About the Canadian Urban Institute

The Canadian Urban Institute is the heart of Canadian city building. We are a collaborative and inclusive platform where policymakers, urban professionals, leaders, activists, and academics from diverse backgrounds come together to shape vibrant and equitable communities across Canada.

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative (CHCI), a national funding program administered by CUI and Community Foundations of Canada, was launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to transform public spaces through the creation of safe and vibrant public spaces, improved mobility options, and innovative digital solutions. A core element of the program is its community of practice: Canada’s Placemaking Community which provides resources, professional development, networking and opportunities for connection for those striving to ensure resilient and inclusive urban development for everyone.

Role Description

Seeking an experienced Program Lead, who is passionate about placemaking, and who will oversee the next phase of Canada’s Placemaking Community. This role offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with a diverse set of stakeholders to help shape and deliver programming that will advance CHCI’s shared placemaking vision and agenda. Key responsibilities will include working collaboratively with partners to design and deliver a suite of virtual and in-person capacity enhancing events and activities; identifying opportunities to leverage new and existing partnerships and build on key relationships; ensuring program resources are optimized; and supporting program reporting requirements.

Core Responsibilities include 

Strategy & Implementation

• Manage the Canada’s Placemaking Community including setting priorities, coordinating the overall calendar of activity, identifying and anticipating challenges and providing ongoing support to the team.
• Identify opportunities for capacity building and peer-learning among CHCI’s place-based initiatives from across Canada, putting social equity and community voices at the center.
• Identify strategies to collect feedback regarding program activities to inform growth and reporting efforts.

Community Management

• Engage with CHCI projects to learn about their experiences, challenges and needs; maintain and nurture relationships with project leads.
• Explore opportunities for project leads’ participation and contribution in community of practice activities (e.g. webinars, peer-learning sessions, storytelling efforts, etc).
• Design, coordinate and host creative participatory webinars for the community of practice.
• Facilitate participatory peer-to-peer learning experiences in collaboration with partner organizations.

Essential Skills & Traits

• A keen interest in urban issues, strong understanding of the role played by community-led organizations and non-for-profits in enabling collective wellbeing and inclusive economies.
• +5 years of demonstrated experience managing programs, ideally working closely with community-building initiatives or place-based community organizations.
• Strong strategic sensibilities, with even stronger executional know-how.
• Proven success creating meaningful partnerships and fostering long-lasting relationships.
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, patience, organizational skills.
• A personal and professional commitment to anti-oppression, anti-racism and accessibility principles.
• Knowledge of anti-oppressive, equity-informed community engagement practices, is an asset.
• Fluency in French is an asset.

Working Conditions

This is a flexible position (hybrid if live in the Toronto region or remote) and requires the ability to work during regular business hours (ie. 9:00am – 5:00pm EST Monday to Friday), with the ability to work flexible hours from time to time.

Diversity

The Canadian Urban Institute is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We place high value on diversity and encourage applications from all equity-deserving groups. We are committed to an environment that is barrier free. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us and we will arrange for accommodation.

Compensation

This is a 4–5 days/week contractor role; Compensation rate is $55 – $65 / hour, depending on experience.

Apply today!

Please submit your cover letter and resume through the following form by 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 22, 2024. Your cover letter should outline your essential skills and tell us why you are the ideal candidate for this position.

Application Form

If you have any challenges submitting your application through the form, please send an email to healthycommunities@canurb.org with your full name and “CHCI Program Manager” in the subject line.

No telephone inquiries please. CUI thanks all applicants for their interest. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. For more information about CUI visit www.canurb.org.