Human Rights jobs in Canada

Division & Section: People & Equity, Equity & Human Rights

Work Location: Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen West, Toronto, ON M5G 1P5

Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Hybrid, Temporary Vacancy (12 months)

Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Affiliation: Non-Union

Number of Positions Open: 1

Posting Period: 12-DEC-2024 to 02-JAN-2024

The Division of People & Equity plays a critical role within the City of Toronto, Canada's largest and most culturally diverse city, in promoting policies, practices and programs conducive to fostering and creating an equitable environment where employees, visitors and residents feel heard and welcome.

As a Human Rights Consultant, you will play a key role in this regard. Demonstrating your ability to exercise sound judgment and remain impartial, you will resolve employee and resident complaints of discrimination and harassment through the intake process by conducting various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including coaching, negotiation, mediation, and investigation. You will undertake research and stay up to date on human rights trends, legislation, and case law, supporting the development of resources and communications to enhance human rights, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

This is an exciting opportunity for a subject matter expert to support City and Division human rights goals and initiatives by assisting in the development and implementation of human rights-related policies and programming. You will use your human rights knowledge and supportive approach to provide consultative advice to all levels of City staff, elected officials, and service recipients related to harassment, discrimination, accommodation, and inclusion.

Along with providing confidential, impartial advice and information on related policies, legislation, Acts, Agreements, etc., you will conduct human rights harassment and discrimination investigations, consistent with City policy, collective agreements, and legislated obligations. This will involve interviewing parties, gathering evidence, conducting research, analyzing, and preparing investigation reports, determining findings, and making recommendations to resolve and remedy complaints.

What you will do:

1. Support the City's work in advancing human rights, accessibility, equity, and reconciliation.
2. Provide expert advice to employees, managers, and residents on the City's human rights-related policies and processes and accommodations.
3. Support the resolution of human rights-related complaints (mediation, facilitation, early intervention, and investigations) and conduct complex human rights-related investigations.
4. Provide neutral advice on human rights-related policies and programs to City staff and residents who use City services or facilities.
5. Provide guidance on accommodation requests to residents, employees, and management staff.
6. Work cross-functionally with other People and Equity staff to embed human rights.
7. Develop resources, tools, and communications to support human rights-related initiatives.
8. Research and stay informed of trends, legislation, policies, strategies, and tactics across other cities, levels of government, and corporations to identify leading practices.
9. Prepare and/or process confidential information, records, reports, forms, presentations, guides, and correspondence.
10. Provide effective, confidential, and impartial consultation/issue resolution services, interpretation, and guidance to all levels of management, employees, and external organizations, requiring an integrated knowledge of human rights, equity, and interpretation of legislation, collective agreements, policies, programs, and processes related to human rights, accessibility, and equity.

Key Qualifications:

1. Considerable experience in human rights within a major unionized public or private sector organization.
2. Demonstrated experience in alternative dispute resolution processes, and in undertaking harassment/discrimination investigations, drafting investigation reports, and recommending appropriate human rights interventions and remedies.
3. Knowledge and experience in applying relevant provisions of the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, collective agreements, human rights case law, and related legislation (e.g., Employment Standards Act).
4. Experience in researching, developing, and implementing anti-racism, equity, diversity, and human rights-related projects, policy, and/or education is also a vital requirement of this role.
5. Highly developed communication, presentation, and human relations skills with the ability to communicate persuasively and effectively at all organizational levels.
6. Ability to exercise sound judgment and remain impartial.
7. Excellent analytical, mediation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
8. Post-secondary education in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Law degree (LLB or JD) would be considered an asset.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.