Community Development Worker - Jobs in Kitchener, ON

Job Description

Are you passionate about contributing to the community Are you interested in working for an organization that helps families thrive by strengthening their mental health and wellbeingPOSITION OVERVIEW:As a Community Development Worker you will support and facilitate communities to bring their vision for their neighbourhood to life. You might work with individuals, families and whole communities to:

• Identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities
• Plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action
• Develop activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence
• Raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community

Youll frequently be involved in addressing inequality. Projects often engage people/communities that have experienced/are experiencing systemic inequities. Staff may be required to focus on particular populations based on age (e.g. youth, seniors), geography, or other factors.The focus of this position is:Youth – Approximately aged 12-25. This role supports 2 neighbourhoods, 1 in Waterloo 1 in Kitchener.Paulander – A Kitchener based neighbourhoodErb – A Waterloo based neighbourhoodRESPONSIBILITIES:Engagement

• Create and increase engagement and participation in the community
• Foster and develop leadership in the community
• Maintain open communication with community members, volunteers, partners and the community services team(e.g. via social media, collective meetings, calendars/newsletters etc)
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and groups. Navigate conversations between program delivery, organizational commitment and donors and know when to bring in supervisor/manager.
• Build relationships with community members and support relationship development between community members.
• Identify Community needs and assets.
• Planning, attending and coordinating collective impact meetings and large community events

Project Management

• Manage program budget and engage neighbours in participatory budgeting
• Design and implement systems to disperse gift cards, bus tickets, honoraria and other resources
• Recruit, train and support volunteers
• Maintain up to date records and participant databases (e.g. Link2Feed, Penelope)
• Support with evaluation and grant reporting
• General administrative duties including gathering program data and preparation of reports.
• Support the work of Carizon in other ways as required.

• To always perform work safely and in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

• College Diploma (3 Year relevant program)
• 2-3 years of experience
• Ability to work independently within the community with limited supervision
• Knowledgeable and experienced in working and communicating with a very diverse population from an equity lens
• Excellent communication skills required which include: courtesy, tact, discretion, providing detailed explanations, mediation or guiding, problem solving, interpretation, negotiation, counselling and diplomacy
• Ability to interact effectively with external stakeholders such as community partners, program funders and other clients (i.e. participatory and engagement practices)
• Ability to manage time pressures; deal with lack of control over outcomes and set boundaries with community members.
• Sensitive to the needs of clients and the culturally diverse communities served
• Demonstrated group work, conflict resolution, mediation and problem solving skills to support community programs
• Understanding of Youth Engagement (or Community Development) principles and processes (i.e. Hart’s ladder, , Asset Based Community Development or another lens)
• Group facilitation skills
• Program and facility coordination
• Project management skills
• Advocacy and networking skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team-building skills
• Good listening skills
• Research and report-writing skills and the ability to interpret or present data
• Knowledge and understanding of community and social issues
• A non-judgmental and positive attitude
• Creative thinking and problem-solving ability

WORKING HOURS/CONDITIONS:

• Work will take place in a community centre and/or various locations within the community

• Ability to work evenings and weekends may be required based on the needs of the program
• Travel may be required throughout the Region of Waterloo
• Must have access to a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and valid automobile insurance
• Satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal background check required

HOW TO APPLY:Interested internal applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and resume to hr@carizon.ca quoting the competition number.As we continue to be responsive to the changing needs of our communities, we acknowledge the historical and present-day violence and systemic barriers that continue to harm members of our Region and that we must ask ourselves not if we are complicit, but how.Carizon is committed to developing anti-oppressive practices and equitable outcomes for the families we serve while ensuring that our programs reflect and meet their needs. We recognize that we must work in collaboration with others to dismantle systems of oppression, discrimination and violence that people face as a result of their diversity, beliefs and identities.Building equity takes time, resources, intentional commitment and behavioural change. It is an ongoing process, and we start by recognizing the racism and discrimination faced by Indigenous people, Black people, Asian communities, racialized people, ethnic or linguistic groups, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, unhoused people, people with mental illness and people with physical and intellectual disabilities.To help us create change and ensure that we can continue helping families thrive, Carizon has invested in antiracism and anti-oppression training for all our employees. In addition, we have engaged in an organizational assessment to identify and address gaps. We have also created an Equity Leader position to help ensure our policies, processes, and practices eliminate any existence or influence of systemic racism across our organization.We have a lot of work to do and we are committed to keep moving forward on this learning journey. We will continue to listen, learn, and take action to ensure that everyone at Carizon experiences true equity, empowerment, and inclusion.Carizon is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. At Carizon, we believe that diversity enriches our performance, clients, services offered, the communities where we live and work, and the lives of our employees. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@carizon.ca). While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.SALARY:NM-6LOCATION:Kitchener/WaterlooEMPLOYEE GROUP:Non-UnionSTATUS:PermanentHOURS OF WORK:35 hours per weekSCHEDULE:TBDCOMPETITION NUMBER:35-22POSTING PERIOD:Until Filled.START DATE:TBDQuick Apply

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