West Coast LEAF – Employment Opportunity Director of Law Reform (Application Deadline: midnight, Monday July 17, 2017 – interviews offered on a rolling basis. It is anticipated that interviews could be offered as early as the week of July 4)
Are you a lawyer who is passionate about gender equality? Join our team!
###About West Coast LEAF:
West Coast LEAF is the first and only organization in BC dedicated to promoting women’s equality through the law. West Coast LEAF and our sister organization LEAF have helped bring about some of the most important legal victories for women in Canada: safe access to reproductive rights; fair workplace standards; fair separation agreements; “no means no” in sexual assault; the right to be free of sexual harassment, and more.
We’ve been working since 1985 to end discrimination against women and girls. We do this through equality rights litigation, law reform, and public legal education. To learn more about us, please visit www.westcoastleaf.org.
West Coast LEAF has a permanent full-time (five days per week) position available for a Director of Law Reform. West Coast LEAF encourages applications from historically marginalized individuals, and encourages applicants to self-identify. West Coast LEAF is committed to employment equity and prioritizes applications from underrepresented groups.
###About this position:
As senior manager of West Coast LEAF’s law reform programs working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Law Reform is responsible for providing leadership in the area of legislative and policy reform and collaborating in the development of strategic equality-rights education and litigation.
Specific areas of responsibility include:
- Strategic and creative development and implementation of law reform initiatives;
- Project management;
- Meeting and corresponding with key decision makers to advance law reform issues;
- Conducting legal and policy-based research and writing;
- Advising West Coast LEAF staff and Board on current equality rights issues in BC;
- Hiring and supervising staff, students and volunteers;
- Building and maintaining relationships with community partners to advance substantive equality rights for women and girls;
- Educating the public on issues related to women’s equality through public speaking, workshop delivery, accessible legal writing, community engagement and public dialogue; and
- Speaking to the media on behalf of the organization.
Current priority areas include access to justice; criminalization and incarceration; health rights; violence against women; the right to parent; and economic security.
The starting salary range is from $66,000 to $76,000, based on experience. We offer a comprehensive benefits package and generous leave provisions (starting at 4 weeks per year).
###About you:
As our ideal candidate, you have a strong knowledge of equality rights, constitutional law, family law, and human rights law. You are fully committed to an intersectional and nuanced approach to women’s rights. You bring strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to respectfully negotiate competing interests both internally and externally, and an aptitude for working with people with diverse skills and interests. You have a positive and inclusive approach to working in community and as part of a team. You are an excellent problem-solver who can think big without overlooking the details. You are comfortable working in both the legal community and the grassroots women’s movement. You are an innovative and strategic leader ready to take West Coast LEAF’s law reform work to the next level.
In particular, you have the following skills and experience:
- Passion for, and knowledge of, substantive gender equality and human rights;
- Understanding of the historical and current influence of colonialism, misogyny, racism, and other forms of discrimination in Canadian society;
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent legal education;
- Experience in project management;
- Proficient computer skills including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite;
- Experience with public speaking, including speaking to the media;
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks and projects;
- Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and teamwork skills;
- Excellent English writing and communication skills, with strong attention to detail;
- Proven ability to organize, motivate, take initiative, and exercise good judgment;
- Experience with community engagement and consultation;
- Strategic thinking, analytical skills, and precise legal reasoning; and
- Ability to build and maintain internal and external relationships with professionalism and integrity.
Experience in the non-profit sector and/or government relations is an asset. Knowledge and experience in the priority areas listed above will also be an asset; in particular, the criminal justice system response to sexual violence and systemic issues facing Indigenous women who are involved in the child protection system.
###Application Process:
If you are keenly interested in gender equality issues and want to apply your legal skills in a dynamic community-based work environment, you are invited to submit a cover letter and resumé on or before July 17, 2017 to: Kasari Govender, Executive Director, at exec@westcoastleaf.org. Applications will be considered (and interviews offered) on a rolling basis.
Thank you for your interest in employment with West Coast LEAF and for understanding that only applicants under consideration will be contacted.