Centennial College recognizes and affirms Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Indigenous ways of knowing as central to the vibrancy and uniqueness of its learning and working academic mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of Indigenous communities and all equity-deserving groups including Women, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.
We also recognize that Centennial is situated on the Treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their legacy as well as that of all First Peoples that have been and remain present here in Toronto. We recognize that First Peoples come from sovereign Nations and that part of understanding our responsibilities of residing on this territory are understanding the true history, circumstances and legacy of the Treaties signed here (such as the Toronto Purchase, Robinson-Huron Treaty and Williams Treaties) and including pre-contact Treaties and Agreements between sovereign Nations and that all peoples in this area are therefore Treaty people with obligations and responsibilities to all our relations.
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How to Apply
Centennial College is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that is diverse and is as intersectional as possible. All interested applicants can send their resume to Helen Mekonen by e-mailing hmekonen@bipocsearch.com.
In accordance with the AODA Act, for applicants living with a disability accommodation will be provided throughout the search process. Should accommodations be required, please make Helen aware by using the above address.
We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Centennial College—an institution firmly committed to higher education innovation and social justice—has transformed itself from a local community college to a truly global learning network. Having built enormous capacity over the last 50 years and with its commitment to transforming lives and communities through learning, the College is focussed on extending its reach and impact through continuous improvement to ensure students are equipped to succeed in work and in life. With approximately 45,000 full- and part-time enrolments throughout its Toronto campuses, and with a large student population at Suzhou Centennial College in China, Centennial is widely recognized for being an ethnoculturally diverse institution. And it’s organizations like Centennial that are uniquely positioned to change the world for the better by means of helping students—from all walks of life—recognize their intrinsic worth and capabilities as global citizens!
With a unique history and international reputation for its forward-looking orientation, this is an auspicious time for Centennial. It is within this context that Centennial invites nominations and applications for the role of Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. This is a critical position in the life of a College focused on championing competencies that are both future-facing and intercultural while immersed in evolving dialogue with communities and employers to ensure our graduates are fulfilled by meaningful work that contributes to the public good.
As a vital member of the College’s leadership team, the Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution will report directly to the Associate Vice-President of Innovation, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Healing. This esteemed individual will work in close collaboration with a range of communities, including students, faculty, staff, administration, and the Board of Governors. Implementing the recommendations from an extensive institutional policy and procedure review, the incumbent's primary objectives will be to promote and more fully operationalize a sector-leading human rights infrastructure. The purpose of this work is to enable conditions for the flourishing of equitable and inclusive environments where Indigenous ways of knowing and being may also be integrated across the College.
In partnership with the AVP, the incumbent will take the lead in contributing to and implementing a comprehensive strategy for human rights and conflict resolution. They will provide critical insight and contribution to growing the department and the identifying essential resources and team members while being an advocate for greater adherence to human rights principles enterprise-wide. Furthermore, the Director will oversee all aspects of managing human rights complaints and related conflicts, including intake, support referrals, case assessment, advisory services, and case resolution. They will also be responsible for overseeing and providing mediation, and informal conflict resolution services, database creation, data collection and reporting, institutional education, and training as necessary. As part of this suite of services, they will also supervise the services of internal and external investigators.
The ideal candidate for this leadership position possesses a proven track record of cultivating safe and respectful environments while exemplifying essential attributes of impartiality, integrity and fairness. They have extensive experience and knowledge of human rights, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive case management practices. Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, restorative justice techniques and broader alternate dispute resolution capabilities are also must-haves to successfully drive transformation across the College.
Qualifications
Among the qualifications being sought in candidates, the incoming leader has a deep and abiding commitment to advancing reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms and must believe, intrinsically, in the importance of leading with curiosity, welcoming ideas that can later be synthesized and turned into possibility. While all candidates are encouraged to apply and, in so doing, share how they see themselves adding value to the Centennial College environment, the following credentials and/or experiences are seen as possible markers of the candidates most likely to realize success in the role:
- senior experience collaboratively leading structural and cultural change.
- Several years of progressive experience in human rights, conflict resolution, or a related field within large, complex organizations, notably but not exclusively higher education or public sector setting;
- demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating human rights policies, programs, and initiatives;
- developed understanding of intersectionality, equity and intercultural competence with specific knowledge of the dynamics of interpersonal and systemic racism;
- experience providing leadership and supervision, including hiring, training, performance management, and professional development of employees;
- experience establishing and / or maintaining a comprehensive human rights database and case tracking and reporting system, generating institutional reporting, and;
- a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Human Rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution, service orientation and trauma-informed, interculturally competent stakeholder care, Restorative Justice, Law, a related discipline or a JD/LLB.
This is a hybrid position with an average of 2 days per week on site or on campus.