Equity Officer [University Of King’s College]

Employment Opportunity: Equity Officer (full-time, permanent, subject to a probationary period)

Established in 1789, the University of King's College is Canada's oldest chartered university and is associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King's is known nationally and internationally for its highly acclaimed interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its renowned Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism and its fine arts programs in creative writing. King's is a community where students, faculty, alumni, and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity, and compassion to the world.

Under The Direct Supervision Of The President, Working With Members Of Administration, Academic And Other Programs To Increase Awareness And Understanding To Make King's a Diverse And Inclusive Community For All Members Of The Community The Equity Officer Will

• Represent King's in committees and forums addressing provincial or national collaboration on equity.
• Provide information, take proactive measures and be available for consultation to all members of the university community on issues concerning equity, diversity, inclusion, discrimination, harassment;
• Support members of the underrepresented groups, including students, staff, and faculty, at King's (such as Racialized, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and persons living with disabilities); and
• Collaborate with counterparts at Dalhousie University; and
• Work with all committees of the university with a role in advancing equity, including committees addressing equity as an overarching theme and those addressing particular dimensions of equity, including accessibility, sexualized violence, and the recently established Mawagnutma'tmnej Advisory Circle;
• Support the Board of Governors in its responsibility to oversee the university's work on equity;

The Equity Officer will be a non-voting member of the Board of Governor's Equity Committee, which is currently undergoing a review by the Chair of the Board. They will be guided in their work by the President's mandate on diversity and inclusion and will work with the President to further develop and advance this mandate.

The successful candidate will abide by applicable laws, university policies, confidentiality, privacy standards and by applicable standards of procedural fairness. In all circumstances and in all of their work, the Equity Officer is to act as a mediator.

Specific Duties/Accountabilities Of The Equity Officer

They will manage and respond to complaints, but the primary focus will be two-fold: supporting members of underrepresented communities and creating or supporting positive and proactive initiatives that can contribute to systemic improvements. In that context, the specific accountabilities of the Equity Officer include but are not limited to:

• Ensuring that Complainant(s) and Respondent(s) are kept informed of the status of ongoing procedures, while ensuring that all information on matters under the Equity Policy are received and managed in a confidential manner, except as outlined in the Policy;
• Collaborating and coordinating, as appropriate and required, with the Human Resources and Compensation Officer, Dean of Students, Accessibility Officer, Student Support Advisor, Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Officer, Indigenous Auntie in Residence and the soon to be created Indigenous Student Advisor;
• Providing any other reports to the President and/or to the Board, and/or its Equity Committee as the Officer determines may be helpful or as the President, Board and/or Committee may request and providing such other assistance to the Board and/or the Equity Committee as the Board and/or the Committee may reasonably request.
• Keeping informed of current issues and literature pertaining to equity, diversity, inclusion, discrimination and harassment, and providing advice on policy matters relating to the promotion of equity, diversity, inclusion and the prevention of discrimination and harassment;
• Supporting the development of a new equity policy and the revision of the university's code of conduct and harassment policy;
• Advising on the efforts of individuals, programs, departments and the College, including the Board of Governors, to advance equity;
• Reporting on the number, nature and disposition of concerns and complaints, without disclosing any information identifying specific individuals, to the President and the Board of Governors and/or the Board's Equity Committee; and
• Receiving all complaints of discrimination and harassment, acting as an impartial advisor in respect of complaints, and initiating the procedures of the Equity Policy, when appropriate;
• Working with all members of administration and administrative departments, directors and members of academic programs, and student support offices on the work of the Officer that falls within or concerns the activities and responsibilities of those administrators, departments, programs and offices;
• Being available to discuss concerns, provide support and make referrals in matters of discrimination and harassment;
• Increasing awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion, and advising those who have responsibilities under equity related policies, programs, plans and strategies, including among faculty, supervisors, administrators, staff and others;
• Informing and consulting with all members of the College on matters concerning equity, diversity, inclusion, discrimination and harassment, including to ensure that university policy and objectives pertaining to equity are widely understood by members of the community;

The above accountabilities are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position described. The accountabilities of the Equity Officer position will evolve with the evolution of the university. The relative attention placed on different accountabilities will vary with the circumstances.

The Successful Candidate Will Have

• An undergraduate degree or other suitable educational background and relevant lived experience;
• A minimum of 2-3 years work experience in social/human/equity services and support;
• Experience working with the effects of oppression on individuals and communities;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and active listening skills;
• Strong assessment and crisis intervention skills;
• Awareness of provincial and federal laws relating to equity.
• Knowledge of support systems and community resources within Halifax and surrounding areas and;
• Effective communication, advocacy, and rapport building skills;
• An intersectional analysis and understanding of racism and other forms of institutionalized oppression;
• A demonstrated aptitude for managing diverse and sometimes conflicting responsibilities, combined with flexibility and strong conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills;
• Experience or connection to working in post-secondary environment;

Closing Date: August 8, 2023

The anticipated start date for this position is mid September 2023 to early October 2023

Salary will be commensurate with level of education and experience. The starting salary range for this position is: $71,750 to $80,699. A comprehensive group benefits package is offered including membership in the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP).

To apply for this position, please forward cover letter and resume to:

Pethrona Russell
Human Resources Manager
University of King's College
6350 Coburg Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2A1
[email protected]
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of King's College is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage and welcome those who would contribute to the diversification of our staff and faculty including, but not limited to women, people who identify as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Colour, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In line with the University's commitments to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education, the ideal candidate for this position will self-identify as African Nova Scotian or Black.