Social Planner I

**Requisition ID**:42048

**Organization**

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

**Main Purpose and Function**

The Social Planner I supports existing initiatives and partnerships within the implementation of the City of Vancouver’s Healthy City Strategy, Downtown Eastside Plan, Downtown Eastside Community Economic Development Strategy, City of Reconciliation Framework, City of Vancouver Equity Framework and to support the economic development of equity denied communities. The position brings experience and understanding of complex socio-economic trends in Vancouver’s lower-income communities, including but not limited to communities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The position involves facilitating programmatic partnerships and providing leadership on a range of projects and initiatives. This includes implementing and evaluating the projects and programs and recommending potential policy and future programming priorities, particularly relating to issues of poverty, income, peer-employment and well-being.

**Specific Duties and Responsibilities**
- Develops and fosters partnerships to create employment, capacity building and income generating opportunities for residents from equity denied communities in Vancouver; including developing strategies and best practices to sustain and grow the peer employment sector.
- Participates in and facilitates community and stakeholder engagement processes related to the implementation of the City of Vancouver’s Community Economic Development Strategy and other related strategies.
- Undertakes a range of technical research and data analysis, and policy and program evaluation to support the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of the relevant strategies within the Social Policy Department.
- Prepares and contributes to the development of policy, departmental responses, reports and recommendations to civic departments, senior staff, City Council, and other agencies on pertinent community economic development issues and/or social policy issues. These include briefing notes, decision notes, memos, council reports and evaluation reports.
- Prepares and finalizes operational and licence agreements with community partners in City properties. Liaises between community agencies and other programmatic partners and various City departments regarding these and any other necessary development permits, building permits, occupancy permits, contracts and other requirements.
- Project manages City initiatives that leverage partnerships with key stakeholders including non-profits, community agencies, Business Improvement Associations, local post-secondary institutions, social enterprises, and other community stakeholder groups.
- Leads complex projects that involve multiple internal and external partners.
- Prepares and delivers presentations, if requested, to other governmental, professional, or civic bodies (i.e. Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver BIA Partnership, Board of Trade, Federal or Provincial Ministries, Residents Associations etc.).
- Provides support/advice to community plans, social infrastructure projects, grants and related initiatives.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Qualifications**

Education and Experience:

- Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in social planning, community development, community economic development, geography, social work, public health. Experience community capacity building and community development and research and evaluation, and public policy development or a combination of experience and education
- Experience working with people with lived or living experiences of mental health, substance use and/or poverty.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Considerable knowledge of the social determinants of health and the development and implementation of social policy.
- Considerable knowledge of community development and community economic development processes, practices, models, and principles.
- Considerable knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection and report writing.
- Considerable knowledge of addressing social issues in partnership with non-profit organizations, networks, other funders, and private and public stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of current trends and developments in the local social enterprise se