SFNS Economic Toolkit (SET)
Youth Engagement Lead
Are you a Youth Engagement professional who is looking to build on your strong track record of working with and representing youth through projects that support culturally responsive and Indigenous Knowledge approaches with an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of Indigenous people within a strengths-based environment?
If so, let’s talk!
Organization Description
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation is a national non-profit organization serving First Nations in mental wellness. Our mandate is set by three frameworks:
1. Honouring Our Strengths: A Renewed Framework to Address Substance Use Issues Among First Nations in Canada
2. Indigenous Wellness Framework
3. First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum
Our core stakeholders are First Nations communities and the network of First Nations adult and youth treatment centres. To support the mandate, Thunderbird has two office locations, one based in a First Nations community in southwestern Ontario, and the other in the city of London, Ontario. Candidates will be considered for both remote and onsite work.
Your Opportunity
• The Youth Engagement Lead will work with the Ways of the Heart Youth Council’s organization partners on various youth-related initiatives and will play a strategic role in shaping and advancing policies that support youth initiatives, to ensure alignment with the goals of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and First Peoples Wellness Circle.
• You will support collaboration and will lead the coordination of the youth council initiatives.
• You will demonstrate leadership, learning and development abilities along with a number of core competencies during your tenure.
• You will have opportunities to represent the voices of Indigenous youth at national and international events.
• You will apply all your experience, skills, talents, and passion for the benefit of others while learning from the expertise of your wellness focused team.
• You will enjoy the satisfaction that comes from knowing that your work is much more than just a job.
As the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation Youth Engagement Lead, you will
• Develop a youth engagement plan that links to Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and First Peoples Wellness Circle’s overall strategy and objectives for the Ways of the Heart Youth Council. (e.g., develop youth engagement plans, in consultation with the Council, to ensure full regional representation on the Council).
• Identify opportunities for research and policy advocacy that address youth-specific challenges, to ensure that Indigenous Knowledge and youth voices shape relevant frameworks.
• Maintain an awareness of organization resource capacity and use this information to support engagement of youth-focused partners, distinguishing between possibilities and limitations.
• Engage with Council members to support the Council’s work and the development of project workplans.
• Maintain communication between the Council, Thunderbird, and First Peoples Wellness Circle, as well as external partners and other interested parties.
• Coordinate capacity and knowledge building of Council members vis-à-vis the Council’s project partners and stakeholders, to ensure effective communications.
• Engage Council members at the most direct level and ensure that level is appropriate for its intended purpose.
• Work to gain a strong understanding of Indigenous youth issues, interests, aspirations, and concerns to better define what matters most and ensure mutual benefits of Council members, Indigenous youth, and the sister organizations.
• Incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into program design and ensure youth council initiatives are culturally responsive to meet traditional values and contemporary challenges Indigenous youth encounter.
• Work to ensure the Council is raising awareness and understanding of substance use issues and addictions, including approaches to mental wellness and healing based on Indigenous Knowledge.
• Develop effective relationships and collaborative working styles with stakeholders, partners, and First Nations communities to support and address substance use issues and addictions.
• Actively participate in the creation, revision, and assessment of policies that align with the mission of the organization and address the unique needs of Indigenous youth.
• Monitor and evaluate project outcomes against organizational policies, providing recommendations for improvement where necessary.
• Prepare written reports, articles, briefs and other documentation on progress of stakeholder engagement processes and progress.
• Provide verbal and written reports on stakeholder relations including progress, issues, problem-solving initiatives and recommendations.
You bring
• A bachelor’s degree or college degree in public policy, social sciences, health, or related discipline and two (2) years demonstrated experience in policy analysis, research, project management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Fluency in a First Nations language, which would be considered a definite asset.
• Knowledge of First Nations traditions and customs including natural healing, which is considered a definite asset.
• Diplomacy, tact and understanding of others’ priorities to achieve common goals.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills including relationship and partnership building, clear and concise information provision, customer service, and inquiry and complaint management.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to identify and manage emerging issues and risks in relation to service delivery and stakeholder coordination.
• The ability to function autonomously, and be flexible and adaptable to change.
• A high degree of professionalism and flexibility to all aspects of service delivery.
• The ability to effectively maintain confidentiality and privacy of people, supported through appropriate communication and record keeping.
• An ability to attend work locations not accessible by public transportation.
Additionally, all employees of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation must adhere to a strict confidentiality policy and will be required to sign an Oath of Confidentiality and observe the Code of Ethics Policy.
If this sounds like the right fit for you, please complete your profile and submit your application on our career page: https://nnapf.bamboohr.com/careers
Closing date: Open until filled.
We value the importance of diversity and dignity in the workplace and are committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments.
If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.
To request a full job description, please contact: Annette Howlett at ahowlett@thunderbirdpf.org