Strategic Advisor, Agriculture
Foresight Canada is seeking a strategic and community-minded Strategic Advisor, Agriculture to provide high-level guidance and industry connectivity for our Manitoba Agriculture Cluster. This is a part-time, advisory role designed for an established leader in Canada’s sustainable building sector.
The Manitoba Net Zero Innovation Network (MNZIN) serves as the operational engine driving Manitoba’s ambitious Path to Net Zero strategy. Designed to deliver the 2026–2029 Action Plan, MNZIN accelerates decarbonization by assembling expert teams and funding high-impact projects across three key economic clusters: sustainable agri-food, clean transportation, and the built environment. Built on a proven, high-performance model that leverages public investment to catalyze significant private capital and job creation, the network also features a dedicated workforce stream to upskill local talent for the green economy. Fundamental to the program’s success is an understanding that a sustainable future is impossible without the meaningful participation and leadership of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.
Working in close partnership with Foresight’s Manager, Agriculture and Water, you will act as a strategic sounding board, a door-opener for high-value partnerships, and a primary architect of the cluster’s long-term roadmap. Your role is to ensure the program is market-aligned, technically rigorous, and positioned to attract the private capital necessary to hit Manitoba’s 2029 Action Plan targets.
The successful applicant will be an established player in Canada’s agriculture sector who is passionate about reducing Canada’s climate impact through technology adoption. This means that you are a great writer and communicator, a team player, an entrepreneurial self-starter, are comfortable working remotely, and have strong time and project management skills.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities:
- Strategic Direction: Advise on the cluster’s strategic priorities, ensuring they address Manitoba’s specific emission profiles and align with global best practices.
- Relationship Facilitation: Leverage your existing national and regional network to facilitate high-level introductions between MNZIN and key industry rightsholders, developers, and potential financial partners.
- Partnership Development: Assist with fundraising and sales efforts to secure private sector matching funding for projects.
- Technical & Market Validation: Act as a subject matter expert, ensuring that funded initiatives are both technically viable and market-ready.
- Mentorship & Support: Provide strategic coaching to the MNZIN team, assisting them in navigating the nuances of the agriculture ecosystem and complex stakeholder management.
Experience:
- Sector Experience: 15+ years of leadership in the Canadian agri-food sector, with deep knowledge of sustainable farming practices, supply chain ESG requirements, or ag-innovation.
- Established Network: A robust network of relationships across the Manitoba agricultural landscape, including producers, commodity groups, processors, and research institutions.
- Strategic Resilience: Strategic resilience in ambiguous landscapes, with a knack for translating complex, ambiguous challenges into actionable guidance for the execution team.
- Strong Business Acumen: The ability to identify market opportunities, develop business cases, and drive commercialization strategies.
- Communication Mastery: Ability to influence C-suite executives and government officials, translating technical net-zero requirements into compelling business cases.
Job Type: Part-Time Consulting Role (Remote). This is a 1-year contract with the expectation of renewal and extension to a 3-year term, with the potential to transition into a long- term consulting role.
Rate: $100–$150/hour, depending on experience and qualifications, with a maximum of 20 hours monthly. This is a part-time, flexible engagement based on project needs. Applications for this role will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.