ACCESS TO JUSTICE BRITISH COLUMBIA (A2JBC)

COLLABORATIVE LEAD ROLE:  Lead BC’s Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative

Location:                 Remote with some in-person (BC based)
Position Type:         Full-Time Contract, subject to renewal
Reports To:             Collaborative Strategy Committee & A2JBC Steering Committee
Compensation:       $80,000 to $95,000 per annum (see below for details)

About the TFJS Collaborative

Access to Justice BC (A2JBC) seeks expressions of interest from creative and strategic leaders and facilitators to be the Lead for a dynamic, intersectoral network, the Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative (the TFJS Collaborative).

The TFJS Collaborative is a systems change network made up of committed individuals and organizations working to achieve child, youth, and family well-being by driving innovation in BC’s family justice sector. The Collaborative promotes capacity building, experimentation, and co-creation of new approaches that place families and their needs at the centre of the system.

At the heart of the Collaborative is the BC TFJS Strategy Map, which guides its collective efforts. The Strategy outlines key objectives to foster participants’ capacity to engage in systems change, understanding of brain science and social determinants of legal issues and collaboration on innovative prototypes and policies. Striving for and tracking progress on these objectives can lead to more accessible, effective, and people-centred processes that, ultimately, increase family well-being.

Position Overview

The Lead is a contractor and will work from their own premises with their own equipment. The contract is expected to be full-time, yet this is negotiable. The Lead, after consulting with A2JBC’s Strategic Coordinator, will set their hours, as necessary to deliver the work.

The Collaborative Lead will be pivotal in advancing the TFJS Collaborative’s vision by:

• Educating and engaging stakeholders about the BC TFJS Strategy Map.
• Moving forward the capacity-building and innovation objectives outlined in the TFJS Strategy Map.
• Strengthening the involvement of youth and Indigenous participants, ensuring their voices and lived experiences shape the Collaborative’s work.
• Building and maintaining relationships with BC’s First Nations and agencies that serve them, ensuring culturally relevant engagement and collaboration.
• Facilitating the Collaborative Strategy Committee meetings and Communities of Action meetings that typically occur virtually to share, discuss, and reflect on innovative ideas, pilots, and prototypes.
• Overseeing the Collaborative’s communications, outreach, and engagement, including one-on-one connections with justice sector leaders, volunteers, and current and potential participants.
• Supporting and collaborating with Access to Justice BC’s (A2JBC) Strategic Coordinator and other contractors to align efforts.
• Managing the Collaborative’s digital presence through regular newsletters, website updates, posts on LinkedIn and Bluesky and written reporting.
• Ideally, the Lead will also identify and show leadership in drafting and applying for grants to increase the Collaborative’s capacity and will be comfortable taking a team approach to support themselves and the work.

The Lead is an independent contractor responsible to the A2JBC Steering Committee and guided by the Collaborative Strategy Committee. Agreed compensation will depend on experience and the amount of time dedicated to the role. If the services are provided at the equivalent of a full-time basis, this will be in the range of $80,000 to $95,000 annually, plus GST.  

A2JBC expects a full-time level commitment, or alternatively (upon negotiation) a minimum commitment of 4 to 4.5 days a week will be required. The contractor will be responsible for remitting their own tax, including GST. The contractor will submit monthly invoices for their fees and reasonable disbursements. The contractor will need to travel from time to time, as required. A2JBC related travel to meetings outside southern coastal BC is covered at A2JBC’s expense. Periodic A2JBC and TFJS Collaborative meetings take place in Metro Vancouver.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordinating the Strategy Committee & Communities of Action

• Organize and facilitate regular meetings of the Collaborative Strategy Committee, ensuring effective communication, agenda-setting, and documentation of outcomes.
• Lead and oversee three to four virtual Communities of Action, supporting meaningful knowledge sharing, relationship building and collective input towards aligning efforts, furthering innovative ideas and prototyping.
• Foster engaging, inclusive, and results-oriented discussions within all groups.
• Ensure representation and meaningful participation of Indigenous and youth voices in all Communities of Action.

2. Strengthening Indigenous and Youth Involvement

• Proactively engage with BC’s First Nations and Indigenous-serving organizations to build trusting, collaborative relationships.
• Support meaningful participation of Indigenous partners in the Collaborative’s activities, ensuring culturally safe and respectful engagement.
• Facilitate and promote youth involvement by identifying and collaborating with youth-serving organizations, ensuring that youth with lived experience in the family justice system have a platform for their voices.
• Champion inclusive, accessible, and culturally safe spaces for youth and Indigenous participants to share their perspectives.

3. Communications, Outreach & Engagement

• Serve as a primary liaison with justice sector leaders, volunteers, Indigenous organizations, and Collaborative participants, strengthening relationships and promoting collaboration.
• On a weekly basis, develop and post engaging content on LinkedIn and Bluesky, amplifying the Collaborative’s work and fostering dialogue with the broader family justice community.
• On a monthly basis, manage and update the Collaborative’s website content to reflect current initiatives, events, and resources.
• On a bi-monthly basis, gather information from your own activities as well as those of fellow contractors with respect to the Health and Justice Alliance and active prototypes to create cumulative, high-level update reports to share with the Collaborative Strategy Committee and A2JBC Steering Committee.
• On a quarterly basis, create and distribute Mailchimp newsletters, featuring updates on Collaborative activities, innovations, and family justice sector news.

4. Engagement in the Cross-Canada TFJS Alliance

• Participate in and engage with the Cross-Canada TFJS Alliance, representing the Collaborative and sharing insights.
• Build connections with family justice systems change leaders across Canada, identifying opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

5. Capacity & Resource Development

• Actively contribute to strategic and sustainability discussions and planning, supporting the development and credibility of the Collaborative.
• Work toward building a team of specialized contractors who can work with the Collaborative Lead to support the Collaborative’s objectives.
• Ideally, work with the A2JBC Strategic Coordinator to develop volunteer guidance and supports and to identify and apply for grants and other opportunities to expand the Collaborative’s capacity and funding base.

6. Collaboration with A2JBC and Contractors

• Work closely with A2JBC’s Strategic Coordinator to manage the TFJS Collaborative’s work flows and annual budget, alongside aligning and coordinating shared efforts with other contractors and sub-contractors.
• Ensure consistent communication and collaboration with other contractors, involved representatives and participants and project or activity partners.

Qualifications & Experience

• Three or more years of experience in the justice sector or closely associated sectors, in legal practice, program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation, inclusive of the non-profit, social service, or social innovation sectors.
• Degree in a related discipline or equivalent experience, including lived experience.
• Experience building relationships with Indigenous Nations and working in culturally safe and respectful ways.
• Experience in youth engagement and participation strategies, with a focus on amplifying youth voices.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including sector leaders, Indigenous communities, and diverse volunteers.
• Strong skills in designing and facilitating virtual groups and fostering collaborative, action-oriented discussions.
• Proficiency in digital communications (e.g., website management and social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Bluesky).
• Knowledge of family justice and Indigenous justice issues, including a familiarity with the concept of legal pluralism and Indigenous legal orders, with a passion for access to justice and systems change.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and with adaptability on multiple activities and tasks with overlapping needs and deadlines.
• Strong understanding of issues related to the use of technology in the justice sector, and personal proficiency in the use of work-related technology.
• An appreciation for detail-oriented human resources and fiscal management.
• Experience with grant writing, fundraising and team development are assets.

Why Join Us?

• Build upon existing aspects of your leadership skills and develop new ones in an initiative driving collaborative innovation in BC’s family justice sector.
• Work alongside and develop relationships with inspiring inter-sectoral leaders and changemakers committed to transforming family justice.
• Build and strengthen meaningful connections with Indigenous organizations and youth, ensuring their ideas and views influence systems change efforts.
• Enjoy flexibility and autonomy while in a dynamic, purpose-driven role.
• Contribute your experience and skills to meaningful, system-level change activities that support the well-being of children, youth, and families.

Next Steps Upon Application

A2JBC will request references from candidates under serious consideration and interviews will be in early May 2024. Interested individuals should submit expressions of interest as soon as possible. The start date will ideally be in May and a “soft start” can be negotiated.

Thank you!