Program Manager

The Indigenous Justice Centre of Calgary is committed to providing service and access to justice to the Indigenous population within Calgary and the surrounding regions. The IJC is committed to providing a supportive and collegial team environment where junior and senior lawyers work together to provide excellent and holistic legal services to our clients. IJC lawyers will work in a dynamic and developing legal environment and will be committed to providing excellent legal services.

The Program Manager is part of the senior leadership team and supports the overall human resource management of the organization. The Program Manager ensures that the oversite of structures, programs and services are consistently achieving expected deliverables; as well as maintaining targets and outcomes. The Program Manager supports the continuity of the IJC in collaboration with other Department Heads and the Executive Director.

The Program Manager will lead the IJC in increasing access to justice and improving the effectiveness of legal services to all Indigenous persons in a culturally appropriate manner in all aspects and areas of the justice system, including the right to timely, efficient and quality legal advice. To ensure the rights of Indigenous people are addressed at the earliest stages of encountering the justice system.

Key Outcomes:

- Indigenous peoples will receive immediate, timely and culturally effective legal services to address their legal matters without delay to reduce time being remanded.
- Indigenous peoples will receive positive outcomes in regards to dispositions at sentencing.
- Indigenous peoples will receive culturally informed, aware and sensitive legal representation.
- Indigenous peoples will have access to restorative justice approaches and community sentencing reflecting Indigenous values to justice (i.e.: the provision of peacemaking circles, healing initiatives and/or ceremonies).
- Employees are empowered and supported in achieving their targets and outcomes
- The IJC operates effectively providing quality services for Indigenous peoples in the justice system.
- Key Responsibilities Include:

- Recruitment, hiring, and retention of employees
- Conducts HR role of supervision, addressing performance strategies and oversite of employees
- Supports employee relationships and conduct issues
- Organizes and approves professional development
- Conducts staff performance evaluations in collaboration with other department heads
- Provides employee references
- Conducts practicum agreements and oversite of non-articling student practicum students
- Retains records of vacation and sick leave
- Oversite of strategic direction and structural integrity of programs and services
- Ensures targets and outcomes are being achieved
- Conducts non-counsel reviews of agency documental expectations including file and documental quality assurance
- Review of Targets and Outcomes of Programs and Positions - monthly reviews to ensure programs meeting measures
- Ensures deliverables are achieved for funding agreements and funding reports are conducted timely
- Addresses operational issues of agency (including phone issues and IT issues, plumbing, alarms etc.
- Addresses external concerns and complaints
- Promotes, develops and implements new initiatives within the agency
- Attend leadership working groups in the Justice sector
- Participate in strategic planning and decision making as part of the Senior Management Team
- Involved in risk management decisions
- Acting Executive Director in their absence
- Knowledge and Skills

Exhibited Skill Sets:

- Strong interpersonal skills;
- Capacity to manage oversight with creativity and excellence;
- Ability to balance priorities and meet deadlines;
- Ability to analyze, assess and manage risks and implement effective problem solving;
- Capacity to delegate and empower the strengths and expertise of employees;
- Experience in leading and mentoring to increase the capacity of an organization;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to think strategically;
- Effective time management skills;
- Exhibited capacity to build on professional network
- Self motivated with the ability to work independently, and proactively as a team player;
- Strong commitment to the vision and values of the Indigenous Justice Centre;
- Strong knowledge of the structure and procedures of Canada’s Criminal Justice System, including Gladue principles and case law.

Cultural:

- A strong understanding of Indigenous issues, social justice advocacy, diversity and anti-oppressive practice;
- Understanding of Indigenous restorative justice approaches;
- Knowledge of the structure of Calgary Indigenous Court (asset not required)
- Strong cultural knowledge and/or understanding of traditional and ceremonial teachings (particularly regarding local Indigenous peoples and diverse Indigenous populations);
- Understanding of how to work effectively with Elders, Sacred Teachers and Knowledge