Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution

Centennial College recognizes and affirms Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Indigenous ways of knowing as central to the vibrancy and uniqueness of its learning and working academic mission. We strongly encourage applications from members of Indigenous communities and all equity-deserving groups including Women, Racialized Persons with Disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.

We also recognize that Centennial is situated on the Treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their legacy as well as that of all First Peoples that have been and remain present here in Toronto. We recognize that First Peoples come from sovereign Nations and that part of understanding our responsibilities of residing on this territory are understanding the true history, circumstances and legacy of the Treaties signed here (such as the Toronto Purchase, Robinson-Huron Treaty and Williams Treaties) and including pre-contact Treaties and Agreements between sovereign Nations and that all peoples in this area are therefore Treaty people with obligations and responsibilities to all our relations.

How to Apply

Centennial College is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that is diverse and is as intersectional as possible. All interested applicants can send their resume to Jessica Horton and Taq Bhandal (by e-mailing jhorton@bipocsearch.com).

In accordance with the AODA Act, for applicants living with a disability accommodation will be provided throughout the search process. Should accommodations be required, please make Jessica aware by using the above addresses.

We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

 Centennial College—a post-secondary institution firmly committed to personal well-being and building social solidarity among its community—has transformed itself from a local community college to a truly global learning network. Having built enormous capacity over the last 50 years and with its commitment to transforming lives and communities through learning, the College is in a very good position to further its reach, impact, and social capital, all while continuing to ensure that students are equipped to succeed in work and in life. With approximately 45,000 full- and part-time enrolments throughout its Toronto campuses, and with a large student population at Suzhou Centennial College in China, Centennial is widely recognized for being an ethnoculturally diverse institution. And it’s organizations like Centennial that are uniquely positioned to change the world for the better by means of helping students—from all walks of life—recognize their intrinsic worth and capabilities as global citizens!

With such a unique history and compelling forethought praised nationwide and internationally, this is an auspicious time for Centennial. It is within this context that Centennial invites nominations and applications for the role of Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. This position will have an indelible impact on the future of a College that has been focused on creating vibrant and accessible campuses, cultivating civic discourse and building bridges with communities and employers, and ensuring their graduates are engaged in meaningful work that contributes to the public good.

As a vital member of the College’s leadership team, the Director of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution will report directly to the Associate Vice-President of Innovation, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Healing. This esteemed individual will work in close collaboration with a range of communities, including students, faculty, staff, administration, and the Board of Governors. Implementing the recommendations from an extensive institutional policy and procedure review, the incumbent's primary objectives will be to establish and operationalize a sector-leading human rights infrastructure.  The intention of this objective is to create conditions for the flourishing of equitable and inclusive environments where Indigenous ways of knowing and being are integrated across the College.

In partnership with the AVP, the incumbent will take the lead in contributing to and implementing a comprehensive strategy for human rights and conflict resolution. They will provide critical insight and contribution to the design of the department and the identification of essential resources and team members while being an advocate for greater adherence to human rights principles enterprise-wide. Furthermore, the Director will oversee all aspects of managing human rights complaints and related conflicts, including intake, support referrals, case assessment, advisory services, and case resolution. They will also be responsible for overseeing and providing mediation and informal conflict resolution services, database creation, data collection and reporting, institutional education, and training as necessary.

The ideal candidate for this leadership position possesses a proven track record of cultivating secure, inclusive, and respectful environments. They have extensive experience and knowledge of human rights, trauma-informed, and culturally safe investigations. Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration and restorative justice techniques and broader alternate dispute resolution capabilities are also a must-have to successfully drive positive transformation across the College.

Qualifications

Among the qualifications being sought in candidates, the incoming leader has a deep and abiding commitment to advancing reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms and must believe, intrinsically, in the importance of leading with curiosity and welcoming ideas that can later be synthesized and turned into possibility. While all candidates are encouraged to apply and, in so doing, share how they see themselves adding value to the Centennial College environment, the following credentials and/or experiences are seen as possible markers of the candidates most likely to realize success in the role:

A) Senior experience leading collaborative structural and culture change. Several years of progressive experience in human rights, conflict resolution, or a related field within large, complex organizations, notably but not exclusively higher education or public sector setting;

B) demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating human rights policies, programs, and initiatives;

C) developed understanding of intersectionality and anti-oppression frameworks with specific knowledge of the dynamics of interpersonal and systemic racism;

D) experience providing leadership and supervision, including hiring, training, performance management, and professional development of employees, and;

E) a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Human Rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution, service orientation and trauma-informed, interculturally competent stakeholder care, Restorative Justice, Law, a related discipline or a JD/LLB.  

This is a hybrid position of 2 days in the office per week.