Summary
Description
This position is responsible for the coordination of Backbone support to Aspire, Calgary’s Financial Empowerment Collaborative. Aspire works with 20+ Calgary organizations that provide financial empowerment programming to 15,000 people annually through matched savings programs, financial coaching, tax filing, access to benefits clinics, and access to Registered Savings.
The ultimate goal of Aspire is to increase the financial well-being of Calgarians living on lower incomes through programming, to build the capacity of the community to offer financial empowerment programs, and to influence systems and governments to incorporate financial empowerment programs and policies into existing services. All of this is designed to reduce poverty in our city.
Since 2019, Momentum has been providing Backbone support to Aspire, using the collective impact model: guide vision & strategy; support aligned activities; established shared measurements; build public will; advance policy; and mobilize funding. Financial Empowerment is named as a Lever of Change in Enough for All, Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and Aspire is a key partner in that work.
The Organization:
Everything we do is grounded in a community economic development approach. This means we work with individuals, businesses, communities and systems to build a more inclusive local economy. We use a holistic approach that covers everything from financial literacy, entrepreneurship and skills training, to developing communication skills, building self-confidence and establishing positive social networks.
Momentum became certified as a Great Place to Work in Canada in 2021 and has retained this certification every year since. Great Place to Work is a global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. We provide competitive compensation and benefits with an unparalleled work environment.
We are a diverse multidisciplinary team of people that are united by a shared vision and values. At Momentum you’ll find MBA’s, artists, facilitators, social workers and more. Our backgrounds are as diverse as our areas of discipline, and it is this diversity and the respect and value we have for each other and our participants that makes us stronger.
We are purpose driven and our high standards reflect the trust and confidence we have in each other and the results of the work our team can do together. We live and work in ways that reflect our value of sustainability, being intentional in our actions to reduce our environmental footprint.
Momentum is an equal opportunity employer. Diverse and unique candidates are encouraged to apply.
What you’ll be doing:
This role reports to Momentum’s Director of Programs and is responsible to ensure appropriate Backbone support is offered to funded Aspire agencies to provide Financial Empowerment programming to Calgarians living on lower incomes, to coordinate Aspire’s work in Calgary, and to represent Aspire in provincial and national FE projects Momentum is involved in. This role is also responsible for evaluation of existing programming and research into new and promising practices in Financial Empowerment.
Key areas of Responsibility:
- Guide vision and strategy for Aspire, together with the Aspire Advisory Committee and other Aspire stakeholders.
- Coordinate aligned activities between Aspire agencies, including convening collaborative-wide gatherings.
- Work with systems and governments to recognize opportunities for the integration of financial empowerment into existing services.
- Support Momentum’s Financial Empowerment department to provide strong operational and administrative leadership to Aspire agencies.
- Research and share funding opportunities to Aspire agencies.
- Act as a Momentum and Aspire ambassador in local, provincial, and national Financial Empowerment movements.
- Bring organizations from different sectors to the common agenda of financial empowerment.
- Build and maintain relationships with Financial Empowerment partners.
Major Responsibilities:
Aspire Leadership:
- Work with Aspire’s Community of Practice Leads to support the capacity of the not-for-profit sector in Calgary to deliver financial empowerment programming/services.
- Work through Aspire stakeholders to create and achieve strategic goals.
- Lead and implement strategic and business planning processes
- Lead continuous quality improvement processes, including new opportunities
Manage Aspire Finances:
- Lead annual budget planning
- Lead Aspire revenue generation plans
- Develop funding proposals
- Ensure Aspire budget is implemented successfully
- Ensure the relationships with existing Aspire funders and partners are well managed
Manage Community Engagement:
- Participate on related staff committees, and in the wider work of Momentum
- Maintain and expand existing community partnerships and networks
- Participate in collaborative initiatives to engage diverse stakeholders in financial empowerment activities
- Represent Momentum and Aspire at conferences, community events and consultations
- Liaise with existing stakeholders, including community partners, and government representatives.
- Collaborate with provincial and federal Financial Empowerment initiatives.
- Engage, educate, and partner with new stakeholders and relevant systems to grow the field of Financial Empowerment in Alberta and Canada.
Who we’re looking for:
At a glance, you are someone who:
- Is passionate about creating an inclusive economy and ending poverty. This work clearly lines up with your values and the contribution you want to make to the world.
- Can stay on top of multiple projects at a time. You organize your time well and can deftly switch between a variety of projects and tasks.
- Remains laser focused on results. You strive for clarity of goals, and you align your efforts, energy, and focus to achieve them.
- Is self-motivated. You are internally motivated to deliver your best work to benefit the mission.
- Is a selfless team player. You demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and care about cultivating healthy partnerships and relationships. You are humble and willing to step up to help the team, regardless of how big or small the task is.
What you will need to do the job well:
- Post-secondary education in the field of social work, community development, psychology, human services, or related discipline
- Strong leadership abilities
- Program planning, development, and management experience
- Knowledge of program evaluation and data management
- Experience in working with marginalized or barriered individuals
- High level of computer and social media literacy
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to network effectively
- Adaptable and flexible
- Knowledge of community economic development and personal financial empowerment an asset
- Access to a vehicle
To apply:
Please click on the below link:
https://momentumorg.bamboohr.com/careers/38?source=aWQ9MTQ%3D
Closing Date: July 9, 2025
We wish to thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
