Project Coordinator - Advancing Newcomer Employment in Edmonton

at  IslamicFamily

Location: IslamicFamily Hub (10545 108 Street), with some remote opportunities
Report to: Research and Programs Director
Salary: $28-30 per hour
Posting Close Date: September 10th, 2024
Position Start Date: October 1, 2024
Position End Date: March 31, 2025

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As the Project Coordinator for “Community-Commerce Connect: Advancing Newcomer Employment in Edmonton”, you will play a pivotal role in leading and coordinating all aspects of the project which aims to enhance inclusive hiring practices for newcomers in Edmonton. This multifaceted role requires a blend of project management expertise, data analysis skills, report synthesis, and community engagement experience. You will oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive training program for employers while ensuring alignment with the City of Edmonton’s and Province of Alberta’s missions and goals related to immigrant integration initiatives.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Project Leadership and Coordination: Provide overall leadership and coordination for the initiative, and ensure alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations for the various partner agencies.
2. Research and Data Analysis: Oversee the research and data collection efforts to identify employment barriers faced by newcomers, conduct needs assessments with employers and focus groups with newcomers across the city, and analyze project data to inform program development and evaluation.
3. Training Program Development: Work closely with an educational designer to develop a comprehensive training program for employers, focusing on cultural competency, inclusive hiring practices, and the value of a diverse workforce.
4. Training Delivery and Evaluation: Support the delivery of training sessions to employers in coordination with a lead from the City of Edmonton, track participant progress, and conduct evaluations to measure the program’s effectiveness and impact.
5. Community Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, facilitate collaboration, and ensure outreach to diverse communities to maximize project reach and impact.
6. 
   
7. Work with Kulan and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (APC) to ensure the successful implementation of focus groups to the organizations’ respective communities
   
   Required Qualifications

• Extensive Experience: Demonstrated experience in project management and community engagement particularly in newcomer-serving spaces
• Educational Background: Master’s degree in social science, with a strong foundation in project management and research methodologies is strongly preferred. We’re open to applicants with global experience whose degrees may not be from Canada.
• Community-Centric Research: Background in community-based research with experience in conducting focus groups and needs assessments are a must
• Data Analysis and Report Synthesis Expertise: Proficiency in data analysis techniques and report synthesis to support material development
• Community Engagement Skills: Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and experience building relationships with community organizations and diverse newcomer communities.
  Project Milestones
• 30 days
• 
  
• Familiarize yourself with the project’s objectives, timeline, and stakeholders.

• Establish communication channels partner agencies (IslamicFamily, City of Edmonton, Kulan, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress), newcomer serving agencies, and potential employers.
• Begin implementing Phase 1: Research and Data Collection. Finalize survey and research instruments, as well focus group and need assessment schedules
• Set up a project management system to track progress and milestones and set a regular cadence of meetings with partner agencies
• 60 days
• 
  
• Support the hiring and onboarding of a Community Engagement Specialist and a Data Analyst

• Begin data collection activities in collaboration with community partners, ensuring comprehensive outreach to newcomer communities and service providers.
• Begin needs assessment interviews with employers across the city
• Engage educational designers to begin planning and outlining the training content
• Monitor progress against the project timeline and make adjustments as necessary to ensure milestones are met.
• 90 days
• 
  
• Finalize all data collection through focus groups, needs assessments and interviews

• Finalize data analysis to identify key insights and employment barriers faced by newcomers
• Synthesize and draft a findings report to share with partner agencies and relevant stakeholders
• Utilize research and needs assessment findings to refine the training content outline in preparation for phase 2 of the project
• December 2024
• 
  
• Complete phase 1 of the project

• Present progress report to project partners as well as the CofE & GofA
• March, 2025
• 
  
• Complete phase 2 of the project

• Finalize and present series of educational modules to project partners (IslamicFamily, Kulan, UCC-APC, and the City of Edmonton)
  About Islamic FamilyPeople come to IslamicFamily for support with security, safety and growth. IslamicFamily serves 5000 clients every month, runs Edmonton’s second largest food bank, provides aid in financial crises, supports victims of gender-based violence, settles refugees, and delivers a range of preventative programming for youth. IslamicFamily’s services are open to all.:
  IslamicFamily is an Imagine Canada accredited charity, the winner of the Government of Alberta’s Inspiration Award for its work combating domestic violence (2020) and the Canadian Mental Health Associations Professional Service Award (2020). IslamicFamily is a POC (people of colour) run and led organization, with the majority of leadership positions held by women of colour.
  About Kulan
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  Our mandate is to develop and empower African descendant communities in Alberta through a partnership, collaborative approach, and capacity building, providing quality programming and access to services from a place of cultural awareness and competency to the families, children, and seniors in our diverse community in Edmonton. We strive to create opportunities for full access and participation to all our community members in various aspects of society including economic, social, cultural and educational endeavors that contribute to the holistic development and wellness of the community including individual, family and community.
  The Black community in Edmonton is rapidly growing, and we at Horn Youth Services Foundation (Kulan) are committed to providing specialized support through a range of services that cater to both newcomers and long-time residents alike. As the first of its kind in the city, we take pride in welcoming individuals and families from all walks of life, establishing an inclusive environment where people can not only access essential services, but also find a space to exchange their stories and experiences, and have their voices heard.
  About UCC-APC
  Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Alberta Provincial Council (UCC-APC) is an umbrella organization serving more than 400,000 Albertans of Ukrainian descent. We are dedicated to preserving and promoting Ukrainian heritage while fostering an inclusive and diverse community. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, thousands of Ukrainians have been displaced and relocated to Alberta. UCC-APC has played a pivotal role in providing multifaceted support and coordination for Ukrainian newcomers including English classes, employment fairs, Newcomer Furniture Warehouse and information support for displaced Ukrainians.
  How to apply?
  Confidence (or the lack thereof) can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. We’ll let you in on a secret — there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. The project team is open for innovation. As long as you are continuing to push your growth and development, then consider applying even if you don’t check all the boxes on our posting. Questions & engagement are encouraged.
  Submit the below through our Collage job postings portal!

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE SUBMIT:

• Your resume
• A link to a cover letter or a ≤ 5m video discussing either
• Why you believe this work is important, and some of the challenges you think employers experience when attempting newcomer engagement
• Ideas you have to facilitate broad project outreach across diverse newcomer communities
• How will you work with partner agencies to ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner that accounts for various strategic priorities & engagement style