Project Lead, Equity and Inclusion (City of Toronto)

Project Lead (Equity and Inclusion)
One (1) temporary, full-time position (12 months) – Toronto, ON

Reporting to the Consultant, Diversity & Equity, Policy Planning and Projects, the Project Lead (Equity and Inclusion) will develop, implement and monitor detailed plans and recommend policies, programs and/or procedures to advance reconciliation, confront anti-Black racism, and support equity and inclusion within Children's Services.

Major Responsibilities:
  • Prepares project plans, reports and status updates for senior staff and related materials that contribute to divisional/City initiatives related to advancing reconciliation, confronting anti-Black racism, and supporting equity and inclusion.
  • Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies/procedures that will support systemic change opportunities and anti-oppressive practices.
  • Monitors projects to ensure completion in accordance with approved divisional and City plans and agreements of undertaking. 
  • Establishes, maintains and develops linkages to other divisions, agencies, boards and commissions – including, but not limited to, the Indigenous Affairs Office (IAO), the Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Unit, the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Office, the Newcomer Officer, and People & Equity, etc. – to ensure effective partnerships.
  • Coordinates a wide range of stakeholder engagement and consultation processes and events that support various projects, including engagements with organizations and partners within Toronto's early learning and child care system.
  • Assesses approaches and strategies of various project initiatives and develops specific implementation plans.
  • Conducts project-based research into assigned area, ensuring that such research takes into account developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government and/or community partners.
  • Assesses project feasibility, identifies, anticipates and assesses project risks, makes recommendations for effective risk mitigation and issues management, and outlines high-level implications.
  • Provides input, guidance and technical expertise in the development, coordination and implementation of strategic divisional initiatives related to equity, inclusion and reconciliation.
  • Oversees project team members and support staff.
  • Supports the Division's strategic planning and priority setting processes.
  • Conducts research into assigned areas, including working with confidential/sensitive information related to policy, staffing, job roles and budgetary changes, and producing related reports that take into account developments within the field, City policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
  • Develops confidential material in relation to provincial changes in policy/funding where proposed changes impact service delivery.
  • Conducts process reviews on various projects and makes recommendations to senior management for improvement to existing divisional projects, including process optimization and simplifications.
  • Provides presentations, including confidential presentations involving proposed changes to divisional staffing ratios or complement, as required for various levels of internal (Council Committees/Senior Management) and external management/stakeholders.
  • Keeps up-to-date on relevant research and coordinates with relevant divisional staff on project-related data analysis.
  • Develops a range of customer service and staff satisfaction surveys/projects and sets priorities to address divisional issues identified by staff and clients.
  • Coordinates projects associated with the Division's advisory committees and liaises between committees and local client advisory processes.
  • Identifies emerging issues and responds to opportunities or unplanned events.
  • Prepares responses, reports and correspondence on behalf of the Consultant, Diversity & Equity.
  • Prepares summaries of information/findings using a range of research techniques.
  • Provides membership and input to various divisional committees.
  • Represents the Consultant, Diversity & Equity at meetings for large-scale complex initiatives within the Division and City-wide that have an impact on the delivery of its programs.
  • Represents the Consultant, Diversity & Equity at various project-related consultation meetings, as required.
  • Acts as a resource person for inquiries related to divisional activities.
  • Ensures compliance with safety and security matters under Occupational Health and Safety legislation and divisional safety and security policies, including workplace accommodations.

Key Qualifications:
  • Lived experience as an Indigenous, Black or any other equity-deserving person and/or considerable experience in working with equity-deserving communities to address social and economic inequities.
  • Post-secondary education in a discipline pertinent to the job function (i.e. Equity, Social Justice, Human Rights, or Community Development Studies, etc.) or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
  • Experience managing complex issues related to colonialism, race, racism, anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism and other forms of systemic oppression.
  • Experience managing multi-faceted projects from inception through to completion, in a deadline-oriented environment.
  • Experience embedding a decolonial and/or intersectional equity lens into the development of policies, programs and procedures, and program evaluation.
  • Experience conducting research, compiling and analyzing data, as well as interpreting and communicating findings.
  • Ability to design, develop and facilitate presentations for a variety of audiences, including management.
  • Excellent written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work cooperatively with others in an interdisciplinary team.
  • Political acumen to address sensitive issues and work with all levels of employees, management, senior leadership, and Council.
  • Knowledge of reconciliation, anti-Black racism, equity and inclusion, and issues impacting Indigenous, Black and other equity-deserving communities (i.e. racialized people, newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, undocumented residents, etc.) in Toronto.
  • Knowledge of the Early Learning and Child Care sector.

Additional Information:
If you are interested in learning more about the Project Lead (Equity and Inclusion) position within Toronto Children’s Services, you are invited to attend an Information Session. Please click here to register for the session.

The Information Session will be held on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT, and will provide an opportunity to learn more about the role and responsibilities of the Project Lead (Equity and Inclusion), the mandate of the Children's Services Division, what it is like to work at the City of Toronto, as well as the City's application process.

Participants, please note, if you do not wish your name to appear during the session, please enter an alternate First and Last Name at registration or join the session by dialling in.

How to Apply:
For more information on this and other opportunities with the City of Toronto, visit us online at https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/. To apply online, submit your resume, quoting Job ID #28204, by Monday, September 8, 2022.