Leadership Development Associate, Lived Experience Initiative, Kitchener ON

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC); Kitchener; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 43,000; Part time

Job summary

Mennonite Central Committee Ontario is seeking a Leadership Development Associate (0.6 FTE) in Kitchener to support the Lived Experience Leadership Program for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, or related barriers. The role involves developing curriculum, delivering inclusive workshops, and promoting participant leadership within MCC’s peacebuilding framework.

The position emphasizes trauma‑informed practice, co‑facilitation, and community engagement, with travel within Waterloo Region.

Qualifications

• Experience facilitating groups, workshops, peer‑support activities, or other participatory learning experiences.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting individuals who face barriers to participation.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting and respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, anti‑oppressive, and participant‑centred approaches.
• Direct and extensive understanding of homelessness, poverty, housing instability, and social‑service systems, preferably within Waterloo Region.
• Working knowledge of conflict resolution, conflict transformation, mediation, or peacebuilding practices.
• Experience developing or adapting curricula, learning activities, training materials, or educational programming.
• Strong communication, active‑listening, collaboration, and group‑facilitation skills.
• Commitment to social inclusion, equity, dignity, and meaningful leadership by people with lived experience.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with MCC staff, participants, and project partners to develop, refine, and deliver the Lived Experience Leadership Program curriculum.
• Design and adapt workshops, reflection exercises, experiential learning opportunities, and participant resources that support the program’s leadership‑development outcomes.
• Integrate peacebuilding, inclusion, trauma‑informed practice, conflict sensitivity, and lived‑experience leadership principles throughout program content and delivery.
• Coordinate guest speakers, mentors, trainers, and community‑based learning opportunities that enrich the participant experience.

Skills

Facilitation

Group facilitation

Curriculum design

Trauma-informed

Peer leadership

Inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Leadership Development Associate, Lived Experience Initiative, Kitchener ON

Job Synopsis

The Leadership Development Associate for the Lived Experience Initiative supports the development and delivery of MCC Ontario's Lived Experience Leadership Program for individuals who have experienced homelessness, housing instability, poverty, or related systemic barriers. Working collaboratively with MCC staff, participants, and community partners, the Associate helps create a safe, inclusive, and participant‑centred learning environment where participants can strengthen their confidence, relationships, and leadership capacity. Grounded in MCC’s peacebuilding framework, the program creates opportunities for participants to contribute their gifts, experiences, and expertise through storytelling, advocacy, peer leadership, conflict transformation, community engagement, and systems change.
This .6 FTE salaried role will work 22.5 hours weekly.
MCC is a charitable organization that partners with churches and community organizations worldwide to walk with people who are disadvantaged. MCC supports activities that provide emergency assistance, reduce poverty, and promote healthy communities, sustainable living and alternatives to violence. As an internationally recognized NGO, MCC currently serves in more than 45 countries with over 475 partners, 1,000 staff and 40,000 volunteers.
Additional Details:
This role is based at MCC Ontario’s 50 Kent Avenue location in Kitchener, Ontario.
Applicants must be legally able to work in Canada for the duration of their employment. Successful candidates will be required to provide a Police Background Check upon hire.

Salaried Employee -Part Time at .6 FTE

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Required

• Experience facilitating groups, workshops, peer‑support activities, community engagement initiatives, or other participatory learning experiences.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting individuals who face barriers to participation.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting and respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, anti‑oppressive, and participant‑centred approaches.
• Direct and extensive understanding of homelessness, poverty, housing instability, and social‑service systems, preferably within Waterloo Region.
• Working knowledge of conflict resolution, conflict transformation, mediation, or peacebuilding practices.
• Experience developing or adapting curricula, learning activities, training materials, or educational programming.
• Strong communication, active‑listening, collaboration, and group‑facilitation skills.
• Commitment to social inclusion, equity, dignity, and meaningful leadership by people with lived experience.
• Ability to organise and prioritise varied responsibilities, work both independently and collaboratively, and adapt to emerging participant and program needs.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.

Preferred

• Lived experience of homelessness, housing instability, poverty, or related systemic barriers.
• Experience in peer support, community organising, advocacy, public engagement, or leadership‑development initiatives.
• Established knowledge of Waterloo Region community organisations, housing resources, and social‑service networks.
• Relevant bachelor’s degree plus 2-4 years of related experience, or 7-10 years of equivalent experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with MCC staff, participants, and project partners to develop, refine, and deliver the Lived Experience Leadership Program curriculum.
• Design and adapt workshops, reflection exercises, experiential learning opportunities, and participant resources that support the program’s leadership‑development outcomes.
• Integrate peacebuilding, inclusion, trauma‑informed practice, conflict sensitivity, and lived‑experience leadership principles throughout program content and delivery.
• Coordinate guest speakers, mentors, trainers, and community‑based learning opportunities that enrich the participant experience.

Program Development & Learning Design

• Collaborate with MCC staff, participants, and project partners to develop, refine, and deliver the Lived Experience Leadership Program curriculum.
• Design and adapt workshops, reflection exercises, experiential learning opportunities, and participant resources that support the program’s leadership‑development outcomes.
• Integrate peacebuilding, inclusion, trauma‑informed practice, conflict sensitivity, and lived‑experience leadership principles throughout program content and delivery.
• Coordinate guest speakers, mentors, trainers, and community‑based learning opportunities that enrich the participant experience.

Facilitation and Participant Leadership Development

• Co‑facilitate biweekly cohort meetings, workshops, and learning sessions in a welcoming, inclusive, and psychologically safer environment.
• Facilitate learning related to leadership development, systems navigation, homelessness and poverty, conflict transformation, storytelling, public speaking, advocacy, peer support, and community engagement.
• Support participants in identifying their strengths, interests, leadership goals, and opportunities to apply their learning.
• Encourage reflection, relationship‑building, and practical application of learning throughout the program.

Participant Recruitment and Support

• Build relationships with local service providers, community organisations, and people with lived experience to promote the program and support participant recruitment.
• Deliver program information sessions and coordinate participant onboarding and orientation.
• Identify barriers to attendance, engagement, and participation, and collaborate with participants and relevant partners to connect them with appropriate supports or accommodations.
• Provide strengths‑based encouragement, coaching, and mentorship that supports participants’ learning and leadership goals.
• Maintain appropriate role boundaries and follow established processes when participant needs require specialised or crisis‑related support.

Community Partnership and Engagement

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community agencies, service providers, advocacy groups, and lived‑experience leaders.
• Coordinate opportunities for participants to contribute to community organisations, volunteer placements, advisory groups, advocacy initiatives, peer‑support roles, and other leadership settings.
• Represent MCC and the program at relevant community meetings, networks, and events.
• Help establish pathways through which program graduates can continue developing and exercising leadership after completing the program.

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Gather participant feedback and stories of impact using respectful, accessible, and consent‑based approaches.
• Contribute to surveys, program evaluation, reporting, and documentation of lessons learned.
• Use participant and partner feedback to recommend and implement improvements during the pilot.
• Participate in team planning and reporting processes and contribute operational insight to sustainability and future‑program planning.

Core Values and Expectations.

• Perform other job‑related duties as assigned.
• Assist with special events and projects as needed.
• Participate in MCCO orientations, provincial meetings, Peace Conference and Staff Development Days
• Participate in a local faith community, being willing to use your personal gifts within this community.
• Model nonviolent peacemaking through respectful daily interactions with staff and the public.
• Maintain a high level of integrity, reflecting Christian respect and Christ's unconditional love to those with whom you work, including colleagues, partner agencies, the homeless and the marginalised.
• Communicate MCC’s values to customers, volunteers and donors.

Start Date

02 Nov, 2026

Salary Details

Base salary: $39,213 - The salary stated is an annual amount. This role starts on day 1 with a company paid benefit package

Group benefits package is employer-paid and includes supplemental medical/dental/vision, life insurance, AD&D, global medical assistance, EAP and RRSP contributions matched - starts on day one. LTD premiums are the responsibility