Social Planner I

City of Vancouver; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative and inclusive workplace seeks a Cultural Equity and Accessibility Planner to enhance equity and accessibility within the arts and culture sector. This role focuses on developing programs for equity-deserving communities, engaging with stakeholders, and promoting cultural redress initiatives. The position supports the City's commitment to sustainability and reconciliation while fostering a culture of learning and accountability. Join a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community and advancing social justice through arts and culture.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in relevant discipline preferred.
• Experience leading equity initiatives in arts and culture.

Responsibilities

• Develops and delivers cultural equity and accessibility programs.
• Supports community engagement to identify barriers and understand needs.

Skills

Cultural Equity

Accessibility Programs

Community Engagement

Research and Analysis

Communication Skills

Cross-Cultural Competency

Project Management

Education

Master's Degree in Arts & Culture

Post-secondary Degree in Social Sciences

Job description

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Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities . Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace. Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose & Function

The Cultural Equity and Accessibility Planner develops and delivers cultural equity and accessibility programs within the Arts and Culture team and provides subject matter and process expertise to enhance the department’s capacity to work towards greater equity and accessibility outcomes. Objectives of the role include engaging with and improving outcomes for equity-deserving communities, delivering programs, sharing best practices, identifying opportunities, and tracking progress across the department.

This role will be supported by and complete work to align with broader Citywide structures and strategies, including Culture Shift, the City’s 10-year culture plan, the City’s Equity Framework, Accessibility Strategy, Reconciliation Framework, and UNDRIP Action Plan.

This position reports to the Head of Grants and Awards and works closely with other Arts & Culture teams, and with the Anti-Racism, Equity and Access Team.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Develops and delivers cultural equity and accessibility programs within the Arts and Culture Team including:
  • dedicated programs to support cultural organizations led by equity-deserving communities; and
  • sector-wide programs to support all organizations to advance equity and accessibility.
• Provides subject matter and process expertise to enhance the department’s capacity towards greater equity and accessibility outcomes.
• Identifies how current Arts and Culture programs, policies, and decisions uphold and/or maintain systems of oppression and identifies relevant opportunities to make them more equitable and accessible.
• Supports the City’s commitment to repair the harms of systemic exclusion and discrimination through cultural redress and anti-racism initiatives.
• Supports the City’s commitment to support disabled creators, disability arts as a practice, and accommodations for disabled audiences.
• Contributes to building a culture of learning within the staff and promotes accountability in equity and accessibility.
• Develops a shared and specific vocabulary for equity and accessibility work, aligning Arts and Culture’s approach with wider ACCS and City efforts.
• Conducts research of best practices in equity and accessibility.
• Develops and tracks metrics for equity and accessibility goals and plans.
• Supports community engagement to identify barriers, understand needs, and promote funding opportunities.
• Functions as a key contact for equity-seeking individuals and groups and engages with the community on an ongoing basis.
• Identifies ways to engage and support arts and culture organizations towards greater equity and accessibility, in alignment with City priorities.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Post-secondary degree preferably with a Master's Degree or its equivalent, in relevant discipline (Arts & Culture, Social Sciences, Arts Administration, Community Planning) supplemented by course work around equity and accessibility, o r an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience developing and leading equity initiatives.
• Experience working with or within the arts and culture sector.
• Relevant lived experience as a racialized person and/or experience living with a disability preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of Vancouver’s arts and culture ecosystem.
• Knowledge, experience, and ability to apply core equity lenses to all work responsibilities, as appropriate: Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Intersectionality and Systems Orientation.
• Considerable knowledge about disability issues, disability organizations, and an understanding of ableism.
• Knowledge of working with equity-deserving communities.
• Knowledge of funding programs and processes is an asset.
• Strong communication skills with an ability to navigate and participate in complex discussions on equity, accessibility, and cultural redress while remaining open to new and challenging ideas.
• Cross-cultural competency, including strong emotional intelligence and the ability to engage, motivate, and build trust and confidence with diverse audiences within a work environment.
• Ability to influence others, both internal City and external partners, towards common goals.
• Strong engagement and facilitation skills and interest in contributing to a culture of learning within the Arts and Culture team.
• Research and analysis skills to support program development and delivery.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple initiatives, projects, report on outcomes, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, initiative, and work independently as well as part of a team.

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work a hybrid work week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department:Arts, Culture and Community Services (1200)

Affiliation:CUPE 15 Non Pks

Employment Type:Temporary Full Time

Position Start Date:June, 2025

Position End Date: January, 2026

Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-029: $51.70to $61.13per hour

Application Close: May 9, 2025

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve . Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process.Learn more aboutour commitment to diversity and inclusion .

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Once you start your application you can save your work and leave the applications page, however please remember to submit your profile to the specific job requisition before the posting closing date.

In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.