Executive Director

September 19, 2014

Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) is hiring a new Executive Director to lead the organization.

CERA was founded in 1987 as a province-wide, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting human rights in housing. Our work is founded on a belief in the inherent dignity and worth of all people. It is in this spirit that we carry out all of our initiatives, which share the common goal of intervening in cycles of discrimination that disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized individuals in the housing market. Through public education, advocacy and litigation (offered free of charge to clients) CERA works to address barriers preventing individuals from accessing and maintaining housing. We are a world leader in our field, using both domestic and international human rights law to address homelessness and poverty. We regularly collaborate with non-governmental organizations in Canada and internationally to promote economic and social rights.

The successful candidate will be a lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada with a demonstrated commitment to social justice, as well as previous human rights and housing experience. The Executive Director works with our staff, students and volunteers to carry out our existing human rights and eviction prevention programs and projects as well as provides leadership around innovative project development and creative funding strategies.

Job Description

CERA has four main program areas: eviction prevention, human rights casework, test case litigation and legal education. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing and developing each program as well as developing new projects consistent with CERA’s mandate.

The Executive Director is also responsible for overseeing the entire CERA staff, which includes part-time and full-time employees, law students, articling students and other student placements.

The Executive Director’s responsibilities include:

• Reporting to CERA Board of Directors;
• Overseeing finances and fundraising;
• Overseeing and mentoring staff, students and volunteers;
• Overseeing, developing and delivering all projects and programs, including Human Rights intake and Eviction Prevention;
• Representing applicants at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario; and
• Maintaining a work environment free from harassment and discrimination.

Qualifications

You are a lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada with expertise in human rights law, ideally as it pertains to housing in Ontario. You understand landlord and tenant law and have a thorough knowledge of housing and homelessness issues. You have experience developing and implementing creative funding strategies, managing projects, supervising staff and volunteers, forging and maintaining strong relationships with funding and partner organizations. You have excellent writing and communication skills.

As a leader and manager, you understand how to juggle multiple priorities and expand on the talents of a small group of dedicated and diverse staff, students and volunteers. It is important to you to maintain an open, positive, respectful and exciting work environment where staff, students and volunteers are valued. You care about people facing discrimination and eviction in housing and you believe it is important to help them.

Terms of position

This is a permanent full-time position. The position offers medical benefits and 4 weeks paid vacation. The salary will be in the range of $70,000 to $75,000 depending on experience.

To apply

All applicants are asked to submit the following:

1. A cover letter;
2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae; and
3. A legal writing sample.

All applications should be submitted via email as a single PDF document to theresa@equalityrights.org by October 7, 2014 by 11:59 p.m. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.