Human Rights Advisor; Equity & Human Rights Office

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Job Purpose:

The Human Rights Advisor plays a key role in shaping and supporting various policies, practices, and initiatives that are designed to ensure Trent University's working and learning environments are supportive for all students, staff and faculty.

Working closely with the Director, the Advisor will engage, advise and support the University's administration in the promotion and implementation of the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and related human rights legislature as well as equity, diversity and inclusion practices.

Key activities for this role will include complaint process coordination, reporting, training and communication, subject matter advising, mediation and community outreach, support and delivery of campus wide programs and special projects in areas connected to the work of the Office. The Human Rights Advisor will draw upon in-depth knowledge of the Human Rights Code, ODA and the AODA to ensure the University is both proactive and compliant in meeting its goals and obligations.

Key Activities:

• Act as the University’s contact for feedback/complaints/collaboration/information/investigation as legislated under the AODA for staff, faculty, students, and third-party public, to minimize risk of escalation into human rights complaints.

OHRC Discrimination Complaints

• Act as the University’s contact for OHRC Discrimination complaints. Investigates and formulates the University's response to complaints, facilitates effective complaints processes and acts as mediator when required.
• Keep up to date with developments in anti-discrimination legislation, regulations guidelines and associated good practices such as Bill 166 and Trent University Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
• Compile and submit necessary reports to Leadership and the Board.
• Carry out impact assessments on the effectiveness of specific practices, policies and procedures, and advise others on how to carry out such assessments.

Education, Training and Advising

• Act as a human rights subject matter expert for the University.
• Develop educational materials to be used institution-wide, including print and web-based materials.
• Develop and deliver workshops and training materials to enhance the capacity of Trent University faculty, staff and students in the areas of responsibility of the Office.
• Evaluate and gather feedback regarding training to make enhancements and appropriate modifications.

Policy Initiatives

• Review current policy and practice within the University and identify key human rights priorities for the University to ensure that the University is meeting its legal obligations under current, and future, anti-discrimination legislation.
• Develop an appropriate process for and carry out equity and accessibility impact assessments on the effectiveness of specific practices, policies and procedures, and advise others on how to carry out such assessments.

Project Management

• Engage with internal and external stakeholders on projects that enhance the overall OHRC compliance of Trent University.
• Develop sustainable systems to monitor and evaluate the University’s overall level of OHRC compliance.
• Evaluate and interpret monitoring data to improve the University’s performance in the areas of responsibility of the Office.

Education Required:

• Honours University Degree (4 year) in Human Rights…