Employment Opportunity: Senior Program Officer – Quebec

Be a part of positive social change

Imagine working for an organization that’s core mission is to advance equality, social justice and respect for human dignity. Imagine your work aligning with your personal values and being a part of creating positive social change every day through transformative human rights education programs. Alongside 60 liked-minded employees based in Canada, you could contribute to the empowerment of people to address inequalities and discrimination, and work to build more inclusive and rights-respecting communities with Equitas. 

 

The Opportunity

Equitas is seeking a highly motivated Senior Program Officer – Quebec with a passion for human rights, child and youth engagement, equity, anti-racism and inclusion and experience in project management. Under the responsibility of the Director of the Canadian Programs, the Program Officer, Quebec is accountable for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting on the project(s) under their responsibility (with a focus on, but not limited to the Quebec region). The Program Officer should have an understanding of the community sector in Quebec. They manage relationships with key partners and stakeholders and are the first and main point of contact for all aspects of the project(s) managed in Quebec. They have an overview of the project and are accountable for overseeing the project from conception to completion.  

 

Tasks and responsibilities

Program/Project Development

• Leads the strategic development of the project portfolio under their responsibility in line with the Canadian program annual plan and Equitas’ strategic and annual Plans. 
• Manages and supervises the annual planning and budgeting process for the project under their responsibility, coordinating the planning and implementation between projects within this portfolio. 
• Leads the participatory process of project conceptualization: facilitating organizational input throughout the development process; conducting research; consulting with contractors; drafting concept papers in line with the overall program strategy; drafting and negotiating funding proposals; developing project budgets; etc. 
• Builds and manages a network of relationships: liaising with actual and potential partners, government officials, NGO’s, resource people, funders, and other allies and other key stakeholders. 
• Ensures a contextual watch (human rights, socio-political context, security, situation of defenders, stakeholders …) for the region they are accountable for. Identifies risks and mitigation strategies related to context as required. 
• Builds and maintains in-depth knowledge of partner(s) needs, goals and realities, and shares this information with project team members so that everyone can do their part to respond to partners needs to the best of their ability. 
• May be a member of the Program Steering Committee. 

  

Project Implementation

For the project portfolio, they are responsible for: 

• Leads planning and implementation meetings to ensure coherence and timely delivery of the projects that make up the program and portfolio that they are responsible for. 
• Participates, as lead or as team member, in the relevant Program, Project Team(s) and Learning Team(s) 
• Works closely with the Education Unit, other program staff, interns, volunteers, outside consultants, and in consultation with partner(s), on all aspects of the design and delivery of projects. 
• Responsible for risk monitoring, including security issues for the programs under their responsibility and identifying mitigation strategies. 
• In a spirit of co-construction, promotes partner and stakeholder interests and works with other teams at Equitas to ensure their needs are understood and met. 
• Collaborates with the Education Specialist on the analysis of evaluation data and on the preparation of activity reports; is accountable for writing, reviewing and approving these reports before delivering them to both internal and external stakeholders, including funders.  
• Ensures maintenance of electronic and paper files (proposals, contracts, plans, budgets, reports, correspondence, etc.) related to the program. 

  

Fundraising

• Establishes and maintains good relationships with existing funders and actively explores new funding opportunities, for the region under their responsibility. 
• Develops and implements a fundraising strategy and secures funding for their program. 
• Leads fundraising activities for the program portfolio for which they are responsible. 

  

Financial Management

• Ensures effective financial management of all project activities and accountability to donors. 
• Consolidates annual project portfolio budget, activity budgets and budgets for funding proposals in close consultation with the Finance team and with input from the Project Teams  
• Participates in discussions of the allocation of resources to various projects that make up a program as an integral part of developing the budgets 
• Monitors and manages the portfolio budget, including the tracking of the expenses being charged to the project 

  

Team Management

• Coaches/mentors team members under their supervision 
• Supervises work and manages project team performance for optimal results 

 

Support Communications and Knowledge-Building and Sharing Activities

• Works with the Communications team to develop communications strategy and plans for the program portfolio under their responsibility. 
• Contributes to documentation of good practices and the implementation of knowledge- sharing strategies 
• Contributes to the content creation, sustainment and management of different online platforms 
• Represents Equitas  in networks, meetings and in the community. 

  

Organizational Support

• Contributes to the development of the Canadian Program Annual Plan and Equitas’ Annual Plan by identifying activities, priorities related to their program 
• Actively participates in and supports Program Unit processes (reflection/learning processes, planning and monitoring meetings, team-building activities, etc.) and organizational processes (planning and budgeting processes, staff meetings, etc.) 
• Provides support to and participates as required in meetings of the Board Program Committee. 

  

About you

You are passionate about human rights and social justice. You are motivated by and have strong commitment to Equitas’ mission, vision, and values. You are motivated by challenges, and you have proven experience developing project proposals, securing funds and managing relationships with donor agencies. You have excellent communication abilities in both French (essential) and English.  

   

What is essential for role

• Commitment to Equitas’ mission and values 
• Undergraduate degree in a related field such as Political Science, Social Studies, International Development, etc., combined with a total of 8 to 10 years of relevant experience. Another combination of experience and education may be considered. 
• A minimum of two years’ experience in staff supervision. 
• Proven knowledge of human rights education and/or social justice issues with a particular focus on equity, anti-racism and inclusion. 
• Experience working in a cross-cultural setting 
• Experience in partnership development and working in the NGO sector 
• A successful track record in developing project proposals, securing funds and managing relationships with donor agencies 
• Ability to communicate orally, to write and to read and understand documents in both English and French. 
• Strong skills in information management (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) 

   

What is an asset to the role

• Experience working in the NGO sector. 
• Experience working with children and youth in school and/or community-based programs 
• Experience with fund development, including writing applications, correspondence and reports to funders.  

 

What we offer

• We offer the chance to be a part of and make up a diverse and engaged team who are all meaningfully contributing to positive social change in Canada and around the world in their own way.  
• We value self-care, inclusion and empathy towards all team members and place a strong emphasis on work-life balance. In addition to vacation time, we offer 2 weeks off over the winter holidays.  
• We are all about learning and offer all employees the opportunity to participate in Learning Committees based on their interests and participate in a workplace culture that is constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate.  

• We have a centrally located office with a beautiful view of Mont-Royal (we offer a hybrid work arrangement).  
• We believe in trust and openness and offer a flexible work environment.  
• We believe in creating space for everyone to lead and offer opportunities within our governance structure to allow for individuals in all roles to take on opportunities for leadership.  
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a competitive salary for the NGO sector, 3 weeks paid vacation (4 weeks after 3 years), paid personal days, medical, dental and life insurance, a group RRSP and much more!  

   

Join us!

Given the nature of our work, Equitas strongly encourages applications from any candidates who have experienced marginalization, in particular, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and people living with disabilities. Candidates who wish to do so may self-identify in their application.    

At Equitas, we do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, violence, or abuse of any form. All employment offers are conditional of the signing of Equitas’ Human Resources Policy, our Policy on Preventing Sexual Violence, Harassment and Discrimination and satisfactory references.  

Equitas thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.   

For further information about Equitas consult our websites at equitas.org and speakingrights.ca  

  

How to apply?

Please send 1 attachment (cover letter and C.V.) with your name and Senior Program Officer – Québec in the subject line by September 29th 2023 (Applications analyzed upon receipt) to: rhequitas@equitas.org