Jobs

Indigenous Initiatives Lead

Mediate BC is a not-for-profit organization that leads, promotes, and facilitates mediation and other conflict resolution processes throughout British Columbia. We provide people with practical, accessible, and affordable choices to prevent, manage and resolve disputes.

We are looking for a permanent, part-time (up to 10 hours/week) Indigenous Initiatives Lead to work remotely.

Overview and Reporting

The Indigenous Initiatives Lead (the Lead) takes a leading role in Mediate BC’s work with First Nations, Indigenous communities and organizations, and projects impacting Indigenous people, families, and communities.

The Lead reports to the Executive Director and will coordinate with them in matters relating to strategy or project development.

Specific Responsibilities

The Lead will carry out the following responsibilities:

• Outreach to coordinate with First Nations and Indigenous organizations taking on jurisdiction for child welfare to ensure the availability of effective child welfare mediation and other collaborative decision-making processes in those jurisdictions.
• Develop and implement a plan to develop an Indigenous Conflict Resolution Hub at Mediate BC, working with the Executive Director, the Calls to Action Committee, and the Director of Child Welfare Initiatives.
• Act as a spokesperson for Mediate BC in relation to Indigenous initiatives.
• Outreach to First Nations interested in building mediation and other conflict resolution capacity, especially those identified in MBC’s grant project “Supporting Community-Based Indigenous Family Mediation.”
• Supporting the Director of Child Welfare Initiatives and Roster Manager in recruitment strategies aimed at addressing demographic gaps in MBC rosters and reducing any identified barriers to roster admission.
• Working with the Executive Director, the Director of Child Welfare Initiatives, the Roster Manager, and Society Committees to develop and support the delivery of training and continuing professional development opportunities to support culturally safe conflict resolution services and to support the Society’s goals for an inclusive and diverse conflict resolution practice.
• Works with the Society’s Director of Research on research or field study projects relating to Indigenous initiatives.
• Participates in Mediate BC’s Calls to Action Committee.
• Supports the work of Mediate BC’s other Committees, as required.
• Communicates any serious concerns to the Executive Director regarding issues that come to the Lead’s attention that may adversely affect the operations, integrity or reputation of the Society.

• Additional tasks as requested.

Competencies

The Lead will have:

• Significant experience working with First Nations and Indigenous communities
• Excellent interpersonal, oral communication and business writing skills
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with cultural humility
• Demonstrated ability in trauma-informed practice
• Demonstrated comfort working with a broadly diverse population and in a wide variety of settings

The Lead will be able to:

• Establish credibility and collegial working relationships with broad stakeholder groups in the justice community who may have competing and differing interests and perspectives
• Manage complex, sensitive projects to required timelines.
• Work independently and collaboratively with a team.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in traditional decision-making
• Experience in, and knowledge of, dispute resolution practice including mediation and facilitation
• Established relationships with First Nations and with communities and organizations working in Indigenous jurisdiction and decision-making
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to interact with individuals (clients, staff, government representatives and the public) from diverse multicultural backgrounds.
• Experience with community outreach and fundraising preferred
• Experience developing training and continuing professional development is desirable

Specifications

Reports to:  Executive Director

Hours:  Part-time, up to 10 hours per week based on needs

Salary:  $38-$50/hour based on qualifications

Status:  Contractor working from home/remotely

Start Date:  As soon as possible

Mediate BC Policy

Mediate BC is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the peoples and communities that we serve across British Columbia. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour applicants, all genders, nationalities, and persons with disabilities. By embracing diversity, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives.

Preference for this position may be given to Indigenous candidates in accordance with Section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code.

Interested candidates please send a resume and cover letter to Sharon Sutherland with the subject line “Indigenous Initiatives Lead” by October 24, 2022.