Time to Thrive Community Engagement & Belonging (CEB) and Projects Coordinator

JOB TITLE: Time to Thrive Community Engagement & Belonging (CEB) and Projects Coordinator

REPORTS TO: Time to Thrive Program Manager

TERM: Full time (35 hours) permanent

Compensation: $54,750 per annum + Extended Health Benefits Package

As demand for Rainbow Refugee Society’s services continues to grow, we are seeking a CEB Coordinator to join our expanding staff team.

The Role:

Reporting to the Time to Thrive Program Manager, the CEB Coordinator will create a sense of community and belonging for LGBTQIA+ refugees and migrants in so-called Vancouver.

The CEB Coordinator will empower people with lived migrant and refugee experience to participate in Rainbow Refugee Society activities and engage with each other socially. The ideal candidate would ensure that migrants and refugees are connected to resources, to community, and have an understanding of LGBTQIA+ resources in so-called Vancouver, and across so-called BC and Canada, as needed.

The programming would be responsive to the psycho-social needs of newcomers at various stages in their journey in Canada. The CEB Coordinator would create a sense of celebration and safe spaces for social gatherings, and bring an atmosphere of joy and fun to Rainbow Refugee Society and the communities we seek to serve. The CEB Coordinator will work collaboratively with the Time to Thrive Program team to understand and respond to emerging needs among members.

We seek a candidate who is committed to and embodies decolonial, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and anti-sexist practices. We seek someone who is collaborative, compassionate, empathetic, a fast learner, technically savvy, an intuitive communicator, and committed to the mission and core values of Rainbow Refugee Society.

Key Responsibilities

● Conduct community-involved needs assessments of members’ needs related to education, support, and community belonging activities. Regularly seek out member input and other information to inform program development;

● Create and implement a plan to engage LGBTQIA+ refugees and migrants -- regardless of how they arrived into Canada -- into participating with Rainbow Refugee Society, including a calendar of events;

● Create welcome packages and other materials, as necessary, for new members of Rainbow Refugee Society;

● Recruit, organize, and onboard peer CEB volunteers collaboratively with the Volunteer Coordinator, depending on program needs;

● In collaboration with the Communications Manager, coordinate and organize training, education, and workshops for Rainbow Refugee Society members including but not limited to topics such as: sexual health trainings, dance workshops, harm reduction packing parties, and garden group gatherings;

● Coordinate and facilitate Rainbow Refugee’s SuperCrew Program, a workshops-based group for Trans and Gender Diverse refugees and newcomers;

● Cross-refer members to Time to Thrive Program, Inland Program, or Private Sponsorship Program, depending on assessed needs;

● Refer members externally for supports needed collaboratively with the Time to Thrive Support and Housing Coordinators;

● Organize, facilitate, and oversee social groups, based on identified needs and Rainbow Refugee Society’s capacity, as needed;

● Provide additional follow up and outreach to members to build a more connected sense of belonging and deepen their engagement with Rainbow Refugee Society;

● Develop a calendar and plan for special events, including logistics and an outreach plan;

● Collect feedback from members to evaluate service delivery and implement improvements based on their reflections and needs;

● Coordinate and attend relevant special events with community partners - VPS, MAP, Dyke March, including attending the organizing meetings;

● For special events, collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to coordinate volunteers including recruitment, logistics, material preparing, and day of event execution;

● Represent RRS at meetings with community and partner organizations as required by the Time to Thrive Manager, while actively developing new partnerships and collaborations to expand the program’s reach and impact;

● Share key updates, NGO/consultative meeting notes, and relevant information with the Time to Thrive Manager;

● Provide the Time to Thrive Manager with a monthly report. Reports will include but not limited to number of participants, key themes arising from community members, and types of events held;

● Collaborate with the Time to Thrive Manager to create an annual work plan and strategy;

● Maintain accurate and available records and documentation;

● Participate in Rainbow Refugee Society team meetings and strategic planning sessions; and

● Other duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

● Alignment with Rainbow Refugee’s vision, mission, and core values

● Experience working with and for LGBTQIA+ migrants and refugees

● Be welcoming, open-minded, empathetic, inclusive, and approachable

● Strong understanding of principles of social justice, anti-oppression, cultural safety, and trauma-informed frameworks Able to communicate clearly, listen accurately, be open to feedback, resolve conflict appropriately, and display sensitivity towards others

● Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team environment

● Strong time management and organizational skills

● Ability to work with shifting priorities

● Strong communication skills in English

● Proficiency in languages other than English is considered an asset, particularly Spanish, Farsi, Arabic, Swahili, Lugandan, and/or any other language spoken by the communities we support.

Qualifications:

● Post-secondary education and at least 2 years of relevant experience; other social sciences and/or commensurable work experience providing support to forcibly displaced people from the LGBTQIA+ community will be considered;

● Ability to take in feedback and alter or revise programming;

● Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively;

● Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect privacy;

● Knowledge and practice in trauma-informed practices or a background in working with marginalized populations;

● Ability to work from an Anti-Oppressive, Anti-Racist framework, and Anti-sexist framework.

Applying for the Position:

Rainbow Refugee Society welcomes applications from those with a demonstrated commitment to advocating for LGBTQIA+ and refugees and newcomers using anti-oppressive, social justice, and human rights framework.

We value the expertise of lived and/or living experience of migration and systemic oppression. We strongly encourage and consider applications from members of equity-seeking groups, including folks with lived and/or living experience in refugee or migration pathways, Indigenous folks, Black folks, People of Colour, People with dis/abilities, and folks who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.

● Applications for the CEB Coordinator position are being accepted on a rolling basis.

● The position will remain open until a candidate fills the position.

● Questions and applications can be directed to jobs@rainbowrefugee.ca.

● For full consideration of your application, please ensure to submit a resume and cover letter.

Please note only those shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.