Community and Engagement Specialist

Job Posting # 1014
Title: Community and Engagement Specialist
Classification: Professional
Employment Duration: Regular, Full-Time
Salary Range: $73,027 – $91,323
Location: Toronto, ON

The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) has represented Children’s Aid Societies in
Ontario since 1912, enhancing and promoting the welfare and well-being of children, youth and families
in Ontario by providing service and advocacy in the areas of government relations, public education,
training, information and knowledge management, and event planning. OACAS works to create a highly
effective system of services for children which has the confidence of Ontario families and communities.

Reporting to the One Vision One Voice (OVOV) Program Manager, as a key member of the One Vision One Voice (OVOV) team at OACAS, the Community and Engagement Specialist will lead OVOV’s community engagement strategy and communication activities. The position is responsible for OVOV Program communications within the Child Welfare sector and the public at large and will work closely with the team to ensure consistent program branding and messaging. The position will also work with the
Communications and Government and Stakeholders Relations Department at OACAS to utilize
communications strategies as a critical engagement tool and ensure all OACAS messaging is aligned.
In order to address the unique needs and concerns of Black children, youth and families, individuals who
self-identify as African, Black or Caribbean persons (e.g., African and African descended people from the
Caribbean, North America, Europe, Latin America) are encouraged to apply for this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains provincial community engagement resources and community strategies to
  further advance the work of OVOV for Black children, youth and families within this child welfare
  system
• Conducts environmental scans to identify and analyze emerging issues and their impact and
  develop, assess and recommend possible solutions
• Develops creative content for a public engagement campaign for the OVOV program using a variety
  of OACAS platforms such as internal and public websites, social media, annual reports,
  advertisements, community events, brochures, forms and manuals
• Provides expert interpretation and advice on issues relating to anti-Black racism to member
  agencies and other stakeholders and facilitates the development and growth of working
  relationships between OVOV, member agencies, Black led organizations and Black communities
• Coordinates, supports and plans community engagement-based events, as appropriate
• Supports implementation of the African Canadian Service Frameworks in Child Welfare agencies
  across the province, by conducting outreach to agencies through direct contact and use of sector
  communications and webinars
• Conducts webinars and works with individual agencies to promote their ability to engage effectively
  with local African Canadian Communities and partner organizations
• In collaboration with the OVOV team, supports the planning, organizing and facilitating of events for African Canadian youth (PowerUp) involved with Child Welfare Agencies, and internal and external stakeholders including the provincial Power Up planning committee
• Supports planning and execution of meetings of Black Staff working in the Child Welfare sector
• Acts as primary point of contact for media and social media inquiries and provides analysis and
  metrics.
• Supports the development and execution of a cross-sector Provincial Roundtable with a focus on
  African Canadian children, youth and families within child welfare
• Identifies quality improvement processes, methods, systems and analysis, using a best practices
  approach and evidence informed decision making
• Supports tracking of agency progress towards implementation of the OVOV African Canadian
  Frameworks
• Leads the development of a provincial strategy and materials to assist in education, learning and
  protocol development with community service providers and mandated referrers
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Post-secondary education in Social Sciences, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism,
  Marketing or related field
• A minimum of three to five (3-5) years of progressive experience in communications, with an
  emphasis on strategic communications, internal and member stakeholder relations preferably in a
  child welfare, not-for-profit or related environment; OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties of
  the job

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of organizations in Ontario that support the African Canadian Community
• Experience with grassroots African Canadian organizations
• Demonstrated understanding and experience engaging issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-oppression and anti-Black racism impacting the African Canadian communities at the local, provincial
  and national levels within institutions
• Strong knowledge, understanding and experience working within an equity and anti-oppressive, anti-racism and anti-Black racism practice framework
• Excellent, demonstrated written communication skills to write clear, concise documents such as
  reports, consultation papers, issue notes and responses to information requests
• Excellent, demonstrated oral communication and presentation skills to facilitate, present and
  conduct consultations, focus groups, webinars, training and development
• Strong knowledge of communications theories, practices and techniques within the not-for-profit
  sector
• Strong knowledge, understanding and experience working with diverse and marginalized
  communities, including knowledge of intersectional theory and practices
• Excellent analytical skills and judgment to interpret and assess information, determine significance
  and relevance, identify implications, and recommend how, to whom and in what format it should be
  distributed
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, teamwork and relationship management skills to interact
  effectively and build and nurture effective working relationships with internal colleagues, member
  agencies, colleagues in other jurisdictions, partners and stakeholders
• Flexibility with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
• Progressive experience in community engagement, with an emphasis on intersectionality and
  building community capacity
• Identifies quality improvement processes, methods, systems and analysis, using a best practices
  approach and evidence-informed decision making
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and respond quickly and professionally under
  pressure and in crisis situations
• Proficiency in commonly used social media, communications and marketing-related software
• Proficiency in full suite of Microsoft Office products

Assets:
• Bilingual English/French
• Knowledge of an Indigenous Reconciliation for Child Welfare

APPLY ONLINE at:
https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=5504a194-
52e8-4f07-ae3b-2acc61f702f0&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_CA
By July 8, 2022.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those considered for an interview will be
contacted.

OACAS is committed to building a diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve. We
encourage and are pleased to consider applications from all qualified candidates, without regard to race,
colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital / family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal
status, age or disability.

Accommodation at OACAS
We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier free.
Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants are
required to make any accommodation requests for the application, interview or selection process known
in advance by contacting the Human Resources Department at 416 987-7725. Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the
interview or selection process which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner