Job Opportunity - Education Advisor, B.C. Office of the Human RIghts Commissioner

TITLE:   EDUCATION ADVISOR        CLASSIFICATION:  BAND 2  

JOB OVERVIEW 

BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner exists to address the root causes of inequality, discrimination and injustice in B.C. by shifting laws, policies, practices and cultures. We do this work through education, research, advocacy, inquiry and monitoring. 

Reporting to the Manager, Education, the Education Advisor applies their passion for learning to ensure the effective design and development of innovative, human rights-based educational materials, initiatives and programs. Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams in the BCOHRC and in cooperation with communities and stakeholders in the non-profit, public and private sectors, the Education Advisor develops educational programs for a range of audiences of different ages, regions and backgrounds, aimed at the prevention and elimination of discriminatory practices, policies and programs across the Province. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES

•Designs, develops, researches, coordinates, facilitates (as required) a range of learning activities and compelling learning content and initiatives from a rights-based and decolonizing approach for multiple audiences based on identity and human rights issues across the public, private and civil society sectors.

• Manages the preparation of learning product proposals, and develops comprehensive project planning documents, including scope, objectives, risk analysis, proposed instructional design, requirements, and detailed timelines indicating significant milestones. Maintains project documentation. 

• Designs exercises, activities and complementary supporting material/media (audio, video, simulations, role plays, games, etc.) that enhance the learning process. • Works with subject matter experts to identify target audience’s training needs. • Sets instructional end goals and creates content that matches them.

• Makes recommendations regarding content, style, and presentation of learning materials, determines organizational requirements and recommends appropriate media/ tools to achieve learning objectives. • Responsible for effective course development, administration, hosting, learning management, reporting, and basic troubleshooting through learning management systems and/or other mechanisms. 

• Builds collaborative relationships with team members and community partners to harness content expertise and recommendations. Collaborates with BCOHRC staff to ensure material is developed appropriately and ready for delivery or distribution based on approved timelines.

• Adaptable instructional design for a range of learning audiences including marginalized communities such as for people with disabilities, Indigenous communities, immigrants and refugees where English is a second language and also by sector (public, private, non-profit), region (including urban/rural), age (youth, adult) and others. 

• Researches and promotes developments in accessibility standards including plain language and ensures BCOHRC’s learning products are fully accessible in terms of leading standards and practices. 

• Participates in the evaluation and assessment of learning materials, projects, and programs and reports on activities.

• Monitors currency and accuracy of learning products and recommends and implements changes and improvements. 

• Researches current learning trends and software and makes recommendations to improve the presentation and management of learning products and to enhance the learner experience.

• Supports the Engagement team in delivering positive, meaningful and respectful education and engagement opportunities on human rights issues by managing the education elements of these initiatives.

• Develops and maintains education networks to share best practices and leading-edge research. 

   JOB REQUIREMENTS 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• A degree, diploma, or certificate related to education, adult learning, instructional design, educational technology, graphic design, communication or another relevant field.

• A minimum of three years’ recent*, progressively responsible, experience developing education materials and overseeing development of learning projects, including: o Analyzing learner needs using audience personas. o Researching topics and developing content. o Planning and creating learning products and curriculum, with an eye for design.  o Creating engaging learning activities and materials that attract and keep learner attention. o Creating and using text, images, video, and audio resources to support learning (e.g., copy, instructional text, audio and video scripts). o Familiarity and confidence with tools and techniques for online, self-directed, in-person, virtual, collaborative and social media learning. 

* Recent experience would ideally be within the last five years in order to be current and fluent with existing and emerging technology, approaches, theories and trends.

• Experience working in an environment that supports or promotes human rights, equality and justice (for example, through paid/volunteer work or education).

• Experience as an Adult Educator/ Learning Advisor/ Learning Consultant/Learning & Development Specialist/Instructional Designer/ Learning Technologist/ Trainer or equivalent with in-depth knowledge of learning theories and instructional design models.

• Demonstrated experience with translating complex and/or legal content into public-facing, accessible graphics and information for a wide variety of audiences.

• Experience with LMS and eLearning tools and technologies. Knowledge of computer software tools, and techniques used for training and virtual collaboration purposes. 

• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. 

• Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required. 

  WILLINGNESS STATEMENT:  MUST BE WILLING TO TRAVEL TO RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS. 

Preference may be given to applicants with the following:

• Applicants who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC); Peoples with diverse gender identities or expressions; and/or, People with disabilities.

• Lived experience with human rights, which could be through the applicant’s own identity and/or personal experiences related to human rights. 

• Experience designing learning programs with a rights-based approach.

• Experience developing learning materials that are accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities.

• Experience in visual design and a demonstrated ability to conceptualize the visual representation of complex information in simple yet innovative modes and formats.  • Fluency in two or more languages. 

   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Commitment to and passion for human rights. 

• Knowledge of the B.C. Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation and regulations.

• Ability to establish priorities, identify tasks, meet deadlines and report on status. Strong judgment skills and problem-solving abilities. 

• Ability to manage multiple projects and to organize and prioritize high volumes of time-sensitive and confidential work to meet operational deadlines including in times of ambiguity and high workload.

• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with changing priorities.

• Ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality, discernment, tact and diplomacy in dealing with issues that could have a significant impact on the image and credibility of the Office. 

• Ability to consult, develop and maintain strong working relationships with team members, community partners, and the public. 

• Excellent written and visual communication skills, including writing, editing, editorial, and design for a range of educational and training materials for a variety of learning modalities.

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including in-person and virtual facilitation, presentation, and conflict resolution skills. General knowledge of the B.C. Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation and regulations.

• Demonstrated ability to create learning products from a rights-based and decolonizing approach.

• Proven commitment to ongoing research and personal development in the area of learning, instructional design, and learning technologies.

• Well-developed analytical, strategic, and critical thinking skills. 

INDIGENOUS RELATIONS BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Cultural Agility is the ability to work respectfully, knowledgeably and effectively with Indigenous people. It is noticing and readily adapting to cultural uniqueness in order to create a sense of safety for all. It is openness to unfamiliar experiences, transforming feelings of nervousness or anxiety into curiosity and appreciation. It is examining one's own culture and worldview and the culture of the BC Public Service, and to notice their commonalities and distinctions with Indigenous cultures and worldviews. It is recognition of the ways that personal and professional values may conflict or align with those of Indigenous people. It is the capacity to relate to or allow for differing cultural perspectives and being willing to experience a personal shift in perspective.

• Sustained Learning and Development means continually increasing your ability to build and maintain respectful and effective relationships with Indigenous people. Central to this competency is appreciating that there are many other cultural understandings of knowledge and ways of working that have legitimacy and deserve respect – and therefore require our continual learning and development, including direct exposure to cultural and community ways. 

• Process orientation places a priority on how things are done. It is a willingness to remain open and follow in new directions. It means setting aside mainstream ways of achieving results and instead following culturally respectful processes that also produce results. It is letting go of agendas or the need to control and trusting that the appropriate outcome will emerge from a good journey together. It means accepting that both the use of process orientation and a good relationship are concrete results.     

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Planning, Organizing and Co-ordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the organization’s mandate. 

• Service Orientation implies a desire to identify and serve customers/clients, who may include the public, colleagues, partners (e.g., educational institutes, non-government organizations, etc.), co-workers, peers, branches, ministries/agencies and other government organizations. It means focusing one’s efforts on discovering and meeting the needs of the customer/client needs. 

• Concern for Image Impact is an awareness of how one’s self, one’s role and the organization are seen by others. The highest level of this competency involves an awareness of, and preference for, respect for the organization by the community. 

• Flexibility is the ability and willingness to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of diverse situations, and with diverse individuals or groups. Flexibility entails understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue, adapting one’s approach as situations change and accepting changes within one’s own job or organization.

• Initiative involves identifying a problem, obstacle or opportunity and taking appropriate action to address current or future problems or opportunities. As such, Initiative can be seen in the context of proactively doing things and not simply thinking about future actions. Formal strategic planning is not included in this competency. 

For more information on competencies, see:  

Competencies in the BC Public Service BC Public Service competencies list 

 https://bchumanrights.ca/about-us/careers/

Basis: full time | closing date: October 5, 2020, 9:00 a.m.