Human Rights Coordinator

Job Responsibility: Human Rights Office PASS Grade 3 (under review) $63,986 to $72,018 About the Board The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 80 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members. Staff Wellness At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights. Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee's well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components. About the Role Reporting to the Human Rights and Equity Advisor, the Human Rights Coordinator assists the Human Rights Office (HRO) in program coordination that supports the internal Human Rights Complaints Resolution process and other human rights and equity initiatives, including human rights education and outreach. The Human Rights Coordinator is responsible for conducting confidential intake, preliminary triage of complaints and inquires, providing appropriate referrals, providing support in case management to investigators, handling both internal and public human rights related inquiries, and providing case law research support to the Human Rights and Equity Advisor and other HRO staff. Duties include but are not limited to: Conduct preliminary triage of complaints and inquiries using the HRO's case management system, including responding to inquiries, providing appropriate referrals, determining next steps and facilitating ongoing communications with involved parties, investigators and others. Conduct confidential, trauma-informed intake meetings and correspondence for complaints and inquiries under the Human Rights Policy, Human Rights Complaints Resolution Procedure, and other related policies and procedure. Maintain an effective case management system including tracking intakes and investigations to ensure they meet established timelines, compiling confidential investigation documents, monitoring timelines and creating and updating templates and reports. Support the assigned investigator (internal or external) by maintaining calendars, scheduling interviews and meetings, assisting in preparing confidential reports and agendas and tracking follow ups related to investigations and resolution follow-ups and restoration activities. Support the HRO in developing and disseminating human rights materials and resources, in coordinating assigned projects to support the HRO's education and outreach programs and collaboration with other departments, manage sensitive and confidential documentations, conducting case law and other information gathering and research to support the HRO's both human rights inquiries to identify systemic issues and other complaints-based investigations and early resolution processes. Qualifications: Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Rights, Social Justice, Social Sciences, Law (Law Clerk or Paralegal), Business Administration, Human Resources, Conflict Management or related discipline. Minimum four years program coordinator and administrative experience or an equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience, preferably in areas of human rights, equity, policy development and research, conflict management, resolution and customer service. Strong understanding of human rights barriers and systemic inequities and the needs and rights of communities facing discrimination, preferably in the K-12 education context and workplace context. Strong understanding and application of human rights and related legislations (e.g. Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario Health and Safety Act, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act) and theories and practices of Indigenous cultural safety, equity, inclusion and Anti-racism and Anti-oppression. Strong understanding of HWDSB's Human Rights Policy, Human Rights Complaints Resolution Procedure and other equity related policies and procedures. Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills including one-to-one support, teamwork, and presentations appropriate to various contexts, including cross-cultural and interdisciplinary communications. Proven acumen and good decision-making responding to sensitive and urgent situations, maintaining privacy and confidentiality and ability to be compassionate, empathetic and impartial. Ability to manage stress, urgent timelines, and high paced and high-volume customer service environment. Ability to gather information, conduct research and resources for training, outreach and other human rights initiatives. Excellent organizational, time-management, analytical and critical thinking skills Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams) and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Experience in a multi-unionized environment or public sector environments are preferred. Experience working with groups and communities that experience discrimination and inequities is preferred. Lived experience as a member of Indigenous communities and/or equity-deserving groups is preferred and is an asset. Requirement to work evening hours when required based on system needs. Deadline for submission is 4:00pm on Friday, May 17, 2024 . Applicants who are short-listed for this position will be invited for an in-person interview at the HWDSB Education Centre (wheelchair accessible). If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs as HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. Employment Equity Statement Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, physical surroundings and the broader community. HWDSB's mission is to empower students to learn and grow to their full potential in a diverse world. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and needs of our students and our communities. HWDSB seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, and who will contribute to the vision of creating inclusive and equitable outcomes. HWDSB especially invites and welcomes applications from: Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples). Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.). Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities. Persons who identify as women. Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e., Two-spirit and LGBTQIA+). As part of HWDSB's commitment to employment equity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position. HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs. Land Acknowledgement HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River. Applicant Self-Identification Form The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB's progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system (Policy 1.6 - Privacy). Information on this form is collected pursuant to Ontario's Education Equity Action Plan (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and ethical research practices. Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form please contact View email address on ca.edajobs.com.