Community Relations Advisor- Intergovernmental and Community Relations Branch

Internal/External
Full-time/Contract
Contract Ending: March 31, 2023
Location: Anywhere in Ontario
Remote Work
Closes: June 21, 2022
Starting Salary: $52,220-$59,520, per year based on experience. Salary Range Max $67,900 [2022 Rates]

All applicants are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to qualified applicants who meet the requirements for MNO Citizenship as per the MNO Bylaws and who are in good standing.

What We Offer

As an employer, the Métis Nation of Ontario offers a collaborative work environment with competitive salary.

Further, contract employees benefit from:

• Optional pension plan,
• 4% vacation pay,
• Annual paid two-week holiday closure in December-January,
• 16 paid public and employer holidays,
• Early closures on long weekends,
• 15 paid health & wellness days (sick leave),
• Employee Assistance Plan, and
• Telemedicine plan.
• Preferred membership pricing at Goodlife gyms.

The Role

The role of the Community Relations (CR) team of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is to support MNO’s 31 chartered community councils and three advisory councils and their volunteers to function, achieve their purpose and goals, and to serve the citizens they represent. CR supports councils with all governance matters; funding applications and reporting; issues management; conflict resolution; and addressing citizen concerns. Increasingly CR will be providing new tools and support to councils to better communicate with the citizens they represent, and will be supporting MNO Branches and Leadership to work with councils to engage citizens.

As part of the CR team, the CR Advisor will undertake CR projects and promote citizen engagement and involvement within established priorities and goals. The CR Advisor engages with elected MNO leadership on a regular basis to identify opportunities to advance council and MNO priorities and provides support to the MNO Community and Advisory Councils regarding all governance matters.

The CR Advisor will also work collaboratively with staff from the Self-Government Strategy and other Branches address issues directly related to MNO councils.

The Community Relations Advisor reports to the Manager of Community Relations, within the Intergovernmental Relations Branch, and will have the following key duties and responsibilities

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support and assist with coordination of larger MNO activities and events including MNO Town Halls and the MNO’s Annual General Assembly.
• Identify and assist community councils with complaints, concerns, conflicts, and general inquiries.
• Able to take a lead role with surveys, outreach, citizen engagement efforts, and special projects.
• Provide support and resources for Community Council elections, the filling of vacancies
• Writing memos, briefing notes and reports and contributing to training material development.
• Develop, update, and facilitate training and deliver presentations to MNO Community and Advisory Councils, committees and external partners.
• Provide knowledge translation and training to councils and committees on MNO governance, policies, procedures, priorities, developments and trends.
• Provide communications and online supports for Zoom, Website and Social Media, and community outreach.
• Update the MNO’s internal elected officials’ directory and calendar of events.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to support and coordinate their participation in meetings including creating necessary presentations.
• Managing and facilitating meetings and preparing relevant materials and briefing notes.
• Actively working to promote the MNO, its priorities and its key policy initiatives.
• Working with vendors and contractors as may be required to support Community Relations and other MNO related events.
• Building relationships with MNO Community Councils and Advisory Council members, and PCMNO elected representatives across the Province.
• Establishing and maintaining positive and productive working relationships with other MNO Branches and staff.
• Managing the relationship with external contractors or consultants relative to Community Relations.
• Working in collaboration with MNO leadership, MNO staff, MNO citizens, and contractors on related projects.
• Representing the MNO or acting as a liaison in meetings with community councils and other stakeholders as may be required.
• Maintaining positive and productive working relationships on behalf of the MNO with Crown governments, industry and other stakeholders.
• Other reasonable duties as may be assigned

Qualifications:

• Post Secondary degree or diploma in Political Science, Communications, or other relevant program from a recognized university or college, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum of 2-5 years’ experience with not-for-profits, federal, provincial, municipal and or Indigenous governments.
• Must have a high degree of technological literacy and proficiency with MS office, Outlook, videoconferencing platforms, and the capacity to identify and learn new software as may be required.
• Willingness to participate in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced multi-issue environment, serving a wide range of varied internal and external interests.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer-service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
• Effective communicator with experience speaking to a variety of audiences.
• Strong writing skills.
• Detail-oriented and results-focused.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Organization skills and time/priority-management.
• Ability to work alone/independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to take a lead and complete tasks on time.
• Creative, resourceful and forward thinking.
• Experience with event and/or project coordination.
• Experience hosting Zoom meetings and/or Webinars.
• Ability to grasp and be sensitive to politics.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and cultural sensitivity.
• Knowledge of the Métis and/or Indigenous issues, or demonstrated ability to quickly acquire and expand their knowledge of Métis specific matters.
• Demonstrated understanding of not-for-profit governance processes an asset.
• Website development (i.e. Wix), social media experience, and online promotions an asset.
• Community Engagement, Conflict Resolution or Mediation Skills an asset.
• Bilingualism (English/French/Michif) is an asset.
• Able to flex working hours, including working on evenings or weekends, as required.
• Willing and able to travel, at times, with overnight stays in other communities.
• Ability to work remotely (from home).
• A valid Ontario driver’s license.

Who We Are

In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) was established through the will of Métis people and Métis communities coming together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific governance structure and vision, encapsulated in the Statement of Prime Purpose. Today, the Métis Nation of Ontario represents over 25,000 Métis citizens.

The MNO delivers programs and services to its citizens through these branches: Healing and Wellness; Community Wellbeing; Education and Training; Housing; Lands, Resources and Consultation; Intergovernmental and Community Relations; Self-Government and Registry. Through these various branches, the MNO maintains 30+ offices and community spaces across the province, administers over $50 million annually, and employs about 350 staff across the province.

AODA Statement

The Métis Nation of Ontario commits to providing accommodation as required by the Ontario Human Rights Act, unless to do so would cause undue hardship. Accommodations will be provided in accordance with the principles of dignity, individualization, and inclusion. The Métis Nation of Ontario will work cooperatively and in the spirit of respect with all partners in the accommodation process. These accommodations will extend to all aspects of the employment relationship including recruitment and selection.

Please email humanresources@metisnation.org if you require an accommodation during the hiring process.

Please note, all employees, regardless of role or location, are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless the employee has a valid medical exemption.  This condition of employment is effective for all employees, full or part-time, permanent or contract, whether working remotely or not, as of November 1, 2021.