Job Type:

Employee

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs):

24

Job Family:

Leadership, Learning, and Organizational Development

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

N/A

Date Posted:

November 20, 2023

Closing Date:

January 03, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

Non-Union Grade NM1

Salary Range:

$95,745.00 - $116,554.00About Common Law:
Over the past 20 years, the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa has become a national and global leader in many fields. We are the only law school to offer a common law degree in both English and French, and our Faculty is one of the most accomplished in the country. We are an engaged Faculty and we have a strong culture of public engagement. We also have a strong bond with the legal community in Ottawa and a special relationship with the Supreme Court of Canada.

We are leaders -- leaders in research, leaders in the profession and leaders in our community. On any given day, members of our Faculty may be seen testifying before a Parliamentary committee, providing expert commentary in the media or contributing to public policy debates on the issues of the day. We are the most-cited law faculty in the national media. Through our dedication we have built strong experiential learning opportunities for our students where our students have unparalleled access to, and interaction with, the highest judges in the land to help foster an inclusive and high-quality student experience.

Position Purpose:

Reporting to the Dean of the Common Law Section, the incumbent is a critical member of the Dean’s Executive Committee, which advises and contributes to the strategy and direction of the law school. The Lead Specialist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion provides a leadership role in the planning, development and implementation of strategic EDI initiatives and activities for the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. This position will be accountable for the development and implementation of an EDI Strategic Action Plan, focused on driving an inclusive and equitable community. They are a key member of EDI Committees and other similar University-level initiatives. They will contribute to advancing principles and values of EDI through education, training and mentorship.

The incumbent's responsibilities are critical to the Common Law Section’s outreach and external liaison requirements of university initiatives, development and programs, and to links to professional peers in the legal academic environment. The role uses anti-oppression, anti-racism, and decolonizing lenses to provide guidance to senior leaders and faculty. They use these lenses to develop communications to promote, deliver and facilitate anti-racist, anti-oppression, and equity-focused communications solutions and plans.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Provides leadership and advice to the Dean and other executives on matters relating to planning, development and implementation of EDI strategic initiatives and activities for Common Law portfolios.
• Establishes objectives for the faculty’s EDI priorities, strategic development and oversees the efficient management of collaborative academic facilitation and EDI business development and activities for the Common Law Section. Builds momentum and develops an innovative mindset within the faculty.
• Models inclusive change management at the faculty to transform strategies, policies and processes and ensure the associated foundational principles are equitable and accessible. Works with Vice-Deans, Assistant Deans, Program Directors, Clinic & Center Directors, Business Development Associates to manage liaison/sharing best practices with EDI strategies.
• Provides strategic advice to colleagues in resolving communications challenges. Provides leadership in creating communications products and plans that embed the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and managing contentious and sensitive issues.

What you will bring:

• Master’s degree in law, Business, Political Science, Public Relations, Communication or related field.
• Master’s degree in social justice, Diversity and Race Relations, Organizational Change Management, Multicultural Education, as an asset.
• At least ten years’ professional experience in designing and advancing employment equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity to key systemic issues and challenges facing racialized communities, particularly in post-secondary education settings.
• Developing established objectives into material for targeted communications and engagement activities across a range of different channels and media, including face-to-face engagement.
• Demonstrated the ability to change perceptions and align expectations, garnering engagement, and collaboration.
• Experience of working with executives and leaders and demonstrating advanced critical thinking and excellent analytical skills to enable immediate and appropriate assessment of complex issues of concern.
• Influential and negotiation skills.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems with good judgment and acute sensitivity to the political environment and to the reputation of the Faculty of Law and the University.
• Working knowledge of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Anti-Racism Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and other relevant legislation
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively manage numerous projects and initiatives.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive materials and situations with the utmost discretion.
• Excellent people skills demonstrated by prior leadership positions, EDI initiatives, and service-oriented activities.
• Awareness of the differences between reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and EDI
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French and English

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.