The Upper Grand District School Board is situated on the ancestral, treaty and titlelands of two Anishinaabek Ojibwe Nations: the Michi Saagig of the Credit and theSaugeen Ojibway Nation. This land also includes a specified tract of land granted tothe Six Nations of the Grand River. These Nations hold legal and specific rights intheir respective territories. This area has been and continues to be home forIndigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples.About UGDSBThe Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) employs approximately 4,000dedicated staff who serve more than 35,000 students attending a variety of programs.The UGDSB spans across 65 elementary and 11 secondary schools as well ascontinuing education and adult learning centres in the counties of Dufferin,Wellington and the City of Guelph. The UGDSB covers the ancestral and treaty landsof the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and SaugeenOjibway Nation.The OpportunityThe UGDSB is committed to disrupting systemic racism and oppression in all itsforms. It is within this context that UGDSB invites nominations and applications forthe role of Human Rights and Equity Advisor, a position that will have an indelibleimpact on the future of the organization.As a Senior Leader, the Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA) will report to theDirector of Education. They will collaborate with the Director and their ExecutiveCommittee and senior staff in transformational work to enhance and expand culturesof respect for human rights and equity and champion the identification andelimination of systemic barriers. Fostering a system culture free of harassment anddiscrimination, this role will provide strategic advice, counsel and interpretation forthe Executive Committee and the Board on all matters related to human rightsThe HREA will provide counsel and lead the implementation of policies including:Board policies, relevant collective agreement provisions, the Ontario Human RightsCode, relevant provisions of the Education Act and Regulations, the Charter of Rightsand Freedoms, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Employment StandardsAct, The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians withDisabilities Act and the Board’s Human Rights Policy and Procedures.QualificationsAmong the qualifications being sought in candidates, the incoming leader must havea deep and abiding commitment to advancing reconciliation, equity, diversity, andinclusion in all its forms and must believe, intrinsically, in the importance of leadingwith curiosity and welcoming ideas that can later be synthesized and turned intopossibility.While all candidates are encouraged to apply and, in so doing, share how they seethemselves adding value to the UGDSB environment, the following credentials and/orexperiences are seen as possible markers of the candidates most likely to realizesuccess in the role:A) Post-secondary degree in a relevant field (e.g., Law, Human Rights, AlternativeDispute Resolution, Conflict Mediation, Public Administration, Human Resources),legal training/ comprehensive knowledge with the law as it pertains to Human Rightsis preferred;B) License to practice law (strongly preferred);C) Strong understanding of human rights legislation and related case law, andemerging trends and issues; and;D) Experience with policy development and implementation; Able to perform a stateof the system analysis and build a strategic plan in moving the organization forward;ED) Demonstrated work-related expertise in applying human rights law andanalyzing issues using the Human Rights Code and relevant policies to prevent andaddress discrimination and harassment, including several years of experience inhuman rights investigations, complaint resolution, and restorative justice in acomplex public sector environment of high visibility;FE) A valid driver’s license and access to personal vehicle.This is a blended (remote and in-person) position, with the main office location basedin Guelph, Ontario.How to ApplyThe UGDSB is committed to building a diverse staff that is reflective of and adds valueto the community and students it serves. UGDSB actively encourage applicationsfrom members of groups who have historically and/or currently experiencemarginalization and/or barriers to equity.The UGDSB recognizes that many of the identities listed above do not exist in a singleform and are often intersecting, creating complex and unique experiences forapplicants. The organization values the contributions that each person brings and iscommitted to creating and maintaining an environment where everyone canparticipate fully, thrive, and reach their full potential. Please visit Safe, Equitable andInclusive Schools to find out more about equity, diversity and inclusion at the UGDSB.Upper Grand District School Board is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search toensure an applicant list that is diverse and is as intersectional as possible. Allinterested applicants can send their resume to Taq Bhandal by e-mailingtbhandal@bipocsearch.com or can apply through the BIPOC Executive Searchmobile app.In accordance with the AODA Act, for applicants living with a disabilityaccommodation will be provided throughout the search process. Shouldaccommodations be required, please make Taq Bhandal aware by using the aboveaddress.We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of thetime individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only thoseselected for an interview will be contacted.
