Director of Programs & Operations, Michigan

About the role

The Director of Programs & Operations, Michigan will lead the day-to-day planning, coordination, and delivery of AquaAction’s programs and activities in Michigan. This person will serve as the senior program and operations lead for AquaAction’s Michigan presence, ensuring that programs are well-run, partners are engaged, founders are supported, and activities are aligned with AquaAction’s mission, standards, and strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of AquaAction’s Michigan programs and activities.
• Ensure that Michigan programs are delivered on time, on budget, and in alignment with AquaAction’s mission and program standards.
• Coordinate the implementation of AquaHacking, AquaEntrepreneur, AquaNation, founder support, ecosystem convenings, and other Michigan-based initiatives.
• Translate AquaAction’s Canadian program experience into a Michigan context while adapting to local needs, partners, funders, and opportunities.
• Identify program needs, risks, gaps, and opportunities, and work with the Vice President, Programs and Canadian program leads to address them.
• Supervise and support the AquaNation Community Lead, Michigan.
• Create a collaborative working rhythm between the Michigan team and the Canadian program team.
• Ensure that Michigan staff and collaborators understand their roles, reporting lines, and areas of responsibility.
• Work closely with the Canadian Director of Programs and relevant Canadian program leads to align Michigan and Canadian program delivery.
• Support cross-border opportunities between Michigan and Canada, including founder exchanges, partner introductions, pilot opportunities, events, and ecosystem convenings.
• Represent AquaAction professionally in Michigan meetings, events, and ecosystem conversations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading programs, operations, partnerships, or ecosystem-building initiatives.
• Strong understanding of entrepreneurship support, innovation programming, founder development, or startup ecosystems.
• Experience managing people, projects, timelines, budgets, and external relationships.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to work across teams, geographies, and program areas.
• Experience working with nonprofits, accelerators, universities, funders, municipalities, utilities, or innovation organizations is an asset.
• Knowledge of Michigan’s startup, water, climate, sustainability, or Great Lakes ecosystem is an asset.
• Comfort working in a growing organization where systems, roles, and programs are still being built.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Michigan programs are well-organized, well-delivered, and aligned with AquaAction’s mission.
• The Michigan team has clear priorities, reporting lines, and support.
• The AquaNation Community Lead is well-integrated and focused on the right ecosystem-building activities.
• Michigan and Canadian teams collaborate regularly and effectively.
• Partners and funders see AquaAction as a trusted, credible, and well-coordinated organization in Michigan.
• Founders benefit from stronger program support, ecosystem connections, and cross-border opportunities.
• Michigan becomes a strong and connected extension of AquaAction’s broader North American program model.

Inclusion

AquaAction is passionate about engaging the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds. We want to work in an environment where everyone can reach their potential within an inclusive culture which respects individual differences and perspectives. We encourage applications from equity-deserving groups. Committed to hiring candidates who self-identify as Indigenous or have first-hand knowledge or experience working with an Indigenous community.

Pay and Benefits

AquaAction offers a competitive benefits package and additional perks, such as 3% RRSP matching payments. The salary will reflect the successful candidate’s experience.