Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Relations

JOB SUMMARY

The City is committed to providing equitable treatment, with respect to delivery of services and employment opportunities. This includes applying an equity, diversity and inclusion lens in the development of City policies, procedures and programs related to employment, delivery of goods or services, use of City facilities, issuance of grants or contributions, and other externally focused activities. The Community and Social Services department (CSSD) works closely with community and internal partners to provide and contribute to equitable and inclusive human and social services that respond to the needs of the people in Ottawa.

As Director of the Service area, you will sit at the CSSD Departmental Leadership Table and work with internal and external community partners to advance awareness and understanding of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and Indigenous reconciliation and healing throughout the municipal corporation.  You lead corporate-wide initiatives with internal colleagues, elected officials, and community partners to advance systemic and structural changes that increase equitable access to municipal services and programs and foster a culture which embraces EDIB to enhance  employee and community wellbeing.  Working alongside Host Nations and urban Indigenous leadership through meaningful collaborative relationships, you evolve and advance Indigenous reconciliation at the City and between the City and Indigenous communities.  

You are accountable for providing vision, leadership and strategic direction to the Service, and planning, organizing, directing, controlling, evaluating and improving the development and delivery of its priorities, services, programs and operations, including through:

• the EDIB Secretariat
• the Indigenous Relations Branch
• leadership in working collaboratively with City Council Sponsors, City departments, and community partners to strengthen diversity, inclusion and cultural competencies across the organization with the goal of creating an inclusive workplace for employees;
• developing, and leading implementation of a Corporate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Framework that includes Anti-Racism, Women and Gender Equity and Diversity and Inclusion strategies informed by a Working Advisory Group made up of community members and internal staff, community engagement forums, data with clear performance metrics and best practice research;
• providing strategic leadership and dedicated support to Affinity Groups at the City by fostering an environment where employee groups can grow, connect, and collaborate by providing capacity-building opportunities and consultation pathways in building a more inclusive and respectful workplace for all employees;

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of Master's degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Administration or other related field

Minimum of 10 years of related experience in the equity, diversity and inclusion field or in advancing Indigenous relations fields, including a minimum of 5 years managing human resources, external contract resources, operating and capital budgets in a complex public organization or private sector corporation.

KNOWLEDGE

• Expert understanding of anti-oppression, equity, diversity and inclusion frameworks with lived experience, and of community-based social development frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus to achieve complex outcomes
• Superior political acumen
• Strong written and oral communications, comfortable presenting to large audiences
• Current understanding of the impacts of colonialist assimilation practices, such as Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop, on Indigenous Peoples, and of human rights, accessibility and other related legislation
• Principles, practices, procedures, techniques, laws and regulations pertaining to the Service area’s functions, programs, services and operations
• Public private partnerships and other alternate service delivery models
• Principles and methods of economic, financial, social and political risk analysis, public policy and business administration 
• The City of Ottawa’s current social, political, business and economic climates
• Project management principles and practices
• Human resource management practices in a unionized work environment
• Must be familiar with applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work.  They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities.  Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.

Leadership Competencies
The City has defined key competencies that leaders are expected to embody and demonstrate to successfully move the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives and create an organizational culture that supports and empowers employees to excel, grow and reach their full potential. These leadership competencies and associated behaviours are expected to be demonstrated by leaders at all levels of the organization. 

Review the Leadership Competencies.