Description

Why Literacy? Work with purpose at United for Literacy.

Canada’s literacy divide widens daily because so many people lack adequate support. Solving systemic literacy challenges is key to advancing social equity and prosperity across our country. Literacy changes everything.

United for Literacy (formerly United for Literacy) is a national charity that was founded in 1899. We believe literacy is a right, and that every place can be a learning place. Our vision is a Canada in which everyone has the literacy skills they need to achieve their goals at school, at work, and in life. Our mission is to provide local learning support programs that change lives.

We encourage applications that reflect the diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds we serve at United for Literacy. In keeping with our ongoing efforts to promote equity and reflect the diversity of our organization, we encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

United for Literacy Guelph programs are located within the Between the Lakes Purchase (Treaty 3; the treaty and territory of Mississaugas of the Credit). Guelph has served as traditional lands and a place of refuge for many peoples over time, but more specifically the Attiwonderonk, and the Haudenosaunee.

United for Literacy Kitchener-Waterloo programs are located on land that is the traditional home of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. This land, within the Haldimand tract is promised to the Six Nations and takes in six miles on each side of the Grand River.

We offer our gratitude to the First Nations for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. In the spirit of reconciliation, may we respect the history, spirituality, and culture of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledge the history and legacy of Colonialism as we continue to seek justice and work towards living in right relations.

The opportunity:
In Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, United for Literacy runs free one-to-one and small group tutoring programs for children and youth from equity-deserving groups. Through these online and in-person programs, learners gain academic skills, increase their confidence, and become more engaged in learning. These programs are now more important than ever due to the COVID learning loss that many of the people we serve have experienced.

United for Literacy delivers these programs in partnership with local community-based organizations. The Community Coordinator is responsible for overseeing these programs and working closely with a leadership team of university students to recruit, screen, and support over 125 volunteers each year who support these programs.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Community Coordinator to develop programs, manage a large team of volunteers, and work collaboratively with community partners. Travel in the KItchener-Waterloo and Guelph area is required.

The Community Coordinator is a member of the Southern Ontario program staff team and works both independently and collaboratively to carry out and promote the work of United for Literacy in the community. The Community Coordinator has direct responsibility for volunteers and interns. This position reports to the Regional Manager for Southern Ontario.

Your main responsibilities and major duties:
• Coordinate and provide leadership to United for Literacy community-based learning programs in consultation with Supervisor.
• Coordinate, manage, and mentor Interns and volunteer leadership teams by communicating role job expectations, and planning for, monitoringk and evaluating performance outcomes.
• Build, manage and sustain external/internal relationships necessary to support organizational goals by liaising effectively with partners, volunteers, learners, management team and supporters; attending and contributing at meetings, and accurately representing the needs and interests of the organization.
• Apply volunteer management policies and practices to create a strong volunteer network.
• Mobilize, train, supervise, and support volunteers to work in the community and provide in-person and online tutoring support.
• Develop, sustain, monitor, and evaluate programs, partnerships, and pilot projects.
• Customize programming to partner context and learner needs.
• Coordinate resources required to ensure program effectiveness.
• Coordinate community-based summer programs.
• Design, deliver, and evaluate tutor training, workshops and presentations.
• Participate in program planning, evaluation, and special projects.
• Manage program budgets, collect program stats, and provide reports.
• Represent United for Literacy in the region.

Skills, Attributes and Requirements
• Knowledge of how to develop, implement and evaluate effective community-based education programs (online and in-person).
• Three to five years of relevant work experience.
• Experience with volunteers, with community settings, and diverse populations.
• Energetic, resourceful, and flexible.
• Able to think critically, solve problems and manage details.
• Work well independently and as part of a team.
• Able to build leadership skills in youth and university students
• Skills in volunteer management, community outreach, partnership development, project management, and team building.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Ability to facilitate workshops
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Computer skills (MS Word, Outlook, Excel, Internet, and Google Suite).
• Organized, able to manage multiple tasks and deal with stress.
• Self-directed
• Diplomacy, tact and judgment
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
• University degree or equivalent experience

Additional Assets
• Knowledge of online educational programming
• Background in education and/or non-formal education
• Knowledge of the KItchener-Waterloo and/or Guelph community

Working with United for Literacy
Salary: $27,817 to $31,103 ($42,330 to $47,330 full-time equivalent)
Hours of Work: 23 hours per week

In addition to your salary, you will benefit from:
-Paid time off during our seasonal closure between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
-Plus: half-days off before some long weekends (start your long weekend early!)
-Plus: generous and compassionate wellness time allowance, and a “floating day” for personal/cultural events
•Flexible work hours, remote work options (in consultation with your supervisor)
•A work environment that seeks to be open, inclusive, and fun
•Staff-led groups and committees include, among others: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI); Internal Skills Development; and more.
•Connect with your colleagues from coast to coast to coast for team-wide trainings and learning.

Ready to join our team? Please email your cover letter and resume to:
Emily Davies-Robinson, Acting Southern Ontario Regional Manager, [email protected]
No phone calls, please. You will be contacted if you are selected for an interview. For more information about United for Literacy visit www.unitedforliteracy.ca

We welcome applications from individuals who self-identify on the basis of any of the protected grounds under the Human Rights Code. We are committed to integration and maintaining the independence of individuals and removing barriers to accessibility in the workplace. We are committed to full compliance with the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and all other applicable legislation. We invite applicants to request accommodation, as required, throughout the application and hiring process.
We require some of our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to do in-person work. Exemptions for valid medical reasons will be considered.