EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Post-secondary education in Social Work, Social Services, Indigenous Studies, public policy or a related field;
• A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in the social services, public policy, child welfare sector, or broader sector serving children, youth and families or related field;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job

Lived Experience:

• Individuals with lived experience in the care of a children’s aid society or Indigenous child well-being agency are encouraged to apply.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of the Ontario child welfare system and service delivery structure and an understanding of contemporary and historical issues in child welfare,
• In-depth understanding of current issues pertaining to children and youth involved with child welfare.
• In-depth knowledge of youth development principles and trauma-informed approaches to working with children and youth.
• Demonstrated ability to engage meaningfully with youth, including those with lived experience in care, using inclusive, respectful, and youth-centered practices.
• Experience facilitating youth-led initiatives, consultations, and events that empower young people to share their voices and influence change.
• Skilled in creating safe, supportive, and culturally responsive spaces for youth engagement, particularly for Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other equity-deserving youth.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills tailored to youth audiences, including the ability to adapt language, tone, and format to suit different age groups and experiences.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills to foster trust and collaboration with youth, caregivers, and service providers.
• Ability to apply anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and decolonizing frameworks in both youth engagement and service planning and interactions with OACAS members and community partners.
• Proficiency in digital tools and platforms commonly used by youth for communication and collaboration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to assess complex issues and recommend youth-informed solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, accessible materials for both youth and stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proficiency in commonly used social media, communications and marketing-related software.
• Proficiency in the full suite of Microsoft Office products

Assets:

• Experience working with First Nation, Metis and Inuit and/or francophone communities
• Bilingual English/French

• Coordinates and leads all youth-focused initiatives, consultations, and activities at OACAS, including the development of engagement strategies that build meaningful partnerships with youth and youth-serving stakeholders, aligning with OACAS’s strategic direction to elevate youth voice, leadership, and participation in child welfare transformation.
• Administer and oversee the Clark Bursary Program, including application screening, selection, communication with applicants, and reporting.
• Monitor and analyzes public and social policy trends, activities including applicable legislation, regulation, and standards related to the child welfare sector and broader sectors serving children, youth and families
• Conduct environmental scans and analyze emerging issues, trends, and policy developments affecting youth in and from care.
• Develop and maintain a youth services work plan to prioritize activities and maximize impact.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes, presentations, consultation papers, and responses to information requests related to youth services.
• Provide expert advice and interpretation on youth-related issues to internal teams, member agencies, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Indigenous communities and organizations to support culturally responsive and decolonizing approaches to youth services.
• Represent OACAS and the youth voice in internal and external initiatives, working groups, and sector events.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and support youth in providing meaningful insights and feedback to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of OACAS learning content, programs, services, and resources.
• Leads the planning, organizing and facilitating of youth-focused events, including the YouthCAN conference, symposiums, workshops, and webinars.
• Identifies quality improvement processes, methods, systems and analysis, using a best practices approach and evidence informed decision making.
• Support the development of tools, resources, and communications that promote youth engagement and service excellence.
• Identify and promote best practices in youth services and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as required