Community & Belonging Specialist

Company Overview

Who We Are:

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year-round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of events designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers.

The Stratford Festival is committed to ongoing work to support equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all areas of our work. These areas include play selection, casting, marketing and public relations efforts, education programs, production, design, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and the composition of the Board of Directors.

Why You Should Apply:

• Creative work environment     
• Paid operational shutdown in December, with flexibility of days being used at alternative times during the year
• Group Insurance Benefits
• Employer matched RRSP
• Employee Assistance Program to encourage work-life balance and strong mental health
• Complimentary & discounted ticket offers and events
• Employee discounts on merchandise and event space
• Being a part of the magic of live theatre!

Job Description

The Community & Belonging Specialist is responsible for coordinating, advising, and supporting the implementation of the organization’s accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement initiatives. This role involves supporting the execution of approved strategies, coordinating training and facilitation, advising leaders and teams on inclusive practices, supporting conflict resolution processes, and assisting with compliance related to human rights and accessibility legislation, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and accessible workplace and audience experience.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Community & Belonging Specialist collaborates with Human Resources, Marketing, Directors’ Office, Audience Engagement, Production, Education, IT, and external community partners to support initiatives that foster belonging, reduce barriers, and align with organizational priorities. This position also contributes to policy implementation, supports accessible programming and communications, and helps maintain meaningful community relationships and resources.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Support & Organizational Collaboration
  
  • Support the Director of Human Resources in the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the multi-year Accessibility (AODA) strategy, including required reporting. 
  • Assist in translating organizational priorities into annual workplans and departmental actions. 
  • Provide guidance and support to leaders and teams on accessibility, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices. 
  • Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation and frameworks, including AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code. 
• Accessibility & Inclusion
  
  • Coordinate and monitor organizational accessibility initiatives and compliance with accessibility standards. 
  • Identify barriers to accessibility and inclusion and recommend practical solutions and improvements. 
  • Support the integration of universal design principles and accessible communication practices across organizational operations and materials. 
• Training & Facilitation
  
  • Coordinate, deliver, and support training programs related to accessibility, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices, using a combination of internal delivery and external subject matter experts. 
  • Facilitate core training sessions and support related educational initiatives. 
  • Coordinate and support Pre-Rehearsal Orientation (PRO) sessions by adapting content to production needs, delivering core components, and coordinating external facilitators where appropriate. 
  • Gather feedback and evaluate training effectiveness to support continuous improvement. 
  • Coordinate approved external support for specialized facilitation and training initiatives, including anti-racism, Indigenous-led learning, trauma-informed facilitation, and cultural safety initiatives. 
• Community Engagement & Belonging
  
  • Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, partners, and equity-deserving groups. 
  • Support affinity groups and internal spaces that foster belonging and inclusion. 
  • Collaborate with internal departments on outreach and community engagement initiatives. 
  • Facilitate access to Indigenous advisors, Elders, and knowledge keepers, ensuring appropriate cultural protocols are followed. 
  • Coordinate approved external consultants and advisors to support inclusion and community engagement initiatives.
• Policy & HR Integration
  
  • Support policy review and implementation in partnership with Human Resources and organizational stakeholders. 
  • Support inclusive recruitment practices and related initiatives. 
  • Provide consultation and support regarding employee concerns and workplace conflict. 
  • Support complex workplace investigations or high-risk conflict resolution processes. 
  • Coordinate approved external support for workplace investigations, mediation, or restorative processes, as required. 
• Reporting & Resources
  
  • Prepare reports and updates for Human Resources and organizational leadership. 
  • Maintain inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement resources, including guidelines, tools, and documentation. 
• Communications & External Support
  
  • Support inclusive and accessible internal and external communications initiatives. 
  • Respond to patron inquiries related to accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement. 
  • Maintain the organizational land acknowledgement in consultation with advisors and community partners. 
• Other
  
  • Adhere to the Stratford Festival Health & Safety Commitment and Procedures, and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced within reporting structure.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Post-secondary diploma program, typically a two year program, or equivalent, (i.e. Community college, Technical Institute or Trade School, etc.) in a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 4 to 6 years of related experience in accessibility, inclusion, community engagement, human resources, education, or related areas.
• Knowledge of accessibility, inclusion, and human rights frameworks, including AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating training sessions and engaging with diverse stakeholders. 
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a complex organizational environment.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Communication: actively listen and effectively transmit and receive information
• Teamwork: readily work with others towards a shared goal, actively support teammates and recognize everyone’s contributions
• Diplomacy: show discretion and tact in dealing with a variety of stakeholders.
• Adaptability / Agility: seamlessly adjust to changes in environment or situation; readily learn alternative approaches and methods

This full-time posting is for an newly created position located in Stratford, Ontario. This position requires the candidate to work onsite, with remote available when required. Regular work hours for this position are Monday to Friday, but may require the candidate to work holiday and weekend hours as scheduled

Job Type: Full-Time

Annual Salary: $57,200 - $71,000

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled