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Full Time

Director, Community Liaison

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto 4600 Bathurst Street, Toronto ON

Director, Community Liaison

About UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

At UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, our vision is to lead the most vibrant Jewish community in North America - a community characterized by its diversity, unity, compassion, generosity, and commitment to Jewish values. Together with our philanthropic, volunteer, and professional leadership, we’re changing lives.

As one of North America’s leading Jewish non-profits, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto works to preserve and strengthen the quality of Jewish life in Greater Toronto, Canada, Israel and around the world. UJA advances this mission through fundraising, programs, and research focused on our strategic pillars: fighting poverty and improving well-being, growing Jewish education and identity, countering antisemitism and hate, and strengthening connections with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

Role Summary

The Director, Community Liaison is a key member of the security team and is focused on creating and maintaining key networks ensuring connectedness to any potential concerns around security for the Jewish community and UJA Federation.  They will work closely with community groups, institutions, Shuls, schools and other partner organizations understanding their needs/risks and creating/supporting a continued plan for safety.   Continuing to build and nurture critical relationships with police services and other first responders on behalf of the Greater Toronto Area’s Jewish community will be a key mandate of this role.  Overall this role will be responsible for maintaining a proactive approach to security through integrated information sharing and creation of plans that will advise the community on safe protocols. 

Reporting Relationship

The Director, Community Liaison reports to UJA Federation’s VP, Community Security, or their designate.

Role & Responsibilities

  • Creates, evaluates, updates, organizes, plans and manages security and emergency strategies (both in relation to man-made security threats and natural occurrences such as emergencies arising from meteorological events) with plans that encompass institutions of the Greater Toronto Area’s Jewish community, in a manner complementary to resources offered by governmental and other authorities;
  • Advises and recommends to UJA Federation as to resources required and deployment of those resources, on an ongoing basis, in consultation with UJA professionals;
  • Through network of community advocates stay current on trends, changing environment, current pulse or any information that may need to be considered in strategies and approach to security procedures. 
  • Helps organize and advise on security and emergency response drills and training for the institutions of the Greater Toronto Jewish community, with a view to ensuring that skilled and committed volunteer and professional cadres are developed and maintained for institutions, as appropriate, and for community gatherings;
  • Works cooperatively with institutional and community partners to support the Jewish community nationally
  • Consults and advises synagogues, schools and agencies on security matters, such as audits, training, drills, procedures, and policies, within a comprehensive communal framework guided by best practices;
  • Mentors and empowers communal leadership to improve the security of their respective institutions;
  • Create a framework for approach on how to manage large scale and small-scale events for optimum security protocols 
  • Coordinates security for Jewish communal public events, including the coordination of contracted security staff and paid duty police officers where appropriate (e.g. Walk with Israel and other major events);
  • Working closely with other departments, particularly Communications, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), ensures a team of UJA Federation, CIJA and other agency professionals is organized and in a constant state of readiness to respond to security or emergency response situations;
  • Coordinates security activities in support of UJA and the National Community Security Program (NCSP), including the provision of training delivery, plan development and the requisite administration and reports;
  • Remains aware and informed on current events, monitors security conditions through analysis of information and appropriate sources, and advises on mitigation strategies;
  • Oversees security incident response and helps support investigations, when necessary or directed;
  • Maintains ongoing communication with community institutions and agencies, maintaining currency on their level of awareness of security matters;
  • Support community institutions with applications for government grants related to security
  • Identifies best practices in place in other communities and jurisdictions, assesses which practices may be relevant and applicable to the GTA’s Jewish community, develops plans, and implements accordingly;
  • Establishes, maintains, and continues to build relationships and lines of communication with law enforcement and emergency service agencies, with jurisdiction in relation to the GTA, and ensures that senior leadership and local divisions are familiar with Jewish communal institutions and needs within their respective areas; and
  • Partners and liaises with key law enforcement and other security organizations.

Qualifications

  • Minimum seven (7) years’ practical experience in the public or private security field of which five (5) years are as a manager or director of security, or equivalent;
  • Bachelor’s degree in security management or comparable, an asset;
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to establish, develop and maintain key relationships, and trust, with multiple stakeholders;
  • Knowledge of both the Canadian law enforcement and security sectors, as well as the legislative framework and requirements;
  • Proven track record in the successful completion of threat assessment, standards development, and project management;
  • Strategic vision with the ability to diagnose issues and recommend effective preventive solutions;
  • Ability to work expeditiously under pressure, at a standard of excellence;
  • Excellent leadership skills and an ability to motivate people and obtain results through others;
  • Familiarity and understanding of the GTA’s Jewish community as well as knowledge of the unique threats facing the community, are strong assets;
  • Outstanding communication, writing and presentation skills, in English, and the ability to convey a sensitivity to Jewish community security concerns, sound professional judgement, and the interpersonal skills necessary to interact daily in a positive and constructive manner with communal constituents;
  • Strong work ethic, including developed skills for organization, strategic thinking and the ability to work in a multitasking environment; and
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).

* This is a full-time permanent position. At UJA we support a flexible work schedule and all of our employees engage in hybrid work. Engagement and connection are key to supporting the best employee experience and we want to ensure that this puts balance and well-being at the forefront of our approach to ways of working. In addition to a rich time off policy, UJA’s offices are closed on all Jewish holy days (yom tov) and we support early office closures to observe the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat). 

We look forward to connecting with you to understanding what you can bring to the UJA team and how we can support your career goals. Qualified applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and resume. Please click HERE to apply. Only those applicants invited for interview will be contacted.

Commitment to Inclusion and Accessibility:

UJA Federation supports a diverse candidate and employment experience. We are proud of our dynamic professional team, which reflects the diversity of the Jewish community and general community alike in Greater Toronto. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all communities. We encourage you to follow us to get regular updates on open roles. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace and believe this is essential to ensure that every member of our team can thrive.

We adhere to barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.