Assistant Director, Community Safety Office

Date Posted: 04/05/2024
Req ID: 36838
Faculty/Division: VP & Provost
Department: Sexual Violence/High Risk
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Description:
The Community Safety Office at the University of Toronto is a tri-campus Equity Office that is mandated to provide support to University students, staff, and faculty that are dealing with issues that relate to personal safety.
Under the general direction of the Director, High Risk, Community Safety and Crisis & Emergency Preparedness (HR,CS&CEP), the incumbent leads the coordination of the University’s safety programs and Community Safety services as well as the development and implementation of safety programs. The incumbent manages the operations of the Community Safety Office and supervises the Community Safety Case Managers, with support from the Team Lead.
The incumbent develops and maintains integral relationships with tri-campus senior academic and leadership teams and provides consultation, guidance and support on issues related to safety, violence risk, threat assessments, behavioural concerns and workplace safety concerns, and ensures that subsequent case management is compliant with all applicable policies, protocols and legislative frameworks. The incumbent ensures key stakeholders are kept appraised of the status of active cases and supports in moving cases towards resolution.
The principle responsibilities of the role include: triaging high risk and workplace safety concerns, providing oversight to the case management team, crisis response support, advocacy and referrals for victims of violence, and educational/outreach initiatives.
The incumbent is expected to exercise excellent judgment and professional discretion in all matters, assessing highly complex matters, consulting with the appropriate individuals as needed, and making independent critical decisions to neutralize or to stabilize threats of violence. Decisions and judgments involving victims and procedures involving crisis situations impact directly on the safety and wellbeing of individuals. The incumbent provides expert advice and intervenes with clients in circumstances where there is no access to additional help or expert resources. The incumbent is expected to make judicious and effective decisions within a very tight time frame; advising the Director or senior administrators who are handling critical incidents and managing risk on pertinent issues arising from casework and particular clients.
The incumbent prepares and delivers concise and high-level briefings for senior administrators and relevant committee meetings, both orally and in writing. The incumbent identifies and communicates points that require institutional decision-making and approvals. The incumbent has an understanding of internal policy, legal, criminal, processes and ability to write formal letters explaining these processes to recipients (students, staff, and faculty) in consultation with the appropriate advisory offices.
The incumbent is a standing member of the Community Support Team within the University’s Crisis Framework, and provides support in responding to and coordinating various activities as a result of crisis situations and/or critical incidents and assumes a critical leadership role for post-incident recovery.
In addition to working knowledge of the Ontario Human Rights Code, Bill 132, Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Mental Health Act and the Criminal Code of Canada, the incumbent is familiar with the University of Toronto Code of Student Conduct, Sexual Violence Policy, Residence Codes, Athletics Codes, Human Resources Guideline on Civil Conduct, the Guideline for Employees on Concerns and Complaints Regarding Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment, and the University of Toronto Workplace Violence Program.
The incumbent works collaboratively with the offices of Campus Safety, Community Safety, Human Resources, Labour Relations, Workplace Investigations, Office of the University Counsel, Communications, Office of the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, Institutional Equity Offices, Office of the Vice Provost, Students, Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty and other central University offices. The incumbent liaises with such services and completes on–site follow up and support, as necessary.
The incumbent develops and manages systems (and related protocols) to maintain timely, detailed, secure, and confidential case files and records, which adhere to all University retention, PHIPPA and FIPPA policies.
The Assistant Director acts as designate for the Director, as required.
Qualifications Required:
EDUCATION:
Graduate level University degree in a related field (e.g. social work, psychology, criminology), or the equivalent combination of education and professional experience; working knowledge of community resources for victims of violence. Training in critical incident management, response, debriefing and recovery is an asset.
EXPERIENCE:
Minimum seven (7) years related experience with a combination of both supervising and providing short-term/brief solution-focused counselling, (specifically trauma/crisis counselling), mediation, crisis intervention, community development projects related to violence prevention/education and participation in the development of training workshops and public education; supervision of case load allocation and team members. Experience establishing objectives for and overseeing projects, providing consultation and critical guidance to senior leaders. Applied experience in case management, investigations/policy processes, trauma informed practices, critical incident debriefing, crisis management. Strong familiarity, understanding and experience in dealing with individuals with mental health issues and illnesses as well as an understanding of principles related to violence risk threat assessment.
Sound knowledge of intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual and workplace violence, trauma, mental health and disabilities, and criminal issues/processes; knowledge of the evolutionary process of violence and threat risk assessment models. Working knowledge of the criminal justice system and criminal court process. Familiarity with Ontario and Canadian statutes, including: the Criminal Code, Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act; the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act; and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Knowledge of adult learning principles and knowledge of best practices related to addressing personal safety issues. Understanding of principles related to personal and workplace safety planning as well as crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).
Post-secondary experience in the areas of student life, academic administration, and applied knowledge of working with academic offices and/or student policies and initiatives is an asset.
SKILLS:
Proven leadership commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion with a continued commitment to learning and improvement. Excellent oral and written communication skills, a demonstrated ability to assist individuals in crisis; a demonstrated ability to work with clients dealing with violence and trauma; Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; Ability to exercise patience, tact, diplomacy and discretion; Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations; Demonstrated ability to relate to students, staff, and faculty that build trust and confidence; Applied computer skills and proficiency with computer applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.); ability to work across different portfolios and disciplines, adept at managing equitable participation between people, achieving resolution when conflicts arise. Knowledge of ROSI (Repository of Student Information) is an asset.
OTHER:
The incumbent both fosters and functions effectively in a consultative team environment and has the ability to make independent decisions and direct others in critical situations; Ability to think critically and generate creative solutions to problems; Strong counselling, mediation, and conflict resolution skills; Demonstrated ability to manage cases of significant complexity while balancing competing priorities, identify immediate actions, exercise sound judgment and execute decisions effectively under stress in emergency situations; Excellent research and analytical skills; Demonstrated commitment to the promotion of equity in the workplace and an ability to work effectively with all constituents in a highly diverse community.
Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate concisely both orally and in writing at all levels of an organization, including, preparing reports and delivering presentations to a variety of stakeholders; Demonstrated commitment to the promotion of equity in the workplace and an ability to work effectively with all constituents in a highly diverse community. Demonstrated ability to be decisive and act calmly under pressure. Comfortable working in a fast paced, highly collaborative environment where there is a high consequence of error. The incumbent must have an understanding of and be able to provide effective services within the culture and highly complex and decentralized organizational structure of the University; Demonstrated ability to manage and regulate self-care and the ability to recognize the limits of one’s own scope of practice.
 
NOTE: THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MUST RECEIVE A TORONTO POLICE SECURITY CLEARANCE AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.
 
 
Closing Date: 04/15/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 5 -- Hiring Zone: $116,047 - $135,389 -- Broadband Salary Range: $116,047 - $193,412
Job Category: People Strategy, Equity & Culture