Job opportunities and tenders

Small yet mighty

Don’t be fooled by our size; our team of professionals wields considerable clout across Canada and in the nation’s capital, and we’re always looking for new talent.

If you think you have the right stuff, come back to this page frequently and check out the latest full-time, part-time, and contract opportunities here. We also accept resumes, for future consideration, on an ongoing basis.

Submit your resume and cover letter at https://secure.collage.co/jobs/fhss/19297.

Do not submit your application by email*, but if you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line at hr@federationhss.ca.

*Please note the specific application process for President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (“the Federation”) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that promotes research and teaching for the advancement of an inclusive, democratic, and prosperous society. With a membership comprising over 160 universities, colleges, and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 91,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year.

It is within this context that the Federation is seeking to recruit its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Reporting to a national Board of Directors, the CEO provides strategic, operational, and administrative oversight for all aspects of the organization's activities, programs, and staff. The CEO establishes clear priorities to guide the team, ensuring the delivery of value and high-quality services to association and institutional members. Engaging with members, the CEO develops and executes the Federation's strategic objectives and policies, while also serving as the chief spokesperson, advocating for the Federation's mission to various external stakeholders, including policymakers and government entities. The CEO ensures the Federation’s financial health, championing initiatives to grow the membership base and attract a new generation of academics and graduate students. The CEO understands the “big picture,” finding creative, strategic, and practical solutions to complex problems, ensuring the Federation is well-prepared to meet future challenges. Committed to leading a bilingual organization and supporting principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and decolonization, the CEO plays a crucial role in advancing the Federation's overarching goals.

As the ideal candidate, you are a strategic leader who can develop, articulate, and deliver a focused, compelling, member-centric direction for the Federation, embraced and valued by staff, members, and stakeholders. You offer the Federation a bold vision and the energy it needs to achieve its mission, and you will constantly seek to maximize opportunities as the organization expands and innovates. You are a client-service champion, fully appreciating the importance of maintaining relevance and delivering value to members by listening to, anticipating, understanding, and responding to their needs. You are an inclusive leader who sets a high bar for organizational performance and creates dynamic team cultures that value respect, transparency, and accountability. You are a gifted communicator and a skilled relationship builder with a proven track-record of establishing partnerships, influencing public policy, and maintaining positive working relationships with governments, members, partners, and key stakeholders. Your experience within an academic environment or in a comparable not-for-profit organization would be an asset, as would your language proficiency in both English and French.

To apply for this position, please submit your application and related materials to John Caminiti and Alain Pescador at apescador@boyden.com. Please include “FHSS CEO” in the subject line of your email.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those under consideration for the role will be contacted.

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to building diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible working environments and welcomes those who would contribute to the further diversification of staff including, but not limited to, women, racialized persons, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to apply.

Lead, Policy - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID)

We have an immediate opening for a dedicated individual to join our team in the position of Lead, Policy – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID). The successful candidate will join a dynamic group of skilled individuals working together in a collegial, respectful and inclusive environment.

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences promotes research and teaching for the advancement of an inclusive, democratic and prosperous society. With a membership now comprising over 160 universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 91,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada.

The annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is the convergence of over 70 scholarly associations, each holding their annual conference under one umbrella, and is Canada’s largest gathering of scholars. Typically held in late May and early June, Congress is organized by the Federation each year. For more information about the Federation, visit www.federationhss.ca.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Policy & Research, the Lead, Policy – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) is responsible for leading activities that advance the Federation’s EDID policies and strategic priorities. This includes monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the implementation of the “Igniting Change” recommendations and EDID Action Plan; advising and supporting the Standing Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization; and contributing to the management and development of programs and initiatives that advance organizational EDID objectives.

The Lead, Policy must have expertise in EDID as it pertains to research, education, policy or society more broadly, with a demonstrated ability to apply an accessibility and inclusion lens, and anti-racist, anti-oppression, decolonization and intersectional principles, frameworks and promising practices to their work.

The ideal candidate has strong program/project management and evaluation abilities, excellent analytical, research and communications skills, and advanced experience presenting reports and recommendations to a wide variety of audiences, including Executives, Board of Directors, and stakeholders.

This is a hybrid role and requires the successful candidate to come into our Ottawa office two days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the implementation, outcomes and impacts of the Federation’s Action Plan on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID).
Manage and administer the EDID Initiatives Fund program to support Federation members in building their EDID capacity.
Undertake research to serve and develop the Federation’s EDID policies and priorities.
Lead the measurement, collection and analysis of EDID-related data of Federation programs.
Draft recommendations and provide strategic advice for the Senior Leadership Team and the Board in Federation EDID priority areas.
Support the Federation Board of Directors’ Standing Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID). Draft memos and briefing materials to inform recommendations to the Board on EDID-related strategies, priorities and policies. Plan and attend meetings, develop agendas in consultation with the chair, and serve as the primary staff contact for committee members.
Coordinate the development of key programmatic initiatives that advance organizational EDID objectives, including the Indigenous Protocols Guidelines and other Congress-related programming.
Undertake member, stakeholder and decision-maker engagement and relationship building as it relates to EDID issues and Federation EDID priority areas.
Additional duties as required.

People Management / Federation Team:

Assist in the development of team goals and objectives, track progress, produce status reports, contribute to program evaluation activities, and develop work plans to identify timelines and deliverables.
Manage staff in a manner that promotes a healthy and effective working environment, including supporting the recruitment of new employees, regular feedback and coaching, professional development, annual performance evaluations in accordance with the Federation’s policies and collaborative work plans setting out activities, milestones, resource requirements and timelines for the accomplishment of goals, objectives and tasks.
Participate in Senior Leadership Team meetings as required; contribute to Federation discussions on policy and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) and operationalizing of strategic priorities.

Job Requirements:

A master’s degree in the social sciences, humanities, or related field; or a bachelor’s degree and extensive related professional experience.
Five or more years of related progressive experience in a policy, program or research-related role, with demonstrated knowledge and experience applying current Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) theories, principles and promising practices.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience applying an accessibility and inclusion lens and anti-racist, anti-oppressive, decolonization and intersectional frameworks, principles and promising practices in policies, programs or activities.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience applying principles and frameworks that value Indigenous knowledge, contribute to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and support the critical role of post secondary education, and the humanities and social sciences specifically, in the process of research, understanding and action towards reconciliation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience presenting to a wide variety of audiences including Executives, Board of Directors, and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to perform qualitative and quantitative research-related tasks, including managing and/or processing sensitive data, with familiarity in emerging AI analytic tools considered an asset.
Experience managing program/project management processes, including monitoring, evaluation and reporting, in accordance with organizational objectives.
Experience in a post-secondary academic environment as well as a strong understanding of the importance of universities and the value of the humanities and social sciences.
Lived experience with the impacts of colonization, racism and other forms of systemic oppression as well as experience working in community with equity-deserving groups.
Advanced software skills including Word processing, spreadsheets, slide presentations, email, and scheduling.
Additional certification/training in EDID would be an asset.
Travel will be required for Congress event and other meetings.

Competencies:

Bilingualism in English and French is preferred.
Demonstrates tact, diplomacy and high ethical standards in dealing with colleagues, elected or appointed representatives of the Federation, as well as with members of universities and organizations.
Demonstrates the ability to work under pressure and adapt easily.
Is highly organized, with the ability to plan, prioritize, deliver and follow-up on multiple responsibilities.
Demonstrates a sense of accountability and ownership of responsibilities and the motivation to follow through to achieve personal and team goals.
Communicates thoughts, ideas and vision in a clear and compelling manner both written and orally and has a collaborative manner to seek out the opinions of others with a view to finding the best solution for the organization.
Effectively facilitates meetings, conducts presentations and leverages interpersonal skills with colleagues and members.
Demonstrates the ability to navigate sensitive situations involving multiple stakeholders.
Establishes strong and trusted relationships with colleagues and external partners at all levels.
Values the contributions of all members of the team and seeks opportunities to help others to succeed.
Adapts to different approaches and demonstrates flexibility to move in new directions as needed.
Demonstrates a commitment to Federation values, vision and direction.
Is interested in developing skills and knowledge.
Demonstrates a good sense of humour and humility.

Compensation

Starting salary range: $57,750 - $68,250 (commensurate with experience)

To Apply:

If this opportunity intrigues you and relates to your experience, then we want to hear from you. Please take the time to tell us about yourself in a cover letter – we want to hear your story – your background, your accomplishments, and why this role is a good fit for you, and your career at this time.

Your application should consist of: Your resume or CV, including your name, email and phone number and a cover letter outlining why your experience fits our requirements.

The Federation for Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

You must be legally allowed to work in Canada in order to be eligible for this position. Those selected for an interview will be contacted directly. The posting will remain active on our website until our search process is complete.

Please contact us in confidence and provide notice in advance if you require accommodation(s) at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for accommodation will be considered in a fair and objective manner that will ensure applicants are treated with respect and dignity.

Policy Officer

We have an immediate opening for a dedicated individual to join our team in the position of Policy Officer. The successful candidate will join a dynamic group of skilled individuals working together in a collegial, respectful and inclusive environment.

Job Summary:

The Policy Officer supports the Manager, Policy & Research with research and policy analysis tasks, planning and coordinating programmatic activities, and developing advocacy content and resources.

The ideal candidate is a pro-active team player, who has excellent analytical, research and communications skills, good project management and coordination abilities, and strong experience preparing briefing materials on policy issues.