Community Engagement & Inclusion Manager

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 Engagement and Inclusion Manager is responsible for leading and advancing the organization’s equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement initiatives. This role involves developing and implementing organization-wide strategies, delivering training and facilitation, advising leaders and teams, supporting conflict resolution, and ensuring compliance with human rights and accessibility legislation, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and accessible workplace and audience experience.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager collaborates with Human Resources, Marketing, Directors’ office, Audience Engagement, Production, Education, IT, and external community partners to strengthen belonging, remove barriers, and align inclusion and accessibility practices with organizational priorities. This position also supports the development of policies, metrics, and accountability frameworks, contributes to accessible programming and communications, and fosters meaningful community relationships that reflect the Festival’s values and public commitments.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Organization-Wide Support
  
  • Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year Accessibility (AODA) strategy aligned with organizational priorities, including required ministry reporting.
  • Translate long-term inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement goals into measurable annual plans.
  • Advise senior leaders, Human Resources, and department heads on equity, inclusion, accessibility, community engagement, inclusive recruitment, and respectful workplace practices.
  • Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, and emerging best practices, including AODA, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and anti-harassment requirements.
• Accessibility Leadership & Compliance
  
  • Ensure organizational compliance with AODA and related legislation by identifying and addressing physical, digital, and attitudinal barriers.
  • Apply universal design principles and inclusive communication practices across organizational operations.
  • Plan and coordinate accessible performances, including ASL-interpreted, audio-described, relaxed, and open-captioned performances.
  • Support patrons and staff at accessible performances and liaise with Production Department on maintaining and acquiring equipment for these performances.
  • Build and maintain relationships with disability organizations and community partners to support accessible audience engagement.
  • Coordinate and recommend workplace and audience accommodations in collaboration with Human Resources and operational teams.
  • Partner with Marketing and IT to support compliance with WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards across digital platforms and communications.
• Training, Facilitation & Pre-Rehearsal Orientation
  
  • Design, deliver, and continuously improve training related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, including topics such as Antiracism and anti-oppression, Unconscious bias and identity awareness, Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Black racism, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, Canadian Human Rights Commission guidelines, Cross-cultural communication, microaggressions, and inclusive practices, and Respectful dialogue, recognizing harm, and repair
  • Develop and facilitate Pre-Rehearsal Orientation (PRO) sessions across the season, including mainstage productions, workshops, and conservatory programs.
  • Coordinate and schedule internal and external facilitators as required.
  • Gather and analyze feedback to assess training effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
  • Provide coaching, guidance, and support to staff and artists before and during productions.
• Community Engagement & Internal Belonging
  
  • Build and sustain partnerships with community organizations, cultural leaders, and equity-seeking groups.
  • Support and coordinate internal affinity spaces (e.g., First Nations, Inuit and Métis Circle), ensuring culturally safe and respectful practices.
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Education, and Artistic teams on community outreach and engagement initiatives.
  • Support Indigenous cultural awareness and engagement, including protocols, land acknowledgements, and relationship-building.
• Policy Development & HR Integration
  
  • Collaborate with the Director of Human Resources and key stakeholders on the development, review, and implementation of policies related to respectful workplace practices, accessibility, accommodations, and inclusive recruitment.
  • Support inclusive recruitment practices, including bias reduction strategies, inclusive job design, and interview preparation.
  • Provide consultation and conflict resolution support in partnership with Human Resources.
• Measurement, Reporting & Accountability
  
  • Develop and maintain organization-wide metrics and evaluation tools related to inclusion, community engagement, and accessibility.
  • Track progress against established goals and recommend adjustments to strategies and programming.
  • Prepare regular reports and updates for the Director of Human Resources and senior leadership.
  • Maintain and update organizational resources such as the Living Guidelines and Pathways to Cultural Belonging.
• Communications & External Representation
  
  • Support inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement content for internal communications, leadership updates, and public-facing materials.
  • Maintain and update the organizational land acknowledgement.
  • Respond to patron inquiries related to inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement.
• 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 Equity Studies, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Community Engagement, Cultural Studies, Education, Psychology, Theatre, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 4 to 6 years of related experience
• Knowledge of AODA compliance, WCAG accessibility standards, and workplace accommodation processes.
• Demonstrated experience delivering training, facilitating challenging conversations, and addressing conflict through an equity lens.
• Strong cultural competency and experience working with equity-seeking communities.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance strategic planning and hands-on program delivery.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; CRM familiarity an asset.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Communication: actively listen and effectively transmit and receive information
• Diplomacy: show discretion and tact in dealing with a variety of stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: able to identify challenges, analyze root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• Adaptability / Agility: seamlessly adjust to changes in environment or situation; readily learn alternative approaches and methods
• Influence Without Authority: Effectively influence decision-making and change through expertise, credibility, and relationship-building rather than formal authority. Guides leaders and teams toward inclusive practices and shared accountability.
• Trusted Advisor and Ethical Judgment: Builds credibility and trust across all levels of the organization through sound judgment, discretion, and integrity. Provides balanced, thoughtful guidance on sensitive matters, navigating complexity while upholding organizational values, legal requirements, and human rights obligations.
• Analytical and Reflective Practice: Uses data, feedback, and evaluation tools to assess impact, identify trends, and inform continuous improvement. Reflects on outcomes and incorporates learning into future initiatives and recommendations.

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.

Job Type: Full-Time

Annual Salary: $57,158 - 71,452

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled