Manager Student & Community Engagement Full Time NEW

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

JOB SUMMARY

UBC is committed to fostering equitable and inclusive learning and working environments in which human rights are respected, where all members of the UBC community are treated fairly and with dignity, and where the rich diversity of UBC students, faculty, and staff have equal opportunity to participate in the life and work of the university. The Equity & Inclusion Office, with teams on the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, has a broad mandate to advance pan-institutional commitments to equity, antiracism, decolonization and inclusive excellence across the university ecosystem and to promote and support institution-wide capacity building for individual and systems change.

The Manager works independently, and reports to the Associate Director, Education, Community & Conflict Engagement within the Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Building unit of the Equity & Inclusion Office. The Manager works with historically, persistently and systemically marginalized (HPSM) student and employee community groups that are organized to promote equity, anti-racism and decolonization on campus, with the aim of advancing the EIO’s vision and mandate. They will consult and collaborate with the Associate Director in the Office of the Vice-President Students, relevant Human Resources partners, student government and leadership, and other relevant campus partners to build and strengthen relationships with and support of HPSM communities across both campuses.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Building unit within the Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO) has a mandate to work collaboratively with campus partners to action university commitments to equity, anti-racism, and inclusive excellence, which are articulated in a number of institutional strategies (e.g., Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism Framework, Indigenous Strategic Plan, Employment Equity Plan, etc.). The team provides strategic implementation advice and support to mobilize and sustain the integration of equity, antiracism, and inclusive excellence principles and practices across organizational ecosystems, with the goal of building capacity for individual and systems change.

The Manager, Student & Community Engagement reports to the Associate Director, Education, Community & Conflict Engagement. The incumbent acts independently and exercises initiative and sound judgment when representing the Equity & Inclusion Office. The Manager will recruit, train, supervise and develop community volunteers who act as peer mentors and peer educators. They will co-supervise students working with the EIO in a work-study, placement, or research assistantship capacity.

WORK PERFORMED

Works with the Associate Director and the Director to implement EIO’s community engagement goals and priorities.
Manages the development and implementation of campus community engagement programming, resources and tools that aim to build and strengthen supportive relationships with students and staff, and organized campus groups for HPSM communities.
As requested, coordinates activities to support the appropriate participation and representation of the EIO in relevant local EDI-related community engagement initiatives.
Supports the EIO leadership to establish mechanisms for regular consultation and communication with key campus HPSM groups to amplify community identified challenges and opportunities to advance equity and to enhance transparency and accountability in relation to progress on institutional strategic EDI priorities.
Fosters collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships with student-led groups, employee and student affinity groups and diverse campus stakeholders. Oversees the recruitment, training, supervision, and development of campus community volunteers who provide peer mentorship and education programs and services to advance the mandate of the EIO.
Is responsible for the development and implementation of procedures and protocols for the students they supervise working across all units at the EIO in a Work-Learn, placement, or research assistantship capacity.
Supports EIO team members designated as liaisons for select campus HPSM groups whose work advances university equity, anti-racism and decolonization priorities.
Is responsible for the development and implementation of principles and protocols to support campus affinity groups for students, faculty and employees.
Prepares and responsibly expends annual community engagement programming budget approved by the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Building.
Proposes and engages in relevant community engagement program and project planning and evaluation activities in collaboration with the EIO’s Planning & Evaluation unit.
Prepares regular reports to account for work with partners and relevant campus community partners.
Leverages digital technologies to enhance outreach, communication, and programming.
Is responsible for the development and execution of communications and events in support of community engagement programming.
Develops and assists with special projects as required.
Performs other responsibilities and related duties as required.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

Errors in judgment may have negative consequences and cause deterioration to relations with historically, persistently and systemically marginalized (HPSM) campus community members, which may impact negatively the Equity & Inclusion Office’s reputation. Decisions have an impact on the development of relationships within the university and affect the credibility of the priorities and programs, and hence the success of these initiatives and the EDI mandate of the EIO. This position requires knowledge of communication and consultation processes and protocols in working with diverse faculty, staff, students, and communities. A lack of familiarity and understanding of equity, antiracism, decolonization, and justice theories and practice could result in negative relationships and outcomes.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Manager works independently and reports to the Associate Director, Education, Community & Conflict Engagement.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

Will recruit, train, supervise and develop community volunteers who act as peer mentors and peer educators. Will co-supervise students working with the EIO in a work-study, placement, or research assistantship capacity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

-Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. social work, disability justice, queer studies, decolonization, indigenization, law, psychology, sociology, political science, planning, etc.).
Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an asset.
A deep understanding of social justice, equity, and inclusion; demonstrates a strong sense of self and identity, keen awareness of positionality, power and privilege; and ability to self-reflect to bring own actions in alignment with commitments.
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
A demonstrated record of successfully leading, implementing, and evaluating community engagement strategies, projects, and programs, preferably in a higher education setting.
Experience working collaboratively towards decolonization and Indigenization and especially with Indigenous partners. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve them.
Demonstrated program and project management skills with ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet multiple deadlines.
Practical skills and experience with mediation and conflict resolution and a willingness to develop and hone these skills to meet the demands of highly polarized situations. Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse administrators, faculty, staff, and students; working exceptionally collaboratively and with cross-functional teams and multiple stakeholders in the implementation of complex strategic initiatives, processes and programs.
Demonstrated outstanding oral and written communication skills, facilitation skills, analytical thinking skills, and the ability to build rapport with staff, students, faculty and community partners.
Ability to communicate well in a cross-cultural environment.
Demonstrates high level of enthusiasm and commitment to team goals or adverse situations; encourages others to respond similarly.
Adapts easily in a continually changing environment and positively influences others to adapt.
Familiarity with the university setting, a unionized setting, or other large institutions an asset.