Program Support Assistant

About us

Canada’s literacy divide widens daily because so many people lack adequate support. Solving systemic literacy challenges is key to advancing social equity and prosperity across our country. Literacy changes everything.

United for Literacy (formerly Frontier College) is a national charity founded in 1899. We believe literacy is a right, and that every place can be a learning place. Our vision is a Canada in which everyone has the literacy skills they need to achieve their goals at school, at work, and in life. Our mission is to provide local learning support programs that change lives.

We encourage applications that reflect the diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds we serve at United for Literacy. In keeping with our ongoing efforts to promote equity and reflect the diversity of our organization, we encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

United for Literacy respectfully acknowledges its Northern Ontario regional office is located on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850. Our work also takes place on the traditional territory and the enduring home of the many nations within Treaty 3, Treaty 9 and the Ontario portion of Treaty 5. We acknowledge the history that many nations hold in the region and are committed to a relationship with First Nations, Metis & Inuit Peoples based on the principles of mutual respect, reciprocity, and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.

The Program Support position facilitates the planning, delivery, and evaluation of one or more United for Literacy community programs. This will include supporting the administrative work of the Community Coordinator in recruiting, training, and placing volunteers in multiple program sites, or directly running one or more programs themselves under a Coordinator’s supervision and guidance.

The Program Support position will work both independently and collaboratively to support the work of the Community Coordinator. This position reports to the Regional Manager – Northern Ontario.

Main responsibilities & major duties

1)Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation (75%)

• Collaborate to design activities that respond to community needs and interests, are integrated into the community context and culture.
• Competently deliver small group activities to children, youth or adults as required.
• Adapt and implement a range of models.
• Use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to monitor programs and evaluate effectiveness.
• Management of any volunteers assigned to program.

2)Community Relations, Outreach and Partnerships (25%)

• Reach out and build relationships with formal and non-formal leadership, potential partners, and other stakeholders.
• Encourage links among existing groups to promote literacy and to develop new or enhance existing activities that support literacy.

Competencies

Communication, creativity, confidence, organizational/time management, mentor, resourceful, resilient, adaptable.

Requirements

• Excellent spoken and written communication.
• Experience delivering and managing informal small group learning sessions.
• Experience working with diverse groups, ages, with FNMI communities.
• Able to think critically, prioritize, solve problems, and manage details.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, lively, and changing environment.

Please email your cover letter and resume with the subject line “Application – Program Support” to Cathy Mehagan, Regional Manager – Northern Ontario: cmehagan@unitedforliteracy.ca

We welcome applications from individuals who self-identify on the basis of any of the protected grounds under the Human Rights Code. We are committed to integration and maintaining the independence of individuals and removing barriers to accessibility in the workplace. We are committed to full compliance with the Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and all other applicable legislation. We invite applicants to request accommodation, as required, throughout the application and hiring process.

We require some of our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to do in-person work. Exemptions for valid medical reasons will be considered.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Salary: $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Vision care
• Work from home

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6H2 (required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6H2: Relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person