We are seeking an IIN Program Assistant!

Application Deadline: April 22, 2022

Compensation: $20/hr for 22.5 hours per week (50 WEEK CONTRACT)

Who We Are

STEPS envisions a world where artists and communities co-create meaningful, welcoming and safe public spaces. We are a Canada Revenue Agency registered charity that engages and empowers artists and communities to transform public spaces into vibrant places. Our open-concept office along Toronto’s Waterfront has natural light and ample room for physical distancing. We have a flexible working arrangement policy that includes remote working options for staff. 

Eligibility Criteria

This position is funded through the City of Toronto’s Investing in Neighbourhoods program.

In order to be eligible, candidates must:

• Be clients in receipt of Ontario Works (OW) for 6 months or more (ODSP spouses and adult dependents are also eligible)
• Reside in the City of Toronto
• Be distanced from the labour market and have at least one employment barrier (for example have limited or no work experience in Canada)
• Be at least 18 years of age; and
• Feel they would benefit from gaining skills, work experience, and potential references to support longer term employment in the field.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in the development of community partnerships, including with local residents, businesses and community serving agencies
• Assisting in the preparation of proposals for reports about completed community projects
• Conducting site analysis (e.g. taking measurements and/or images)
• Liaising with artists, the public and community stakeholders about programming to ensure it is widely promoted and engages diverse participants
• Assisting in the planning and coordination of public projects and events
• Sourcing and organizing project materials
• Assisting with site preparation and production of public artwork
• Safe handling of material and/or equipment
• Operating light machinery, including paint sprayer’s generators and other power tools as needed
• Supporting the maintenance of clean and orderly workspaces (e.g. STEPS office, storage garage and project work sites)
• Coordinating production site maintenance, as well as clean-up activities, including safe disposal of waste from production sites
• Preparing safety and other production site documents (e.g. safety binder, site checklists), and monitoring documentation compliance
• Maintaining accurate project site inventories, condition records as well as purchase lists for production equipment and supplies throughout a project’s lifecycle
• Coordinating and safekeeping or production equipment and supplies at production sites
• Assisting in community engagement activities
• Implementing project documentation (taking photos and facilitating evaluation surveys)
• Facilitating evaluation activities, including the development and implementation of in-person, phone or online activity-specific evaluation surveys, meetings and/or arts-based methods
• Contributing to team meetings, including providing suggested agenda items
• Supporting the outreach, development and successful execution of community based projects

Requirements/Skills

• High School Diploma/GED
• Proficiency with MS Office and/or Google Drive
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including equity seeking groups, artists, arts organizations and/or community-led groups
• Experience supporting the facilitation of public programming and/or outreach
• Strong organizational skills to track simultaneous tasks/deadlines
• Resourceful and independent; able to quickly adapt to a fast-paced environment
• A team player committed to strong working relationships
• Excitement for bringing personal creativity and experimentation to work
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Willingness to adhere to STEPS COVID-19 Workplace Health & Safety Plan which includes a vaccine policy
• A licensed Province of Ontario driver is an asset

Training/Supervision

Applicants will be oriented through a presentation and written materials. They will create a self-driven individual development plan (IDP) in collaboration with their supervisor at the start of their tenure identifying informal and formal training opportunities that they will participate in to ensure they have the necessary skills. They will participate in weekly team meetings, as well as meet on a minimum biweekly basis with the Community Programs Manager and take part in quarterly performance reviews, where their development plan will be revisited or adapted as required to achieve their development goals. Training will be tailored to the needs of the incumbent but will include annual all-staff retreat, along with communications/conflict resolution training.

COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety

STEPS has a COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan which encourages a combination of virtual and safe in-person work practices. The successful applicant will receive onboarding that combines video conferencing technology and in-person orientation. Their supervisor will ensure the successful applicant has the necessary technology to perform a portion of their work remotely and has scheduled check-ins throughout the week for them to connect with management and other colleagues. The applicant will have part-time access to workspace at STEPS office in downtown Toronto, but would need to have access to home internet in order to perform a portion of their duties virtually. Over the course of this contract, we hope that our team will progressively return to work at the STEPS office, but the candidate will have the option to continue to perform some of their responsibilities from home.

Application Process

Applications are closed. Thank you for your interest in this role.

We invite eligible applicants to apply through the City of Toronto website no later than April 22, 2022.

The interview process will take place over videoconferencing and respect public health guidelines. While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, we can only communicate with those shortlisted for an interview.

STEPS encourages applications from all qualified candidates that represent the full diversity of communities, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, age, class, gender, race and sexual orientation. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from equity-seeking communities, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized persons.

Image Credit: Artwork by FP Monkey and photography by Selina McCallum