Director - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture

Do you want to be part of our innovative and entrepreneurial team?

Do you thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and enjoy working in a team atmosphere? Are you an “outside the box” thinker who strives to implement continuous improvements? Do you take a strategic approach to your work? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced culture where your opinions are valued and respected?

Mitacs is a national not-for-profit that helps industry and non-profit partners solve strategic challenges by leveraging Canada’s world-class post-secondary talent and a global network of industry, academic, and government partnerships. Through these collaborations, Mitacs helps business and community partners succeed, improves students’ on-the-job skills development, and strengthens Canada’s world-class innovation ecosystem. At Mitacs, we strive to develop the next generation of innovators with vital research and business skills. In partnership with domestic and international companies, governments and academia, we support a new economy using Canada’s most valuable resource – its people. 

To get a better understanding of Mitacs and read more about our values please visit our website

Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture who is skilled at managing people and operations as we undergo a period of significant enterprise transformation. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, dedicated to driving meaningful change and fostering a culture which embraces diversity, equity, inclusivity, to enhance employee well-being.

We are encouraging and welcoming applications from equity-deserving groups to help us deliver on this critical work. We encourage all candidates to self-identify in their applications.

To get a better understanding of Mitacs and read more about our values, please visit our website.

Job Summary:

This hands-on leadership role will be responsible for working in partnership with senior leaders and departments across Mitacs to steer the improvement of processes, practices, and policies related to EDI and Culture. Reporting to the Vice President of EDI and Culture, this role will ensure alignment with our organization’s overarching goals. This position will also lead a dedicated team of four professionals who support EDI and culture initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the EDI and Culture Department: Drive the effective implementation of equity, diversity, inclusion, and culture initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals and organizational values.
• People Management: Performance management, career development support, recognition, and succession planning for direct reports on the EDI and Culture team.
• Inform Executive Decisions: Develop and deliver insightful, data-backed recommendations, reports, and presentations to the Mitacs Executive Committee to inform decision-making and shape organizational strategy.
• Steer Effective Implementation of Operational EDI and Culture Commitments: Support the EDI and Culture team in implementing internal and external commitments in the Inclusive Innovation Action Plan (IIAP), including Indigenous engagement and outreach efforts, accessibility compliance, developing/improving programs and services for equity-deserving groups, and culture transformation initiatives.
• Employee Engagement and Wellbeing: Lead initiatives to strengthen employee engagement and wellbeing. Work in close collaboration with the Human Resources team to support ongoing improvements to the people and culture strategy.
• Ensure Tracking and Reporting of Impact and Outcomes: Establish goals, track progress, and measure the effectiveness of change and EDI and Culture initiatives. Analyze and report on the impact of the EDI and Culture team’s internal efforts, leveraging data collected by the EDI and HR team. Work in collaboration with the Evaluations team to produce impact assessment reports on external EDI and Indigenous initiatives.
• Advance External Programs and Policies: Collaboratively work with the programs and client service teams to ensure EDI is applied to the delivery of internships

• People-First Leadership: Foster a culture of trust and collaboration both within the EDI and Culture team and the broader organization, creating an environment where all employees feel valued.

• Operational Planning: Support development and oversight of the department's annual operational plan and budget. Ensure initiatives are impactful and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Build strong relationships with cross-functional teams across the organization to ensure progress towards achieving IIAP goals and employee engagement goals.  
• Change Management: Lead organizational change efforts related to people and culture initiatives, including stakeholder engagement, communication plans, training programs, and resistance management to support Mitacs Enterprise Transformation.
• Employee Support: Serve as a trusted advisor for employees, providing guidance and support on matters related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and culture.
• Critical Thinking and Political Acuity: Address challenging and sensitive topics with a constructive and solution-oriented approach. Demonstrate excellent judgment, empathy, and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Lead and influence stakeholders with diplomacy and sensitivity to cultural diversity.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Law, Social Sciences, or related field

• 8+ years of people management experience with a proven ability to effectively lead/develop teams and manage performance in a rapidly changing environment
• 5+ years experience managing and implementing EDI and Culture related programs and initiatives

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership, HR, and employees at all levels with a passion for driving change and creating an inclusive organizational culture
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and concise manner

Key Competencies:

• Navigates and leads through complexity and change across all levels of the organization
• Sound business judgment and ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics, work cross-functionally, and engage with diverse teams and departments
• Ability to connect EDI and Culture initiatives with broader organizational goals and vision
• Skilled in addressing sensitive topics and conflicts related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and culture
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering reports, data, and stories to influence employees ranging from individual contributors to executives to Board Directors

Strong assets:

• Change management certification
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion certification
• Fully bilingual in English and French (written and oral)

*Knowledge of written and spoken English is required in this role as you will interact with colleagues, clients and stakeholders located across Canada.

Hiring Range: $115,920 - $137,655

Hiring and Salary Range Transparency 

Typically, employees are hired, transferred, or promoted within the salary range, specifically between the minimum and midpoint in the hiring range.

The salary range refers to the range of base salaries for a given position, encompassing the minimum and maximum amounts. The midpoint of the range is positioned approximately halfway between the minimum and maximum, indicating a fully qualified employee with comprehensive job knowledge and experience for the role.

Only in rare and exceptional circumstances, where a candidate has the experience, skills, and expertise that far exceed those required for the position, would we consider paying above the hiring range for this role.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and decolonization are core values at Mitacs: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Mitacs. We believe a diverse workforce comprised of individuals with different ideas, strengths, interests, and backgrounds (e.g., gender identities and expressions, Indigeneity, race, abilities, sexual orientation, and other identities) are crucial to our success. We welcome everyone to apply and encourage you to connect with us if you require accommodations during the recruitment process.