SOCA Black Student Support Centre Coordinator

Job Responsibility: (SOCA BSSC Coordinator) (Full-Time, Temporary) The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) is a not-for-profit organization that represents all Undergraduate Students at the Simon Fraser University (SFU). The SFSS provides our members with a broad range of advocacy work, services, and events. The vision of the SFSS is students thriving everywhere and is realized through our support of students to reach their full potential- by providing resources and services that represent, connect and benefit our membership. One such resource is the Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) ( The Simon Fraser Student Society is an equal opportunity employer. The SFSS is committed to recruiting, nominating, and supporting skilled candidates who have a commitment to equality and justice. This is a full-time (up to 35 hours/week) permanent position and is included in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3338-5 at a wage rate of $36.39 per hour with additional benefits as defined in the Collective Agreement. Position Summary In order to support our Black, Caribbean, and Afro-Descent students, we are hiring a SOCA BSSC- Coordinator. This position will uniquely be expected to collaboratively work with the SOCA Executives to execute on the mandate of services, events, and advocacy through the Black Student Support Centre. The SOCA's organizational values ( are community building, representation, inclusivity, and social justice. The Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) is a student-led group devoted to creating a safe space for students of African and Caribbean descent and allies on campus. SOCA supports and advocates for Black students, providing services and promoting Afrocentric intellectual and cultural experiences through open and interactive exchange of ideas among members of the SFU community. The BSSC Coordinator helps oversee, coordinate and assist in the delivery of programs, activities and services in the SOCA Black Student Support Centre. The Black Student Support Centre will be housed in one of the offices in the SOCA organizational suite in the Student Union Building (SUB), located on the SFU Burnaby campus, as per the SFSS-SOCA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as outlined in the institutional relationship Letter of Agreement ( unless SFSS provides a seperate space for the BSSC operations. Working Relationship/Reporting Structure: The SOCA BSSC Coordinator reports to the SFSS President and Operations Organizer. The SOCA BSSC Coordinator works closely and collaborates with Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) Executives. Once approved by SOCA, the SOCA BSSC Coordinator is also responsible for the implementation of the the group's annual plan of action in support of its constituents (i.e. Black students on SFU campus). Duties/Responsibilities

• Serve as a resource and advocate for the SFSS's Black students who are SOCA's constituents.
• Provide culturally specific supports, as well as host Black and African-Descent student gatherings, cultural events, and other culturally relevant activities;
• • Career workshops and networking events
• Liaise with SFU International Students Services to provide tailored Immigration Seminars for Black International Students
• Coordinate the Black Gradand Black History Month Programs together with the SOCA executives, SFU Black Caucus, and SFU Student Services
• Collaborate with SFU Health and Counseling to coordinate the Black Healing Workshops.
• Work with other coordinators and Executives of the SFSS where necessary as support for anti-Black racism campaigns and initiatives as necessary;
• Work closely with the SFSS VP Equity and Sustainability and other SFSS Executives on issues related to the Black community on the campus;
• Liaise with all SFSS departments and services, as necessary;
• Support SOCA's Executive and Membership to prepare the annual budget for submission to the SFSS for the SOCA BSSC programming;
• Collaborate with the SOCA Executives to implement the group's annual plan of action once approved by the membership;
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of the SOCA-BSSC programming
• Prepare an annual report for inclusion in the SFSS Annual Report, in conjunction with SOCA Executive;
• Manage the efficient operations of the assigned office in the SOCA Organizational Suite as per the SOCA-SFSS Letter of Agreement (
• Coordinate with the Operations Organizer and SOCA Executives to maintain the proper functioning of the SOCA space:
• • Advise about the required servicing and maintenance of office furniture and equipment including information technology systems;
• Coordinate the distribution of keys / key cards/ codes and maintain up-to-date records;
• Advise on changes in consultation with SOCA that are required to the SOCA space and the SOCA BSSC, as required.
• Ensure meeting scheduling, room booking, catering and room set-up for meetings and events of the SOCA, in its space or in other locations;
• Ensure that accurate meeting minutes are recorded, reviewed, and distributed internally and externally;
• Respond to requests for information, engagement, and/or outreach;
• Undertake research and other projects, as required;
• Collaborate with the SOCA executives to recruit, orient, train, and allocate tasks to volunteers;
• Help with campaigns, special events, outreach, and workshops in close collaboration with SOCA and Black/African Descent students;
• Support SOCA's development and implementation of recommendations;
• Be responsible for welcoming, greeting and engaging SOCA's constituents in the SOCA BSSC space.
• Other duties as assigned and required.

Qualifications

• Background in the Social Sciences, Business Administration, Communication, and or a direct experience in education counseling, policy, advocacy, campaigns, research, and Equity Diversity and Inclusion projects;.
• Lived experience as a self-identifying Black, Caribbean or African-Descent person;
• • At least one (1) year of lived experience in organizing with Black, Caribbean, and other African-Diasporic communities, or in administrative and coordination settings
• Experience in peer support programming, mutual aid, or marginalized community development initiatives;

Assets/Skills

• Understanding of intersectionality and social justice;
• Considerable understanding and knowledge of anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination as it relates to anti-Indigenous racism, classism, anti-Asian racism, ableism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, anti-Semitisim, Islamophobia, and xenophobia.
• Ability to work with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds;
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills;
• • Ability to exercise discretion, initiative and diplomacy;
• Ability to work within broad parameters, competing deadlines/priorities, and with frequent interruptions.
• Excellent ability to provide advice and support decisions;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (both verbal and written) skills;
• • Ability to write accurate minutes and reports;
• Ability to work collaboratively with community resources and within a team setting.

Please apply through Collage with your resume and cover letter. Applications must be received no later than 11:30 pm (PST) on August 28th, 2024. Applicants must be available to work during regular office hours (9:00 am - 4:30 pm) Monday to Friday, with occasional afternoons, evenings, and weekends. This is a temporary 3-month contract with a possibility of extension We thank all who apply, but only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please Note: The SFSS is an independently incorporated organization working within the SFU community. This position is not an SFU staff position. For more information about the SFSS, please visit our website (

• Note: This position is intended to be in-person and work out of the Student Union Building (SUB) located at SFU Campus on Burnaby Mountain. As long as the SUB remains open, the position is required to be headquartered in the SOCA Black Student Support Centre in the SUB. SOCA houses the SOCA BSSC, and the SOCA Executives and Membership shall access and use the Organizational suite at any time while the SUB is open, and the SOCA BSSC - Coordinator shall be available to work Monday to Friday during regular office hours, unless otherwise designated for special events or activities as needed.