Safe Environment Coordinator

The Safe Environment Coordinator plays a vital role in fostering a culture of trust and protection within the Church community. This position is dedicated to ensuring that every parish, ministry, and program upholds the highest standards of safety for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Ideal candidates will have a deep commitment to serving the Church, a heart for safeguarding others, and the ability to lead with compassion and integrity.

Policy Development & Administration:

• Develops and maintains the Safe Environment (SE) Policies & Procedures;
• Sets the goals and vision of the SE Office in collaboration with the Archbishop’s Delegate for Operations, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities of the Archdiocese;
• Support Parishes and Parish Screening Coordinators to implement the SE Policy and ensure that screening is ongoing and relevant documentation is up to date;
• Perform parish SE audits to track compliance and ensure proper collection and storage of records;
• Manage the application (and renewals) of local and international Police Record Checks for clergy, consecrated religious men and women, as well as obtaining a signed Code of Conduct;
• Obtain an annual SE sign-off from parishes;
• Respond to questions from pastors, screening coordinators and parishioners about the Policy;
• Provide SE letters of good standing as requested.

Training and Formation:

• Provide SE training to clergy, permanent deacons and seminarians;
• Provide ongoing training for new and existing Parish Screening Coordinators: organizing sessions at parishes, institutes or at the Pastoral Centre several times a year;
• Develop a formal onboarding process for new Parish Screening Coordinators to retain and engage them;
• Provide Abuse Awareness & Abuse Prevention Workshops at parishes;
• Continually improving training content and materials, incorporating relevant examples and best practices available.

Data Management & Reporting:

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive system for tracking and reporting SE compliance;
• Track SE status for clergy, consecrated religious men and women, and major seminarians;
• Liaise with the Ministry of Justice Criminal Records Review Program regarding the process for obtaining criminal records reviews through the CRRP and communicates changes to the Parish Screening Coordinators;
• Ensure that appropriate follow-up occurs in cases where background checks are flagged or unclear.

Advising & Support:

• When requested, work with senior leadership on sensitive matters providing advice and identifying potential opportunities for improvement of prevention, response, and identification of risk;
• Provide advice to pastors and screening coordinators, in consultation with the Archbishop’s Delegate, on issues of misconduct arising at parishes;
• Assist other Catholic organizations in developing and implementing Safe Environment protocols;
• Network with other dioceses to find solutions to challenges that arise, develop save environment protocols, and confirm related information for departing and arriving clergy.

Experience, education and training:

• Three (3) to five (5) years of professional experience in Safe Environment or another similarly applicable field;
• Post-secondary education in human resources management, or a related discipline.

Knowledge skills and abilities:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, able to identify issues and implement effective solutions;
• Detailed knowledge and awareness of the Archdiocese of Vancouver;
• Proven organization and time management skills, able to manage a variety of projects and bring them to completion;
• Demonstrated ability to act with tact, diplomacy and discretion;
• Able to create and deliver effective and engaging presentations;
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant federal and provincial regulations (Child, Family and Community Services Act, Personal Information Protection Act, etc.);
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to build trust and collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders;
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite;
• Experience working with databases is considered an asset (Salesforce).