Coordinator of Community Development and Special Projects

Overview

Are you interested in addressing inequities and building inclusion in neighbourhoods? Are you skilled at and inspired by community organizing and co-creating ideas with community members, local groups, and networks? Do you understand what it looks like to embody anti-racism and anti-oppression in your work? Do you want to work somewhere that has a rich history and commitment to community work alongside a platform for developing strategies towards systems change?

Building an approach that combines both locally-based and public policy solutions, the Coordinator takes a lead role in community development on issues such as well-being, inequities, housing affordability, economic participation and/or poverty reduction, racial and gender justice, democratic renewal, and other emerging issues that impact communities in the Downtown West.  They will work collaboratively to engage people on social issues; support organizational planning; and be a resource for research and social policy initiatives.

West Neighbourhood House is actively seeking applications from Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, persons with disabilities, women and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. Applicants with lived experience as a participant of West Neighbourhood House programs, or related programming from similar organizations, are also strongly encouraged to apply.

West Neighbourhood House will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment & selection process to applicants with disabilities. During any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate the nature of any accommodation(s) you may require. Any information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Responsibilities:

• Embody anti-racist, anti-oppressive, equity-seeking practice in all aspects of work, including with participants, community members, volunteers, neighbours, West NH staff, stakeholders, networks, and others.
• Organizing and community development:
  • Track neighbourhood needs and assets, demographics, policy developments, labour, and neighbourhood trends and changes, and share that information with community members, West NH and other groups/networks using relevant and appropriate tools;
  • Employ lived experience and community development skills to support the knowledge, capacity, and mobilization of community members to address local issues and social conditions; and,
  • Work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders to increase the capacity, coordination and impact of community-based advocacy, local initiatives, and social change work.

• Public policy:
  • Develop deep knowledge and be a knowledge leader on social issues affecting the community;
  • Develop and facilitate community consultations, focus groups, and knowledge-building workshops with a diverse range of community members, participants, House staff, volunteers, neighbours, and organizations;
  • Participate in research initiatives to improve social conditions; and,
  • Build and contribute leadership to cross-neighbourhood/sector-wide partnerships (e.g., Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, Parkdale People’s Economy, etc.) to encourage collaboration, mutual learning, and joint public policy development.
• Program and project management:
  • Lead/initiate/manage/participate in special projects designed to improve social conditions that are organizational priorities under West Neighbourhood House’s strategic plan;
  • Prepare materials, plans, reports, grant and funding applications; and,
  • Supervise staff, peer workers, consultants, volunteers, and student placements.

• Organizational development:
  • Serve as a community development and social policy resource across the House;
  • Provide staff support/leadership to internal committees;
  • With Manager, Director, and/or Executive Director/Associate Executive Director, provide staff leadership to House strategic planning (e.g.  Community and program sweeps, board planning), staff meetings, and community forums;
  • Provide direct supervision, coaching and work with Management in hirings, budget development and grievances;
  • Develop and manage significant external relations, including representing the House to external stakeholders; and,
  • Work collaboratively on West Neighbourhood House initiatives and with various teams, including building community development activities and capacity;
  • Participate in West Neighbourhood House activities and other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Education and formal training equivalent to a Master’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Planning, Social Science, or equivalent;
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in community organizing and development, outreach and stakeholder engagement with diverse groups; including designing and facilitating deep dialogue between different groups, public discourse, and collective action;
• Demonstrated ability to apply anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice in all aspects of work to effectively respond to division, polarisation and the needs of equity-seeking groups; including rights-based and/or popular/adult education approaches;
• Sound knowledge of the non-profit/public benefit sector; community social services; and neighbourhood-based initiatives to address poverty, displacement, and exclusion;
• Grounded knowledge of how systems work in one or more key policy/research areas: local economic development, planning, democracy, justice reform, social innovation, and/or housing affordability; ideally with lived experience of how these impact neighbours;
• Great ideas about how to build community capacity in civic engagement and policy analysis
• Demonstrated success with partnership development, stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, de-escalation techniques; experience building/ supporting coalitions and networks;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team with demonstrated ability and practices to plan, lead and deliver multiple projects on time;
• Proven organizational skills to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
• Proficiency with digital program delivery, office software, basic databases, and social media;
• Demonstrable commitment to ongoing learning and professional development; with openness to experimental and creative approaches;
• Flexibility for scheduling and ability to work evenings and weekends as program requires;
• Ability to travel frequently within the catchment area (approx. 15 sq km);
• Familiarity with arts-based approaches is an asset; and;
• Ability to speak a language relevant to the neighbourhood is an asset.

Status: Full Time (CUPE Local 3393 Bargaining Unit Position)

Start Date: ASAP

Hours:  35 per week including regular evening and weekend work

Rate: $30.29 per hour (4 weeks vacation, paid sick days, 3 floater days, full benefits package after 3 months, Multi-Sector Pension Plan after 6 months)

Unit: Community Programs and Systemic Change

Immediate Supervisor: Manager, Capacity-building Programs and Systemic Change

Closing Date: February 2, 2024

Compensation

Rate: $30.29 per hour (4 weeks vacation, paid sick days, 3 floater days, full benefits package after 3 months, Multi-Sector Pension Plan after 6 months)

How to Apply

Please send your cover letter and resume by 5:00 pm on the closing date to:

Hiring Committee

248 Ossington Ave,

Toronto, ON

M6J 3A2

[email protected]