Education Specialist, Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Overview:

Term: 3 years

Reporting to the Director, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) and the Chair, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (MME), the SGBV Education Specialist is responsible for overseeing the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated, scaffolded education plan across the academic life course for Undergraduate Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering students. This role will ensure that the education plan meets obligations under various legislative and statutory requirements, as well as university policy (e.g. Bill 132, The Ontario Human Rights Code, Policy 42, Policy 33). The education plan will focus on key topic areas including, but not limited to, bystander intervention, male allyship, and intersectional experiences within the STEM field. This role will further socialize this innovative approach with campus stakeholders within and outside the Faculty of Engineering to increase program uptake and long-term success. In addition, this role acts as a key resource to faculty and staff within MME and acts as a liaison between MME and SVPRO. This role will work closely with the education team within the SVPRO to coordinate learning activities, particularly around intersecting topic areas.

The incumbent understands and demonstrates service excellence, working towards building and maintaining strong relationships with all departments within the Faculty of Engineering, as well as key campus stakeholders. The scope of this role may evolve over the contract period in response to the overall needs of the campus community, the Faculty of Engineering and the MME department. Contact with all levels of employee groups and students occurs daily and requires tact, discretion, and a highly developed ability to engage in a professional manner. The Education Specialist will align the strategic direction of the education plan with the university’s overall strategic goals.

This position is contingent on funding.

Responsibilities:

Research and Strategic Planning

• Identifies educational requirements mandated by various statutory requirements such as the Human Rights Code, university policies and related legislations
• Conducts literature reviews and environmental scans regarding existing and emerging approaches to education in the above-mentioned areas
• Works in collaboration and cooperation with key stakeholders across campus to identify what education and training is already being offered to leverage and build upon existing opportunities
• Identifies what gaps and barriers exist in the delivery of training and education in these areas to ensure these are addressed to meet legal and legislative requirements
• Seeks opportunities to engage external organizations/individuals who can provide specialized training and education to our campus community
• Engages in research or specialized analysis in areas of teaching, learning and design

Training and Education within MME

• Work in collaboration and cooperation with colleagues within MME and the SVPR Office to design and deliver programs, workshops and training related to the experience or witnessing of gender-based violence through a variety of formats including in-person and online
• Develops theme-based training including, but not limited to: communication skills, harassment prevention, conflict management, bystander intervention, male allyship, workplace sexual violence, reporting pathways and resources
• Provides booster sessions to employees regarding, but not limited to: responding to disclosures, trauma-informed communication skills, active listening and barriers to disclosing
• Seeks opportunities to engage external organizations/individuals who can provide specialized training and education to our campus community
• Establishes and maintains relationships with campus partners, and identifies opportunities to lead or collaborate on initiatives
• Provides guidance and recommendations regarding current trends, policies and approaches to addressing sexual and gender-based violence within the department of MME
• Uses high-level problem-solving skills applied to complex problems using theories, knowledge, previous experience and logic to analyze complex, non-routine problems and evaluate solutions
• Participates in, and coordinates, SVPRO initiatives within MME, including but not limited to Consent Week, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Violence Awareness Month, and more

Training and Education within SVPRO

• Supports the coordination of campus-wide sexual violence prevention and education initiatives in a variety of formats including in-person, online, videos, social media and print
• Assists with the coordination of regular program evaluation, campus audits, and consultations in conformity with University and Ministry requirements
• Engages in ongoing assessment of the learning needs of students in MME, aligning assessment with learning outcomes
• Identifies emerging trends and collaborates with the SVPR Office to ensure training and education in MME is consistent with the language, approach and strategic goals of overall sexual and gender-based violence education at Waterloo

Consultation, Partnerships and Support

• Develops external partnerships across sectors to research, identify and develop innovative and strategic plans and best practices & maintains strong partnership opportunities across campus
• Works closely with the SVPRO educators to ensure seamless content delivery that intersects between topic areas, and to ensure strategic alignment with the educational priorities of the CSA
• Provides mentorship, coaching and guidance to support campus stakeholders seeking to embed practices within their departments and/or units
• Establishes and maintains relationships with campus partners, and identifies opportunities to lead or collaborate on initiatives
• Acts as a liaison between the SVPR Office and MME regarding upcoming events, opportunities and initiatives as well as identifying potential areas for growth in programming and response processes
• Provides support to the Case Managers, SGBV Response and Support, when needed to respond to individual disclosures by offering support and referrals based on individual needs
• Participates in MME departmental meetings, case consultations and debriefs
• Addresses concerns as they arise during education programming and provides appropriate referrals and follow-up

Administrative Duties

• Supports the Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy, where appropriate
• Attends regular supervision with the Director, SVPR and with the Chair, MME as requested
• Works with the Communication and Outreach Coordinator in MME to ensure content and messaging regarding sexual violence prevention initiatives are consistent with communication strategies through SVPRO and MME
• Adheres to confidentiality guidelines governing the collection, maintenance, release and sharing of data collected
• As a part of a multi-disciplinary unit, attends unit meetings, department meetings, and other meetings as requested or directed by the Director, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response and the Chair, MME
• Participates on broader university committees, where appropriate

Other

• Performs other duties and assists with special projects as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Education, Gender Studies, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Criminology, Social Work, Sociology, Community Psychology, etc.); a Master’s degree preferred
• 5 + years of progressive experience, training and practice in sexual and gender-based violence prevention education, trauma-informed approaches, human rights
• 3 + years professional experience providing support and/or counselling to survivors of interpersonal violence including but not limited to sexual assault, domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of violence
• Understanding and experience applying intersectional, feminist, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices relating to sexual and gender-based violence
• Experience integrating best practices in program development, implementation, and delivery
• Experience working with a hybrid team is an asset
• Experience working within a post-secondary setting is an asset
• The successful candidate will be required to complete a vulnerable sector check as part of the recruitment process
• Strong knowledge of sexual violence response processes in a post-secondary setting
• Strong understanding of program efficacy in sexual violence education and response in a post-secondary setting
• Demonstrated understanding of the differential impacts of trauma, particularly on diverse community members, and how the post-secondary environment plays a role in mitigating or aggravating these impacts
• Knowledge and understanding of Engineering programs and expectations of students, and able to integrate this into the learning plan
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and the ability to design learning programs for adult learners
• Knowledge of effective learning and development methodologies and best practices
• Knowledge of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the ability to design learning programs that accommodates the needs and abilities of all learners by eliminating unnecessary hurdles in the learning process
• Skilled group process and learning facilitator with ability to confidently present material to diverse audiences
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and manage competing priorities simultaneously
• Ability to engage in challenging conversations, utilizing excellent communication skills
• Ability to acquire and apply knowledge of applicable legislation (Ontario Human Rights Commission, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Bill 132, University of Waterloo policies, etc.)
• Proven experience working with confidential and highly sensitive issues in a complex environment
• Must exercise sound judgement, tact, unquestionable degree of integrity and diplomacy using well developed interpersonal communication skills, along with an open creative approach to problem solving

Equity Statement:

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.