Youth Community Connector

**Our Story**:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving, and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect, and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

**Our Team**:
The Region of Waterloo is currently in the development phase of their four-year Strategic plan, which will guide the CAO’s office priorities and focus in the coming years. Community engagement activities are crucial components of the development phase and provide opportunity for community members to inform areas of strategic focus.

The goal of our engagement activities is to build trusting relationships with the community and to open channels of communication, both now and in the future. We are seeking community connectors with lived experience, who can help us to connect with community in a way that is safe and reciprocal. In particular, we wish to connect with members of the community who are often not included in the planning of local programs and initiatives.

**The Opportunity**:
As a Youth Community Connector you will be focussing on connecting with youth of all ages to understand what matters to them. You will have the opportunity to provide information, answers to questions and to increase awareness of the Region’s Strategic Plan, including why it’s important. You will gain invaluable community feedback and insights that will inform priorities for the Region’s Strategic plan. You will share your findings with the Region’s Strategic Plan team and collaborate to help support program development and delivery to defined community populations and groups.

You will help to build relationships between communities and regional staff to support the development of the Region’s strategic plan.

You will promote regional programs while engaging specific community groups during outreach campaigns.

You will facilitate individual and group conversations to obtain feedback, including questions, concerns, and considerations regarding the strategic plan.

You will attend community meetings and events in support of community engagement initiatives to support community members’ input into and understanding of the strategic plan development process.

You will respond to general questions and re-directs specific or complex questions to regional staff.

You will share and explain community feedback, concerns, and questions with regional staff.

You will share insights and provide input for the strategic plan development process to rectify barriers to community participation and fit community needs.

You will assist in the review and development of educational and informational resources and materials.

You will participate in project team meetings and attend committee meetings to share insights and information upon request.

You will perform related duties as assigned.

Brings a lived experience through personal understanding of the issues and concerns of specific groups, such as an Indigenous or racialized individual, persons with disabilities, and/or as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ or another under-represented community.

Has strong, established connections to specified communities in Waterloo Region and is comfortable representing community voices with regional staff.

Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and related legislation.

Knowledge of community programs and services.

Ability to understand community members’ concerns, feedback, and issues and communicate this clearly to regional staff.

Ability to promote programs and services and respond to questions/concerns, including liaising with regional staff.

Ability to work independently.

Ability to work varied hours to accommodate events, including evenings and weekends.

Ability to travel to locations within Waterloo Region.

Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

**Additional Information**:
We thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview.

The Region of Waterloo is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the Region, we respect, encourage, and celebrate our diversity. The Region of Waterloo is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Alternate formats of this document are available upon request. Please contact the Service First Contact Centre at phone number