Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (6-Month Contract)

About Us :

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is a leading national law firm focused on serving the transaction, advocacy and advisory needs of Canada’s most dynamic business sectors.

We have one of the largest business law practices in the country, serving multinational, national and mid-market clients from our offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Our Culture :

At Cassels, our mission is to attract, retain and promote individuals of exceptional ability and talent from as broad a range of backgrounds as possible.

We offer meaningful career opportunities, invest in professional growth, and foster an inclusive environment. Our Firm’s success is built on the unique skills, perspectives, experiences and values of each individual.

We encourage a corporate culture that respects and celebrates the dignity, value and diversity of all.

Role Overview :

Our Toronto office is currently recruiting for a Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for a 6-month contract role in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Department, reporting to our Chief EDI Officer.

The Manager, EDI supports Cassels’ vibrant and active EDI program, including supporting the EDI Office, Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC) and various Affinity Groups that operate under its mandate.

The successful candidate will be responsible for :

• Developing and implementing program, policies and practices that advance Cassels’ EDI strategy, goals and initiatives
• Organizing and executing all initiatives and projects of the EDI Office
• Managing the administration of various Affinity Group and IDC initiatives
• Liaising with our Marketing Department to ensure timely communication of EDI and IDC events and initiatives
• Communicating EDI initiatives internally
• Managing outreach and collaboration initiatives with external organizations at the student and lawyer levels
• Administering the firm’s Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) collaboration program
• Overseeing the firm’s responses to client diversity audits and surveys as well as assisting with the firm’s internal diversity audit program
• Planning and rolling out of the firm’s biannual inclusion and diversity survey
• Collaborating on firm CLE and training related to EDI, including liaising with external service providers to obtain a broad range of educational programming
• Providing thought leadership on EDI initiatives, including maintaining a current understanding of best practices and external competitor market trends in relation to EDI to apply within the firm
• Staying current with social, political, and economic events and government decisions relating to EDI
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing direct report, providing career development planning and opportunities.
• Empowering direct report to take ownership of their roles and goals, delegating responsibility and expecting accountability with regular feedback.
• Other EDI-related tasks or duties, as may be required by the Chief EDI Officer or firm senior management team from time to time

The successful candidate must have the following education, experience and / or demonstrated skills :

• LL.B. or JD preferred
• Two or more years of experience working in a legal setting or private practice (private practice preferred)
• Experience assisting with planning and the execution of EDI initiatives
• Connection to community organizations
• Demonstrated understanding of social, cultural and economic contexts of underrepresented or marginalized communities
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), project management skills, organizational skills, time management skills, and attention to detail
• Strong ability to navigate and lead sensitive projects
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well on a team

Employment Type : Fixed-Term, 6-Month Contract

What we offer :

• Diversity and Inclusion Centric Culture.
• A Culture of Wellness : Cassels recognizes the importance of wellness and provides a comprehensive program that addresses the mental and physical well-being of our employees by providing resources, services, training and support on an ongoing basis.
• A fully stocked kitchen with healthy snacks, plus coffee, tea, and drinks throughout the year.
• A business casual dress code (client / day specific).
• A hybrid work environment.

Cassels is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and an accessible environment.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities and / or people with intersectional identities.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and we will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request.

Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status, unless required for accommodation purposes.