Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator

Job description

Job summary:
Cowichan Intercultural Society is an immigrant and refugee aid society that supports the integration of newcomers into our community. We have been operating since 1981.

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to develop and implement plans to improve immigrant and refugee settlement and integration in their respective communities. LIPs are community planning tables that include community agencies and institutions representing local government, settlement and community agencies, education, business, recreation and culture, policing, libraries, volunteerism, and others.

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The LIP Coordinator is responsible for the implementation and coordination of the Cowichan Valley Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) initiative. This role involves building and strengthening relationships between local service providers, stakeholders, and the newcomer community to ensure the delivery of effective programs and services. The LIP Coordinator works to develop strategic partnerships, facilitate collaboration, and assess the community's settlement needs, ensuring that resources are used efficiently, and services are accessible to newcomers.

This position is for 35 hours a week, at $31/hour, and is a three-year contract position.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES**
- Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Cowichan Valley LIP initiative, within the budget approved by IRCC and delivered according to Schedule 1 activity in IRCC contract.
- Consult and liaise with CIS Executive Director and CIS Settlement Team to understand and coordinate the engagement of key stakeholders and community contacts.
- Facilitate the establishment and regular meetings of the Cowichan Valley LIP Main Council and working groups that is broad based and representative of the community and the development of a comprehensive community and action plan, ensuring alignment with community needs and impact targets.
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with local service providers, government agencies, and immigrant-serving groups, while building new partnerships for newcomer integration. This includes participating in community roundtables with other service providers.
- Establish a LIP Advisory Board of 2 newcomers and 2 Indigenous elders to ensure diverse perspectives in decision-making and program development with the goal of establishing a Community Plan, action plan and related deliverables.
- Organize and lead meetings, trainings (including cultural awareness raising, range of training for employers, antibias training aimed at helping law enforcement better understand newcomers), working groups, and events and community forums, including organizing refreshments, consultants, and participants, and creating agendas and minutes.
- Organize training to enhance partner capacity and knowledge on Gender-based Analysis Plus, including approaches that demonstrate the importance of ensuring an intersectional approach to community planning and engagement (e.g., Indigenous related considerations, advancing Gender Equality, accessibility considerations, etc.).
- Design and implement surveys, questionnaires and focus groups in a community-based setting, and work with consultants to ensure visual reports, promotion of the results.
- Conduct evaluations and collect feedback, and/or work with consultant and partners, to measure the project’s impact and successes.
- Contribute to the generation of internal and external reports.
- Develop and disseminate Community Awareness information on the topic of immigration and newcomer supports and deliver on other publicity deliverables as budgeted.
- Research best practices and suggest project ideas that enhance newcomers' cultural and community integration and support the LIP’s strategic planning.
- Liaise with LIP representatives in other regions to share and coordinate project ideas, research, outreach and promotional opportunities, including attending meetings and conferences.
- Research streams for further funding and develop grant proposals based on strategic needs.
- Coordinate meetings with local anti-racism network (Cowichan Tribes Elders, City of Duncan, RCMP, non-profits) to develop Community Response Protocols to formalize policy and procedure around reporting incidents of racism and hate.
- Participate in staff meetings and activities and attend the Annual General Meeting.
- Other tasks as assigned

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Preference for bachelor’s degree and experience in immigration services, social services, community development, or a related discipline and/or combination of equivalent relevant education and experience.
- Understanding of the non-profit sector including experience with social impact strategic planning.
- A demonstrated record of working with diverse populations and building collaborative relationships.
- Excellent facilitation and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated administrative, leader