Solidarity Working Group Systems Collaborator

Job Description

Social Economy Through Social Inclusion (SETSI) is seeking a Systems Collaborator to enhance the work of our co-created Solidarity Working Group. This is a leadership position that will report to the Executive Director of SETSI.

Background

In July 2020 community leaders from the social finance, social economy, co-operative and community economic development movements in Canada came together in solidarity to confront and mitigate apathy towards inclusion, diversity, equity and access in the aforementioned ecosystems.

On July 20th 2020, a joint statement entitled ‘Stronger Together’ was endorsed by stakeholders across the aforementioned ecosystems and disseminated widely throughout collective networks across Canada. The statement articulated six key actions:

1. Creation of a standing meeting/working group in the social enterprise and social finance ecosystem, to work towards advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access 
2. Development of performance indicators as well as tools for measuring this work that we believe should become standard for all IRP/SFF and future program partners, regardless of their areas of focus.
3. Development of anti-racism and anti-oppression training that we recommend become standard for all IRP/SFF and future program partners. To begin this, we’ll source a list of strong anti-racist educators from BIPOC communities to facilitate this work.
4. Diversity & Inclusion policy promotion and development amongst Investment Readiness Program partners and wider ecosystem stakeholders within their respective organizations
5. Development and implementation of an intermediary specifically for the African Canadian community in the Social Finance Fund. This should be complemented by a standard commitment and enforceable performance measures for all intermediaries to engage with diverse communities 
6. Collaboration towards the development of a self-determined fund to engage traditionally under- represented people living in Canada in the social finance and social enterprise ecosystem through small catalyst grants and non-repayable loans.

Position Summary

The Solidarity Working Group is seeking a full time Systems Collaborator with analytical and interpersonal skills to support our work in inclusion, diversity, equity and access in the SI/SF, CED and co-operative ecosystems. The Systems Collaborator will have a high level of responsibility and will be encouraged to empower themselves by owning their position and making important contributions to the Working Group.

Responsibilities

• Convene and coordinate Solidarity Working Group meetings
• Develop anti-racism and anti-oppression training, capacity building sessions, and tools
• Maintain data collection and source strong anti-racist educators from BIPOC communities to facilitate elements of this work
• Promote and develop diversity & inclusion policy amongst SF/SE/CED and co-operative partners and the wider ecosystem stakeholders within their respective organizations
• Maintain proprietary documents of the Solidarity Working Group and databases
• Support the Solidarity Working Group in the achievement of its strategic priorities
• Develop community and government relations and manage effective federal government relations based on the common goals of the Solidarity Working Group
• Perform robust mapping and analysis of BIPOC communities on the margins of the aforementioned ecosystems
• Facilitate mapping of social finance intermediaries within geographical regions using an equity and diversity lens for an inclusive portrait of the social finance landscape
• Build strong collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, networks and advocacy groups
• Develop and implement strategies to profile the Solidarity Working Group and members to secure funding and enable policy development and legislation to support the key actions articulated in the Stronger Together joint statement
• Continue to work to build a strong network of social finance funding and support across Canada

Essential Qualifications

• Demonstrated competence in member engagement, team building, strategic planning and organizational management.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, superior oral and written capabilities, including the ability to build professional relationships with government.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders (members; academics; government; media) and the ability to strategically and constructively respond to member needs as well as exercise leadership and diplomacy amongst diverse perspectives and priorities.
• An understanding of community economic development, social economy, social enterprise, social innovation and social finance in Canada and the policy and program areas most relevant to community-based stakeholders in the field is an asset.
• Knowledge, experience and commitment to gender equity, poverty reduction, reconciliation, anti-racism / anti-oppression, diversity and inclusion.

Working Conditions & Benefits

• Occasional evening and weekend work
• Occasional overtime work
• A complete benefits package
• Supportive work environment with flexible hours
• 3 weeks vacation
• Time off with pay between December 25 and January 1
• Generous paid time off including paid sick time and personal obligation leave
• Professional development opportunities

Compensation:

This is a one-year contract position starting in September 2020 with possibility of extension. It is full-time at 37.5 hours / week with some flexibility on schedules. Starting salary range is $56,868 - $67,486 annually, plus extended benefits.

Location:

The successful candidate will join SETSI’s team remotely, and will be provided with appropriate equipment to perform the required duties. SETSI staff and the Solidarity Working Group partners work across a variety of timezones, therefore the successful candidate must be available during the 9am-5pm EST time zone for meetings.

Process:

Please send applications to h.renglich@ccednet-rcdec.ca by Sept. 9, 2020 with ‘Solidarity Working Group Systems Collaborator’ in the subject line. Included in your application, please include a cover letter, resume, as well as a submission of your own choosing that lets us learn more about you! Bonus points if your submission relates to solidarity efforts, social inclusion, the social economy ecosystem, or policy work.

The latest anticipated start date is Oct. 1, 2020, with interviews on a rolling basis as submissions are received.

Employment Equity:

SETSI is an equal opportunity employer offering a fair, co-operative, respectful, safe, and healthy work environment. We conduct hiring on the basis of employment equity. Employment equity is designed to compensate for the nonexistence of a level playing field with regards to people’s experiences and job qualifications, given structural injustices and systemic discrimination that marginalized certain groups. These groups include but are not limited to: Indigenous people, Black people, People of Colour, women, LGBTQ2S+ people, disabled people, people living in poverty, and newcomers to Canada (especially those with precarious status). We particularly encourage BIPOC (Black people, Indigenous peoples, and People of Colour) to apply. The interview and selection committees will include BIPOC and partners currently involved with the Solidarity Working Group.

About SETSI

The Social Economy through Social Inclusion (SETSI) model aims to tell a story, change minds, shift perspectives, and grow communities. Our Steering Committee was developed as a response to some of the emerging trends and challenges we have collectively witnessed in the social economy, social financing, and social innovation sectors. We are a broad coalition of
young executives, social entrepreneurs, creatives, community organizers, economists, researchers, lawyers, and social justice advocates.