Department: Office of the Provost & VP Academic 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Brantford 

Reports to: Senior Advisor, Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management

Employee Group: PAG 

Application Deadline: 11/22/2024 

Requisition ID: 8776 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict.  Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Position Summary

We currently have an opportunity for you to join the Laurier community as a Sexual Violence Resource Specialist.

Reporting to the Senior Advisor, Human Rights and Conflict Management with Supervision from the Manager Sexual Violence Response, the Sexual Violence Resource Specialist will provide counselling and advocacy to students with a wide range of concerns stemming from their experience of being exposed to gendered and sexual violence. The position will also engage in the creation and delivery of communication and educational resources that support the response to, and prevention of, sexual gendered violence on campus.

This position has a university-wide mandate. Regular interpersonal interactions and collaboration with students and departments at the Waterloo Campus, the Brantford Campus, the Kitchener location and the Milton campus are required to ensure equitable service delivery across all locations. We are looking for a candidate that identifies as racialized and has experience supporting racialized students who have experienced oppression and/or racism.

Consequently, travel to other campus locations is required, and may occur outside of normal working hours.

Accountabilities

Case Management

• • First point of contact for triage, disclosure and reports of gendered and sexual violence for students. Provides trauma and violence-informed response, and advocacy services.
  • Provides brief trauma-focused crisis counselling; makes appropriate referrals to campus and community partners for additional counselling and support.
  • Supports accommodation processes for students impacted by gendered and sexual violence - including academic, residence, and financial.
  • Works closely with on-campus departments (e.g. Dean of Students, Residential Services, Special Constable Services) to ensure coordination of optimal support and safety.
  • Assists in crisis intervention, risk assessment and safety planning for all persons impacted by gendered and sexual violence, including individuals harmed, witnesses and respondents.
  • Acts as a caseworker for respondents navigating informal intervention and formal complaint processes.
  • Offers information and “navigational” support related to any/all processes and systems, including restorative justice, criminal processes, Laurier’s Sexual Violence Policy, and other non-academic policies and processes.
  • Offers comprehensive trauma-informed group programming for those impacted by gendered and sexual violence.
  • Provides case consultation to faculty and staff working, with or instructing, those impacted by gendered and sexual violence and acts as a resource for the development of strategies and protocols designed to assist support, wellness, and safety.
  • Provides information about, and facilitates referrals to, available support resources on and off campus.
  • Involves parents, guardians, friends, partners, and other caregivers as identified by the student survivor, if desired or necessary, within the scope of privacy legislation and consent laws.
  • Works collaboratively with campus and community partners.
  • Maintains case records and statistics on matters relating to sexual and gendered violence consistent with the procedures and operational guidelines established within the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management.

Communication and Education

• • Helps coordinate, plan and execute gendered and sexual violence education and awareness efforts from conception to completion related to gendered and sexual violence for students, faculty and staff.
  • Develops and disseminates physical and digital resources (i.e. graphics, promotional materials, written and graphic-based resources and videos) related to support and prevention for gendered and sexual violence.
  • Utilizes digital tools to assist in managing social media accounts, content calendars ensuring consistent, trauma-informed messaging that promotes support resources and prevention initiatives.
  • Coordinates and facilitates online and in-person workshops, meetings and events with proficiency utilizing and troubleshooting digital platforms.
  • Works with the Sexual Violence Staff to coordinate communication and social media strategies related to gendered and sexual violence.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant field (e.g. Social Work, Psychotherapy, Counselling)
• Minimum 3 years relevant trauma-focused counselling experience
• Significant experience with supporting diverse survivors of gendered and sexual violence engaging an intersectional framework
• Significant experience providing mental health support to survivors of trauma
• Strong experience navigating complex situations, anticipate challenges and risks, and proactively taking steps to problem solve independently using advanced critical thinking skills
• Relevant experience providing advocacy and support to survivors of sexual, intimate relationship and/or family violence, and other forms of gender-based violence
• Significant experience with crisis intervention and case management
• Experience with risk assessment tools and interventions
• Demonstrated ability to act calmly under pressure and to deal effectively and efficiently with stressful and emergency situations
• Experience navigating police and judicial processes
• Proven experience in providing systems navigation preferable in a higher learning environment and individual advocacy, and inter-agency liaison on behalf of clients
• Familiarity with the community and the relevant social, medical and legal services
• Strong technological proficiency with design software (e.g. Canva), social media management tools (e.g. Instagram, Meta Business Suite) and digital communications platforms
• Experience designing and creating visual content (e.g. graphics) for social media, educational campaigns and student resources
• Experience with managing social media accounts, developing content and growth-focused campaign strategies to increase student awareness and resourcing
• Strong organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including campus departments and external partners
• Experience coordinating and facilitating training and educational campaigns (with a strong preference to work related to sexual violence) and related resources
• Self-directed and resourceful; able to work independently with strong initiative and personal accountability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel between the Waterloo, Brantford and MIlton campuses

Hours of work

This is a full-time limited term position with an expected end date of November 30, 2025. The normal hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. 

Compensation

Level: E

Rate of Pay: $ 41.09 - $ 43.44  per hour with an annual step progression on anniversary date to Step 6  per hour. Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.