Anti-Racism & Inclusion Research Assistant - 4th yr complete

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.

We are one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities and a Top Employer in Hamilton-Niagara. Brock has been ranked #3 as Canada’s Best Employers and top 10 as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity compiled by Forbes and Statista. We are an inclusive, welcoming community that offers a wide range of unique career opportunities.

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Post End Date: April 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM

This job advertisement is to fill an existing vacancy in the Temporary Research Positions (Employee Group)

Anti-Racism & Inclusion Research Assistant

Human Rights & Equity Office (HREO)

• 5-10 hours per week

(with the potential for increased hours during January and February)

• 4th year complete rate - $22.40

• MA complete - $27.50

• PhD - $31.00

Joining the Human Rights and Equity Office

The Human Rights & Equity Office is a resource for all Brock community members, which includes students, staff, and faculty. HRE addresses human rights, harassment, and discrimination that are connected to the Ontario Human Rights Code, and all job applicants are encouraged to review the HRE website before applying. HRE upholds human rights laws and policies and provides equity services to staff, faculty, and students by advocating on behalf of individuals and groups of people, providing education through workshops and other venues, and offering guidance to those seeking to implement equity in their own working and learning spaces at Brock. HRE sees great value in the peer-to-peer leadership model and student advocacy regarding human rights, as student leadership creates a more inclusive, safer campus for everyone.

The Opportunity

The Human Rights and Equity Office is seeking one 4th year undergraduate or graduate student to support the development, planning, and coordination of the university’s 2026 Black History Month & African Heritage Month programming initiatives. The Anti-Racism & Inclusion Research Assistant will provide administrative coordination and support to the Anti-Racism & Inclusion Advisor as it relates to the overall execution of the university’s Black History Month / African Heritage Month activities. The successful candidate will be offered a contract of 5-10 hours/week from late September 2025 through the end of March 2026, with the potential for increased hours during January and February, and will be available for both online and in-person meetings, planning/strategy sessions, and any program delivery/execution, as required at the St. Catharines campus of Brock University. The Anti-Racism & Inclusion Research Assistant will report to and work directly under the supervision of the Anti-Racism & Inclusion Advisor and have an opportunity to work collaboratively with HRE Research Assistants supporting other areas of the department.

Duties & Responsibilities

BHM/AHM Program & Event Planning

• Assist in the development and dissemination of a BHM/AHM critical path and Event Tracking Sheet

• Support the coordination, execution, and documentation of BHM/AHM Working Group meetings

• Work with various department stakeholders and support staff to develop, plan, and facilitate BHM/AHM-focused events aimed at students, faculty, and staff representing the Brock University community

• Coordinate room bookings, audio/visual bookings, and other necessary arrangements for confirmed programming and events

• Provide in-person/online coordination and support for designated BHM/AHM programming and events

BHM/AHM Outreach & Engagement

• Lead and execute outreach communications to administrative and academic departments across campus

• Support the establishment of working partnerships with relevant departments/groups (i.e. various student services, student clubs, etc.) and build additional capacity by liaising with student-facing equity, diversity, and inclusion roles across the university

• Contribute to the development and distribution of BHM/AHM creative content and marketing materials, inclusive of Experience BU pages and social media posts

• Develop collaborations with campus/community partners (i.e. local Black-owned businesses and organizations within the Niagara region/St. Catharines area) and underrepresented student groups working to affirm various Black/African/Caribbean communities

BHM/AHM Administrative Support

• Provide general administrative support for BHM/AHM Working Group meetings, including the execution of meeting minutes to support documentation of discussions and decisions

• Liaise with designated department support staff in the execution of event/program planning and logistics

• Support the financial administration and reconciliation of all BHM/AHM events and programs via the collection and filing of applicable invoices and receipts

• Utilize data management tools to track event/program metrics and outcomes

Accountability & Reporting

• Accountability for time worked will be submitted via Workday

HREO Orientation

All students must commit to the following in-person dates for successful hire:

• Aug. 27: 10 am - 2 pm | Intro to HRE and Community Building

• Aug. 28: 10 am - 2 pm | Event Planning, Outreach and Tabling

• Aug. 29: 10 am - 2 pm | Effective Facilitation and workshop design

• Sept. 1: All Day | Residence Training

HREO Professional Development

Mandatory professional development sessions will be held on Saturdays during October, November, January, March, & April.

• Saturday, Oct. 4: 10 am - 2 pm

• Saturday, Nov. 8: 10 am - 2 pm

• Saturday, Jan. 24: 10 am - 2 pm

• Saturday, Mar. 7: 10 am - 2 pm

• Saturday, Apr. 11: 10 am - 2 pm (Annual Wrap Up and Celebration)

Qualifications

Experience

• Commitment to supporting the development, planning, promotion, and execution of engaging culturally specific programming for a diverse university community is strongly desired

• Proven experience planning, organizing, and executing programs, events, and other culturally based initiatives is considered an asset

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple tasks and projects simultaneously are required

• Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate strong leadership, a commitment to human rights, equity, and anti-racist work, and project coordination/management experience

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates must:

• Be a current Brock University student as of September 2025;

• Provide a clear Vulnerable Person Police Check upon hiring

Other Requirements

• Project/program management skills

• Ability to take initiative and support programming development in collaboration with various stakeholders and departments

• Strong communication skills

• Advanced public presentation skills

• Good knowledge and understanding of MS Office (i.e. Teams, Calendar, OneNote, etc.), Canva, and Experience BU

• Demonstrated creative/graphic design skills for marketing & promotional campaigns

• Experience developing and delivering social media content (i.e. Instagram)

• Proficiency in documentation and organization

• Adept at community outreach and student engagement

• Critical thinking skills

• Proven time-management skills

The qualifications for this position have changed since it was last posted.

Eligible candidates will receive an email to arrange a virtual interview. The anticipated start date will be August 27th for in-person onboarding. The position will be contracted for up to 10 hours per week from late September 2025 through the end of March 2026. The successful candidate will have an interest in this area demonstrated through voluntary, activist or advocacy activities. Preference will be given to individuals with lived experience as members of Black, African, and/or Caribbean ancestry and communities. Additionally, preference will be given but not limited to recent, current, and returning students to Brock University.

Mentoring is an integral part of the work that is delivered by the HREO and a task we take very seriously. The HREO at Brock focuses on promoting human rights policies and practices throughout the institution allowing the Research Assistant to work within an inclusive and affirming framework while learning how to effect systemic, institutional, and cultural change as it relates to anti-racism, anti-oppression, inclusion, equity, decolonization, and reconciliation.

Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of Employment Equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. Women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employee Accommodation Policy (link). Please advise Talent Acquisition, talent@brocku.ca to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

It is Brock University’s policy to give consideration to qualified internal applicants.

We appreciate all applications received, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are committed to offering flexible work arrangements where possible as outlined in our Flexible Work Arrangement Policy. As a student-centered organization, all employees are required to work on campus as needed.

Brock University is committed to creating a respectful and equitable workplace. We strive to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in our work and learning environments. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and actively encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous Peoples, people who identify as Black, African and/or Caribbean, as racialized and/or as from ethnic and cultural minority groups, and other underrepresented demographic groups at Brock and in the Niagara region. Brock also recognizes intersectionality and the interconnected identities, histories, and experiences of these aforementioned groups.

We are committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment, and we accommodate the needs of applicants throughout all stages of the recruitment process, as outlined in our Employment Accommodation Policy and consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Please contact talent@brocku.ca if you require a disability related accommodation so we can ensure your participation needs are met.

Brock University does not use AI Technology at any stage of the recruitment process.

We appreciate all applications received. Candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca.