustainably power data centers with clean energy being deployed in 2025 and beyond.
• Propose actionable strategies for private sector companies to sustainably power data centers while balancing costs, efficiency, and competitiveness.
• Forecast the implications of blockchain, AI, emissions, and grid requirements on sustainable energy use.
• Explore policy and regulatory mechanisms to support the private sector’s transition to sustainable energy solutions.

IV. Project Scope

The research will focus on five to seven APEC economies with active and growing data center markets, ensuring a diverse representation of geographic locations and climates. Key research questions include:

• What sustainable energy options are accessible, cost-effective, and sufficient for powering the digital economy in APEC economies?
• What practical, low-cost strategies can businesses implement to improve data center energy efficiency?
• What policies and incentives can promote renewable energy adoption for data centers?
• How can businesses and policymakers collaborate to ensure access to clean, affordable energy for data centers?
• What regulatory frameworks and government incentives can support sustainable energy adoption and efficiency improvements in data centers?

The project will also build upon findings from APEC’s 2023 report on Promoting Energy Efficient and Resilient Data Centers in the APEC Region, incorporating insights from data center operators, cloud providers, and renewable energy experts. 

As this issue is not specific to APEC only, the project team will investigate collaboration and input from SGTech’s Digital Trust Advisory, ASEAN, the World Bank, UNCTAD, OECD etc. to discern how other regions are tackling this dilemma. APF Canada will provide connections to relevant partners and stakeholders. 

V. Deliverables & Milestones

The consultant will be responsible for delivering:

1. Succinct Research Report, including:
   • Evaluation of the problem in target economies, as well as APEC more broadly at a high-level
   • Best practices & case studies from target economies
   • Recommendations for APEC policymakers and private sectors
   • Annex: Member economy placemats (these are meant to be visual economy case studies – for e.g. 1-2 - page/economy-level stock take of the key indicators, stats, best practices or solutions applicable to them)

2. Virtual Presentation (mid-July 2025) of preliminary findings at ABAC III (Preparation of 10-minute presentation with speaker notes and deck)

3. Preparation of an Event Presentation (mid-October 2025) to be delivered at ABAC IV (Preparation of presentation deck, speaker notes, etc.).

VI. Project Timeline

Milestone Date

• Project Kick-off  - April 2025
• First Draft of Report - July 1, 2025
• Virtual Presentation of Preliminary Findings - July 1, 2025
• Final Report Submission - September 1, 2025
• Final Presentation at ABAC IV - October 2025

These deadlines are non-negotiable due to ABAC’s approval processes and scheduled events.

VII. Qualifications & Requirements

Interested consultants should demonstrate:

• Proven expertise in digital economy research, energy policy and/or sustainability.
• Experience in conducting sectoral analysis and working with APEC economies/nomenclature.
• Strong analytical and written skills, with the ability to synthesize complex topics into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience engaging with private sector stakeholders and policymakers.
• Experience delivering projects on behalf of private sector stakeholders, using the appropriate tone and language.

VIII. Proposal Submission

Qualified consultants should submit a proposal including:

1. Technical Proposal

• Approach and methodology
• Work plan and timeline
• Key personnel and qualifications

2. Financial Proposal

• Detailed budget, including professional fees and any additional costs

3. Relevant Experience

• Examples of similar projects completed
• Reference from past client
• Writing Sample

IX. Application process

Applications should include and upload all required documents below MERGED as ONE PDF file. 

Please click here to apply

• Cover letter detailing experience and suitability for the role;
• Résumé detailing professional background, skills, and professional experiences relevant to the responsibilities outlined in this RFP;
• Ten-page (maximum) proposal outlining approach, proposed methodology, timeframe and a budget for each activity (refer to VIII. Proposal submission);
• Name, title, and contact information (email and phone number) for two professional references. References will only be contacted if the applicant is short-listed and the application is evaluated.

X.  Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted no later than Sunday, April 6, 2025 (11;59 PM PT) with the subject line: “Proposal – Powering the Digital Economy RFP.”

XI.  Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance and quality of the proposed methodology (30%)
• Qualifications and experience of the consultant (30%)
• Feasibility of the work plan and timeline (20%)
• Cost-effectiveness and value for money (20%)

XII. Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding this RFP, please contact: Amanda Doyle, Senior Program Manager, APEC Networks Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Email: Amanda.doyle@asiapacific.ca 

APF Canada and ABAC Canada look forward to receiving your proposals and working together to advance sustainability in APEC’s digital economy.