Project Coordinator (Independent Contractor)

Reports to: Director/ Advisor of Equity and Access Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

Project Title: Inspiring Future Indigenous Black Mi’kmaq Lawyers Internship (IB&MIP)

Part time: 10 – 15 hours/ week (October, 2024 – March 31, 2025), Full Week of March Break = March 9th – March 14th.

Please note this position is an independent contract and is not confirmation of full-time or part-time employment with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS).

About this Project:

• The Inspiring Future Indigenous Black & Mi’kmaq Lawyers Internship Program’s (“Internship”) vision is to provide African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq (ANS&M) high school students (grades ten to twelve) who have an interest in the law, the opportunity to be exposed to the legal profession.
• The goal of this internship is to address systemic barriers in education by connecting Mi’kmaq/ African Nova Scotian students with the legal community. We seek to engage the youth during their formative years in education to inspire them to feel confident to pursue a legal education. This is in keeping with the Donald Marshall Jr. recommendations which discuss the need for increased representation of Mi’kmaq, Indigenous, African Nova Scotian and Black individuals in the legal profession.
• The NSBS, in conjunction with its project partners, seeks an independent contractor to take on the role of Project Coordinator to manage the IB&M Internship Pathway.

Job Purpose:

• Reporting to the Project Managers (Director/ Advisor of Equity and Access – NSBS), the Project Coordinator is an independent contract role; they will be responsible for the coordination, joint development, delivery, recruitment, and management of the Inspiring Future Indigenous, Black and Mi’kmaq Lawyers Internship Pathway.
• The Project Coordinator will work closely with the consultant (The Prep Academy) and liaise with the steering committee, program partners, Dalhousie University, Department of Education to coordinate the development and delivery of the Internship for March Break 2025 (March 10th – March 14th).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Administration and Delivery

• Corresponds with internship participants, mentors, facilitators, and other project participants.
• Manage vendors including video, photography, food providers, etc.
• Keep digital records through a shared digital folder of all curriculum, program plans, participant registration, etc.
• Oversee and distribute community promotion, and recruitment of career mentors, volunteers, students, teachers, and program partners.
• Execute and manage the Inspiring Future Indigenous, Black, Mi’kmaq Lawyers Internship Pathway.
• Manage the organization of participant recruitment and registration, location, travel, lodgings, and catering for the duration of the camp (Internship).
• Participate in travel associated with program delivery, site visits and community meetings.
• Report to the Project Managers (Director and/ or Advisor of Equity and Access Office) and consult regularly to ensure the project stays within the set budget and are meeting deliverables.
• Keep records of expenditures made and file appropriate paperwork in a timely manner.
• Distribute and collect (pre and post internship) surveys to students and volunteers.

Documentation

• Keep all records of participant registration.
• Keep digital records through an online portal (i.e., Teams etc.) of all curriculum and meeting outlines (topics covered, mentors present, student registration, etc.), video and photography.

Communications

• Promptly and appropriately reply to all related inquiries.
• Ensure that the Internship is promoted appropriately.
• Correspond with Internship participants on all travel, logistics, lodgings, etc.
• Organize all meetings/ orientations for volunteers and facilitators.

Mentors and Volunteers

• Liaise with mentors and volunteers to determine their needs before and during the duration of the Internship to ensure they are fully prepared.
• Ensure that mentors and volunteers have been given all the pre-meeting materials (including media consent form), and that these materials are collected.
• Keep an updated log of contact information for each mentor and volunteer.
• Organize all meetings for mentors and volunteers with the steering committee.
• Work with consultant to find two youth facilitators who will support the Coordinator during the Internship.

Curriculum Planning and Execution

• Support the steering committee and community partners in the development of Internship curriculum.
• Assist in the management of the instructors during planning phases.
• Aid in the procurement of materials.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree
• 3 years of related experience
• Possess full and unrestricted Nova Scotia driver’s license.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Proven experience working with equity deserving communities.
• Possess the ability to effectively solve problems and make independent decisions.
• Must be able to complete a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check.
• Knowledge of the Mi’kmaq and/or African Nova Scotian communities
• Good public speaking skills.
• Experience working with Mi’kmaq and/ or African Nova Scotian communities.
• Related experience working with rural, remote, low-income, and other populations.

Working conditions

• The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements.

Job Type: part-time

Compensation: $30,000 for entirety of contract

Note: Due to the nature of the Internship this position is designated to Mi’kmaq and Indigenous persons only.

Apply by September 16th at 4 pm.

Should you have any questions please contact the Equity and Access office of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society at equity@nsbs.org.

Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS)