Co-Chair of Mentoring Circles

Waterloo Region Women in Communications and Technology; Waterloo; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading non-profit organization focused on empowering women in communication and technology seeks a Mentoring Circles Program Co-Chair. This role involves strategic leadership, mentor recruitment, and program design to support women in achieving their career potential. The candidate should possess strong organizational and public speaking skills while being passionate about supporting women's leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire volunteers or small teams.
• Experience in sales, business development, or team leadership is an asset.
• Strong organizational skills, with familiarity using tools like spreadsheets and surveys.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and hands-on leadership of the Mentoring Circles Program.
• Lead and mentor a team, actively engage throughout the program lifecycle.
• Foster collaboration and relationships with mentors and sponsors.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Public Speaking

Organizational Skills

Networking

Job description

Mentoring Circles Program Co-Chair – WCT Waterloo Region Chapter

Estimated time commitment: ~5 hours/month (program launch month ~15 hours)

Overview:

The Mentoring Circles Program Co-Chair, in partnership with the fellow Co-Chair, leads the Waterloo Region Chapter’s flagship initiative – an empowering, multi-month experience that connects women in communication and technology with peer mentors and thought leaders. This role requires a strong presence and ongoing availability, virtually and in person, to ensure the program’s success, visibility, and impact.

You will oversee:

Program Strategy & Vision

• Define the annual Mentoring Circles strategy, themes, and goals.
• Ensure alignment with the needs of women across career stages.
• Introduce and lead each circle session (monthly for ~6-7 months), providing thematic framing, questions for Mentors and facilitating discussions.
• Work with the Events Director on alignment of in-person networking events and scheduling

Mentor Recruitment & Engagement, Mentee support

• With support from the board, lead the search and recruiting of high-calibre women leaders to serve as mentors.
• Oversee mentor onboarding, orientation, and ongoing support.
• Foster strong mentor-mentee relationships and ensure mentor retention.
• Oversee the onboarding of Mentees

Participant Engagement & Program Design

• Lead development of the session structure, including topics and breakout formats.
• Oversee participant registration, communication, and community-building initiatives.
• Ensure inclusive and respectful environments in all sessions.
• Assign breakout groups once registration is complete, based on skills, career stage and like-minded peers.
• Oversee the program’s tech platforms such as Zoom, Outlook, Active Campaign.

Committee Leadership

• Chair the Mentoring Circles Committee, setting meeting agendas and driving accountability.
• Work with committee members to execute on all facets of the program.
• Provide a written Mentoring Circles Committee update at each board meeting, that includes status, challenges, recommendations and next steps.

Evaluation & Reporting

• Collect participant feedback, track engagement metrics, and report outcomes to the Board.
• Continuously improve the program based on data and community needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and hands-on leadership of the Mentoring Circles Program – the signature offering of the WCT Waterloo Region Chapter.
• Lead and mentor a dedicated planning team, including the Mentor Engagement Lead, Participant Experience Lead, Logistics Lead, and MarComm Lead.
• Be present and actively engaged throughout the program lifecycle: planning, recruitment, event execution, and post-program evaluation.
• Serve as the voice and champion for the Mentoring Circles portfolio at chapter meetings, contributing insights, representing team needs, and helping shape strategic direction.
• Foster collaboration across the team to ensure alignment, timely communication, and shared accountability for delivering a high-impact experience.
• Cultivate relationships with mentors, speakers, and sponsors – bringing confidence, charisma, and the ability to connect with high-profile or hard-to-reach individuals.
• Oversee program tracking and evaluation, including surveys, participant data, and metrics to assess engagement and inform future programming.

Key Skills & Attributes:

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire volunteers or small teams.
• Collaborative, reliable, and able to hold space and speak with authority at the leadership table.
• Experience in sales, business development, or team leadership is an asset.
• Comfortable reaching out to and building relationships with executive-level professionals and new networks.
• Strong organizational skills, with familiarity using tools like spreadsheets, surveys, and basic reporting metrics.
• Passion for supporting women in leadership and elevating community-based programs.
• Comfortable with public speaking.

About Women in Communication and Technology:

Women in Communications and Technology is the only Canadian coast-to-coast non-profit organization that inspires and supports women to achieve their highest career potential in Canada’s digital economy through professional development, mentorship, advocacy and research. Since 1991, WCT has worked to close the gender gap, promote female leadership and advance diversity across a range of industries, including information, communication, media and technology.

Deadline to apply is July 7, 2025. Please submit cover letters and resumes to [e-mail] with the subject line: Mentoring Circles Co-Chair Application (your name).