We’re Hiring – Director of Learning Networks

The Director of Learning Networks will be part of the leadership team at IONS and will be integral in shaping the strategic direction of the organization. We are conscious that the current makeup of our leadership team isn’t as reflective of the diversity that exists across the IONS team and Board.

With this in mind, we are committed to welcoming a leader with an intersectional lens and lived experience from an equity deserving community to help guide our work in building capacity in the Community Impact Sector.

In particular, we are interested in working with someone who identifies as Indigenous, Black, or Racialized and who holds a race-informed justice and equity lens. We recognize the prevalence of white leadership in the Community Impact Sector and are seeking to diversify our leadership team to help transform our work and better serve our community. We are likewise committed to ensuring that this leader is supported, their perspectives are valued, and that space is created for them to shape how we work. We are doing this by regularly reflecting on our personal and organizational practices for justice and equity, receiving anti-oppressive conflict management training, and listening to and being guided by our valued partnerships and networks in various communities.  

We also encourage you to self-identify in your application if you are a member of additional equity-deserving groups, such as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or a person with a disability. If you are a member of one or more of these equity-deserving groups, we encourage you to self-identify in your cover letter and/or resume so that we may weigh your application appropriately.  

About You

We are seeking an individual who is passionate about purpose-driven work and takes pride in being both organized and able to contribute to a wide diversity of tasks. You will be working most closely with the Learning Networks team, the Executive Director, and the IONS Big Picture (leadership) team. You’ll be supporting the development of a critical area of work for IONS and the sector and so will need to come with an entrepreneurial mindset to identify opportunities for growth and creating valuable sector resources. We hope to find someone who loves working collaboratively, values diversity of knowledge and viewpoints, and is solutions-oriented. You will also need to have a curiosity for systems change and an iterative approach to working grounded in developmental evaluation and constant learning. You will be leading a team of two people to begin with, so experience supporting diverse team members is important, as well as a personal leadership philosophy grounded in helping others to develop.  

Working with IONS

It’s time to reimagine what’s possible in, with, and for communities. The IONS team is passionate about supporting Nova Scotia’s Community Impact Sector and has a culture rooted in learning, challenging dominant ways of working, and building trust-based relationships. We engage in continuous adaptation based on our experiences and feedback, both in relation to what we offer the sector and how we work together internally.

We are seeking an individual who is passionate about purpose-driven work and takes pride in being both organized and able to contribute to a wide diversity of tasks. You will be working most closely with the Learning Networks team, the Executive Director, and the IONS Big Picture (leadership) team. You’ll be supporting the development of a critical area of work for IONS and the sector and so will need to come with an entrepreneurial mindset to identify opportunities for growth and creating valuable sector resources. We hope to find someone who loves working collaboratively, values diversity of knowledge and viewpoints, and is solutions-oriented. You will also need to have a curiosity for systems change and an iterative approach to working grounded in developmental evaluation and constant learning. You will be leading a team of two people to begin with, so experience supporting diverse team members is important, as well as a personal leadership philosophy grounded in helping others to develop.  

IONS currently has eleven full-time staff, ten of which are based in Halifax and one in Cape Breton. We are constantly examining how we structure and work together and are on a path toward an organizational model that prioritizes regular feedback, peer-to-peer accountability and collaborative teamwork and leadership over hierarchy. You will be joining us while we are still on this transitional path – so an interest in experimenting with new ways of working will be important! We are committed to developing a healthy workplace culture that helps to prevent burnout and have a 4-day work week.  

• • This is a full-time position with a dynamic and passionate team.  
  • We have office space in Halifax, Sydney, and are open to remote workers anywhere in Nova Scotia 
  • Compensation will be between $70,000-85,000 commensurate with experience.  
  • A 4-day work week (Fridays off – totaling 32 hours/week with some flexibility within the working day) is part of the IONS benefits package.  
  • Vacation (4 weeks) and wellness days (12 per year), as well as office closure during the winter holiday period, will be part of the compensation package.  
  • We offer a comprehensive health plan (employees pay 50% of health and dental portion plus 100% of long-term disability) and a $250/year wellness fund per year (prorated based on start date). Health benefits are offered at the start date. 

IONS is a hybrid workplace, and aims to support those living anywhere in Nova Scotia. We have an office space in Halifax (2045 Harvard Street) and Halifax staff have created a schedule that typically allows 1-2 days a week in the office/working from home. Physical space accessibility considerations: our office entrance has 5 steps. There is no ramp or automatic doors. The space may be challenging to navigate for folks with mobility concerns.

Ready to Join Our Team?

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until midnight on February 25th, 2024 at 11:59pm AT
Start Date: Early April, 2024
Submission Process: Fill out the form here to submit your application!  

What’s the Process?

The hiring process often privileges white, able-bodied, neurotypical people who can conform to Eurocentric ways of working and being. We recognize the inherent power dynamic within the capitalist hiring process which weighs heavily in favour of the organization. In keeping with our equity and justice commitments and recognizing that the hiring process is relational work, we’re consciously iterating new ways of approaching how we do this. We’re ready to hire our next team member, but we also want you to want to choose us as an employer.

What You Can Expect: 

• • Once you apply through the form, you’ll receive an automated confirmation email. The IONS team will then review all applications to determine who we would like to learn more about. As this is relational work, every applicant will receive an email whether you’ve been selected to move forward for an interview or not.
  • Initial interviews will be held virtually via Zoom or in person at our Halifax office depending on location, availability, and accessibility for the candidate(s).
  • We understand the stress and anxiety of these processes so we will send a copy of the interview questions to everyone in advance of our conversation. Heads up – we may reach out for a second round!
  • We recognize that creating an application and preparing for an interview is unpaid labour so a $50 honorarium will be offered to everyone who participates in the interview process.

If you require any accommodations in submitting your application or navigating the process,
please reach out to Lisa Fiamelli, Executive Assistant, at lisa@ions.ca