POSITION PROFILE: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CONVENING COMMUNITIES

Reports to: Chief of Strategy and Community Engagement Officer

Reason for Vacancy: New Position

ABOUT THE CANADIAN CENTRE ON SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) changes lives by bringing people and knowledge together to reduce the harms of alcohol and other drugs on society. We partner with organizations and diverse communities to improve the wellness of people living in Canada. A non-governmental organization with a national focus, CCSA envisions a healthier Canadian society where evidence transforms approaches to substance use.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CCSA acknowledges that First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are the holders of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge. We respect the power of the Indigenous ways of knowing and of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge, and we commit to learning about and incorporating this knowledge into our work with proper guidance. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Chief Strategy and Community Engagement Officer, the Associate Director, Convening Community provides leadership to national, provincial, and municipal community engagement and partnership initiatives. The position is responsible for bringing together diverse partners to advance collaborative action on substance use, addiction, and related health and social issues. 

This is a key leadership role in translating organizational strategy and evidence into actionable initiatives by fostering meaningful relationships with partners across all levels of government, health and policing systems, Indigenous communities, researchers, people with lived and living experience, community organizations and other sectors. 

Working collaboratively across the organization, the Associate Director supports the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic initiatives designed to improve policy, practice, and systems responses to substance use and addiction.

The role leads a team responsible for planning and delivering national convening activities, communities of practice, advisory groups and collaborative initiatives that generate shared learning, influence policy and practice, and strengthen Canada's response to substance use and addiction. 

As a member of the leadership team, the Associate Director contributes to organizational planning, continuous improvement, and organizational excellence while representing CCSA as a respected convener and collaborator.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of CCSA’s strategic and operational plans related to convening, engagement and partner collaboration activities.
• Lead initiatives and projects from concept through planning, delivery and evaluation; ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities affecting the substance use and addiction landscape and recommend responsive engagement strategies.
• Provide informed recommendations to senior leadership on community engagement, system collaboration, tool development and partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to organizational planning, performance measurement and continuous improvement initiatives. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of convening community initiatives that bring together diverse sectors, including governments, Indigenous organizations, healthcare and policing leaders, researchers, community organizations, and people with lived and living experience that address complex challenges.
• Design and facilitate collaborative forums, communities of practice, advisory committees, roundtables, consultations, and knowledge exchange tools and events.
• Create inclusive environments that encourage meaningful dialogue, shared learning and collective problem solving.
• Facilitate consensus-building among partners representing diverse perspectives and priorities.
• Ensure engagement approaches are culturally safe, accessible, trauma-informed and equity-focused.

KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION 

• Integrate evidence, lived and living experience, and leading practices into convening and engagement activities.
• Support knowledge mobilization strategies that facilitate the translation of evidence into policy, practice and systems improvement.
• Identify emerging issues, knowledge gaps and partners’ needs through engagement activities.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of activities, including tracking outputs, participation and engagement outcomes.

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Lead, mentor and coach a multidisciplinary team responsible for convening, engagement and collaborative initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and continuous learning. 
• Provide direction for workload planning, resource allocation and day-to-day operational management.
• Support staff development through coaching, feedback and professional growth opportunities. 
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with expected quality standards and organizational priorities.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATION

• Represent CCSA with governments, Indigenous organizations, healthcare leaders, researchers, community organizations and other partners.
• Support the Chief Strategy and Community Engagement Officer in cultivating strategic relationships and advancing organizational priorities.
• Promote CCSA as Canada's trusted convener in substance use, addiction and mental health. 
• Contribute to strengthening CCSA’s reputation as a trusted convener and collaborator in substance use and addiction.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Contribute to the development of work plans, operational plans, and performance indicators for convening and engagement activities.
• Promote collaboration across divisions and streams to ensure integrated approaches to engagement and convening. 
• Ensure all activities comply with organizational policies, procedures and quality standards.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation, continuous improvements and organizational learning. 

This position profile is designed to provide an overview of the main responsibilities for the role. Other responsibilities not identified in this position profile may be assigned based on the successful candidate’s experience and operational requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters in a relevant discipline (e.g., sciences and social sciences, arts and humanities, health administration, adult education, nursing or business).
• Minimum of five years of management experience with staff and projects.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects concurrently.
• Familiarity with knowledge mobilization: generation, synthesis, critical appraisal of evidence, product development, dissemination, exchange, management, implementation and evaluation. 
• Experience with nurturing partnership development and engagement that facilitates collaboration among diverse partners and communities into impactful outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate discussions, build consensus, and foster collaboration among partners with diverse perspectives and interests.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven abilities as a systems thinker: ability to develop understanding of systems issues, complexity theory, and partner engagement.
• Proven ability to engage diverse audiences and build effective partnerships and collaborations between organizations representing diverse views, disciplines and sectors.
• Experience collaborating with leaders in various levels of government, as well as outside the substance use health field.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring professional development of staff.
• Strong analytical skills; process and results oriented. 
• Experience writing documents tailored to various audiences, including plain language writing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload and take initiative.

ASSETS

• Experience working in or with governmental, non-governmental or international organizations.
• Knowledge of and experience with concepts, approaches and practices relevant to partner engagement and management.
• Experience in the field of substance use and addiction or other chronic health conditions.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

As a federally funded organization, CCSA is committed to providing services in both of Canada's official languages-English and French. Some positions require employees to communicate effectively in both languages to support colleagues, partners and the public.

This position has been identified as Bilingual Functional, meaning you must meet the required language levels in reading, writing and speaking in both official languages at the time of appointment.

If you have questions about the language requirements for this position or the assessment process, please email hiring@ccsa.ca [hiring@ccsa.ca] before applying. We are happy to help you understand the requirements and determine whether the position is a good fit for your skills and experience.

If no qualified candidate possessing the essential language requirement is identified, candidates who do not meet the language requirement may be considered. Training may be provided to help reach the required level. 

Both bilingual and unilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Occasional high-intensity concentration.
• Occasional exposure to psychologically challenging conditions, such as deadline pressure, interpersonal conflict or extended work hours for which no additional compensation is provided. 
• Mental agility: Regular mental attention required to alternate, flex, or adapt one’s attention to handle simultaneous multiple urgent demands and/or perform detail-oriented work with regular interruptions.
• Frequent communication with internal and external contacts.
• Work performed in an office setup or from home (flex-hybrid model) environment, with occasional on-site presence and extended hours during events.
• Physical demands are minimal; no sustained physical exertion is required.

CCSA VALUES 

CCSA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. As an organization, we are committed to ensuring that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people and all equity-deserving groups are fully represented, including women, people of colour, people with disabilities and people who members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.   CCSA is dedicated to learning from and supporting people with lived and living experience of substance use health. We encourage people with lived and living experience of substance use to apply to join the CCSA team.   CCSA promotes the rights of all people with disabilities as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its related Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. CCSA will make appropriate accommodations on request. Please inform CCSA in advance of a request for accommodation during the recruitment process by emailing hiring@ccsa.ca [hiring@ccsa.ca].

AI DISCLOSURE

At CCSA, we are committed to maintaining a fair and equitable hiring process. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess or select applicants for any positions. While mandatory eligibility questions may be used to confirm minimum requirements, all applications are reviewed and all hiring decisions are made by our hiring team, ensuring that each candidate is thoughtfully and individually evaluated based on their overall qualifications and experience.

HOW TO APPLY 

If you are interested in this position, please submit a cover letter and resumé. Located in Ottawa, CCSA works within a flex-hybrid model. The successful candidate must be willing to be onsite to attend in-person activities as required. We thank all applicants. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

No agencies please.