Director of Community Engagement
- Job Type
- Full Time
- Job Level
- Other
- Location
- Toronto, ON
- Impact Area
- Other
- Impact Category
- Other
- Company Type
- Other
About this position
Elevate is launching a major initiative and we’re hiring! Come join our team and make a difference. Let's create a more inclusive and diverse landscape together!
About Us
Elevate is a purpose-driven not-for-profit committed to uniting the world’s innovators to solve society’s greatest challenges. In partnership with the United Nations, Elevate offers year-round tech, innovation and sustainability programs via the Elevate Social Innovation Exchange (Elevate SIX).
In early 2021 Elevate will be launching the ‘BIPOC Connecting Talent Initiative’ (current working name) working with Community Partners across the GTA with a reskill/upskilling and job placement program for the BIPoC community. By collaborating with community, hiring and industry partners, the project will match training to the more than 70,000 open jobs in the tech/innovation sector in the GTAH area, while addressing under-representation of BIPoC community in the tech and innovation workforce.
We are building a dynamic, creative and solutions-oriented team in the tech and innovation ecosystem to support the removal of barriers through the launch of a comprehensive training and workforce program for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPoC) community.
Who you are
You are a natural leader who excels at spearheading deep, grassroots-level community partnerships. You are self-motivated and have a knack for developing relationships with community partners to engage vulnerable sector individuals and create sustainable careers.
As a passionate people connector and collaborator, you will encourage community outreach activities and increase public awareness about the initiative.
You are aligned to the principals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). You apply a DEI lens to your interactions and management of both internal and external stakeholder relationships.
The opportunity
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Lead all community engagement activities with a strong emphasis on the Black, Indigenous and the LGBTQ2+ communities and women from those communities through strong internal and external relationship building
- Implement community engagement processes that enables the organization to meet desired goals and outcomes
- Bring deep rooted community insights to create impactful programs that engage the community
- Develop creative strategies to engage with public, community and support community partners
- Build alliances with community partners to support the implementation and development of these initiatives and remove barriers and encourage participation
- Work together with community partners, hiring managers, coaches, mentors and staff to promote collaboration and clear communication
- Develop assets (social media and presentations) to drive public awareness and embrace a pluralistic society with team members
- Lead discussions with connectors, civic leaders and community partners to emerge commonalities and embrace differences
Required Skills
What you bring:
- A post-secondary education in a discipline pertinent to the job function (e.g., public/community relations, technology and policy) or an approved combination of education and experience
- A minimum of 7 to 10 years leading grassroots-level community activations and development in a detail and deadline oriented, multi-stakeholder environment with a focus on marginalized communities and their residents.
- Demonstrated experience building relationships and managing expectations of internal and external stakeholders
- The ability to provide key insights to identify relationship-building and partnership opportunities to shape and achieve effective connected community programs, plans and objectives
- Effective project management and organizational skills with the ability to lead and manage various components of the project
- The ability to work effectively either in a small team or independently in a rapidly growing program
- Excellent listening, interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Proficiency using Google Workplace, Microsoft Office Programs and other relevant
- technologies
Desired Competencies
Cultural Awareness - Acknowledges, understands, respects and communicates respective cultures that are based upon missions, practices, people, governance, traditions, financial structure and capacity, and institutional histories. Finds ways to eliminate or minimize barriers that contribute to strengthen the mutual endeavor; values the difference and finds ways to integrate these differences into a workable operating culture for the overall partnership.
Collaborative Leadership – Leads as a peer to enable people to join together from different departments to accomplish organizational objectives. Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit towards mission accomplishments; works with others to achieve goals.
Strategic Thinking - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business initiatives and strategy; examines strategic planning with a short- and long-term perspective; determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
Consensus Building - Raises issues, seeks to understand other’s views, and then cooperatively, often through compromise, develops an agreed upon resolution.
Planning and Evaluation - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of their organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
Join us!
This is an exciting opportunity for you to join a fast-paced Startup with a talented, result oriented and innovative team. At Elevate, we’re committed to openness, curiosity and creating an inclusive culture, as we know that diverse teams generate better ideas and offer better solutions. We provide a safe, collaborative and inclusive space, where our teams can bring their full, authentic selves to the table and are inspired to do their best work.