Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre Job Board
Neighbourhood Project Designer
Description
Employment Opportunity: Neighbourhood Project Designer
Location: Halifax, NS
Salary Range: $29-$31/hr. Depending on experience.
Employment Term: Start Date with fixed term (one-year) contract with possibility for extension.
Position Type: Full time (35hrs/week)
Reports to: Manager, Neighbourhood Projects
Description
Every One Every Day (EOED) Kjipuktuk/Halifax is Reconciliation Initiative of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) that is working to develop a system of neighbourhood participation that invites learning and action around Truth & Reconciliation at the neighbourhood level. To date, we have worked to build a network of infrastructure, including a Neighbourhood Shop in the North End of Halifax, which is supporting a growing network of practical participation projects.
Every One Every Day projects are all about creating opportunities for residents to connect and learn over shared interests and work together to shape civic and social spaces in ways that draw on the knowledge and skills of people living nearby. Learn more about the work to date here: www.halifaxiseveryone.ca
Currently we are looking for a Neighbourhood Project Designer to join EOED’s Team. Neighbourhood Project Designers work together daily to: Support the co-design and delivery of resident-driven programs; Inspire creativity and ideas for a growing network of neighbourhood projects; And deepen local partnerships by connecting spaces and resources across the neighbourhood.
About You:
You are an experienced community leader who is energized by working alongside diverse community members to surface ideas and creativity that help spark positive, neighborhood level change.
You are a seasoned facilitator who is familiar with concepts of design-thinking & practice. You are someone who enjoys trying your hand at making new things and working with others to move ideas into action in support of diverse forms of civic and social activation.
You are a great problem solver and community animator— finding spaces, identifying opportunities, and seeking new partnerships in support of developing a growing network of spaces and projects that support community-driven action.
You are resourceful, self-directed, and highly organized. You enjoy working in focused and driven teams.
You are flexible and possess the ability to adapt to last minute changes and gracefully navigate shifting priorities.
You are passionate about working to build more inclusive and socially connected communities that prioritize principles of equity as well as learning and practice around decolonization.
You are someone who will make it happen, even if it isn’t perfect or is difficult.
Key Responsibilities
Co-Design & Co-creation:
- Facilitate participatory design sessions with the team, residents, and partners that help to stimulate and connect ideas for a range of neighbourhood projects which all together, expand opportunities for people to take part in.
- Work with the neighbourhood team to create a range of visual tools & interactive displays that can help visualize new possibilities for projects and how we can work together to move forward in inclusive and creative ways.
- Engage with diverse partners and community members to develop seasonal programs with newspapers that invite people to share their time, talents and skills through a growing network of practical participation projects.
- Guided by Every One Every Day’s Truth & Reconciliation Framework, work with the team and Friendship Centre staff to integrate opportunities for Reconciliatory Action across the team, with partners, and with residents at the neighbourhood level.
Activation of Neighbourhood Spaces & Projects:
- Build & strengthen partnerships with local organizations & businesses through collaborative projects that help to connect and expand access to shared resources (ie. indoor/outdoor spaces, tools & equipment, skills & knowledge, etc.).
- Lead the daily activation of key infrastructures (ie. Neighbourhood Shop, Community Build Trailer, Collaborative Project Sites, etc.) and facilitate creative ways for residents to lead and support activities that foster social connection and community agency.
- Support the creation of safe and inclusive spaces for all community members and work with the team to apply trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches.
Program & Project Management:
- Engage with a range of virtual tools that support collaborative design and development of projects and complex program logistics.
- Maintain on-going tracking and organization of program and partner details using existing or new platforms & tools. (ie. Microsoft Office 365, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.).
- Work with team members to create weekly and monthly schedules for supporting connection and flow across spaces and within the Neighbourhood Team.
- Oversee weekly administrative tasks such as processing financial claims, supporting host honorarium & contract development and responding to external requests.
- Maintain on-going communication with residents, the Neighbourhood Design Team to share and build knowledge that is essential for coordinated program development.
- Manage assigned budgets for project materials and expenses and coordinate bulk purchasing of equipment and supplies.
Evaluation, Learning & Development:
- Participate in on-going tracking and data collection in relation to impact measurement and process design, particularly in relation to project and program development.
- Engage in team learning & development opportunities related to participatory design, EOEDs Truth & Reconciliation Framework, and other opportunities that help to build and share critical knowledge across the team.
- Facilitate co-design sessions as part of team development/training camps and regular team meetings and retreats.
- Contribute to processes of knowledge sharing and the development of learning materials.
Communications & Story Sharing:
- Engage in structured reflection practice to capture emerging insights and stories.
- Support the collection of resident impact stories for sharing across diverse communications materials (ie. newspapers & reports).
- Contribute to insight gathering, analysis, and content development for annual reports or specialized communications products.
- Contribute to the coordination and development of updates, news, and story-sharing across key social media channels.
Adhere to EOED Team Values and all Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre policies and practices.
Essential Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:
- Program/Project Planning & Delivery– 2+ years' experience in a project management role where you were responsible for project planning & implementation in collaborative environments.
- Facilitation – 2 + years’ experience developing and facilitating creative workshops & ideation sessions and a high degree of comfort in supporting others to do the same.
- Design Thinking & Activation – Familiarity with principles of design-thinking and demonstrated experience facilitating participatory processes (ie. Engagement sessions or facilitated workshops) for diverse audiences.
- Collaboration – Hands-on experience working with diverse team and community members to harness & connect different knowledge and skill sets in support of resident-led action.
- Communication - Excellent written and verbal communication skills to support the communication of ideas across contexts and support creative and productive workflow within the team and with partners.
- Relationship builder - Excellent people person with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals to support inclusion, particularly in relation to Urban Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities.
- Proficiency with software applications including Microsoft Office 365, Google Suite, and comfort using project/data management tools.
- Must provide a Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Abuse Registrar prior to hiring.
Personal Qualities
- Energetic - great at face-to-face communication, able to convey ideas, generate excitement, motivate and encourage people to get involved.
- Highly organized – with a strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks, set goals and establish priorities in a timely manner.
- Reliable – both process and outcome focused: you do what you say you will, ask for help where you need it, and continuously seek opportunities to strengthen both our process and impact.
- Action orientated – with a sense and capability to get started and move things along in emergent environments. You are curious with a learner’s mindset.
Application Deadline: Thursday, May 8th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel working within this job title.
The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre is an equal opportunity employer; and complies with all fair employment practices laws. We are committed to providing a workplace free form unlawful discrimination and harassment and prohibit the same against employees, applicants or other covered persons by co-workers, supervisors, managers, or third parties based on a person’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veterans status, disability unrelated to job requirements, ethnicity, genetic information, military service, political affiliation, marital status and pregnancy or other protected status.
Qualified Indigenous applicants will be given priority in accordance with the Aboriginal Employment Preference Policy of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) reserves the right to refuse all applications for employment. The MNFC will not assume any expenses related to this or any job application process included and not limited to travel, relocation, and application development.
*Only those applicants who are screened in for an interview will be contacted.
Compensation
$29.00 - $31.00 per hour