Director of Community Connections

Summary

At First Light, community engagement is rooted in relationships, culture, and care. The Director of Community Connections provides strategic and relational leadership to our Early Learning & Childcare (ELCC) and Cultural Support & Programming (CSP) streams, weaving them together into an integrated approach that uplifts belonging, connection, and wellness for urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.

This role guides and mentors two dynamic teams, supporting managers and frontline staff in creating spaces where children, youth, families, and community members feel seen, supported, and celebrated. From early childhood education to cultural programming, recreation, and social connection, the Director ensures programs are responsive, trauma-informed, and grounded in Indigenous values.

As a senior leader, you foster a culture of accountability, compassion, and relational leadership, while championing collaboration across First Light’s Core Services. You hold space for both complexity and celebration, ensuring our programs remain rooted in culture and care while growing to meet evolving community needs.

The Director plays a critical strategic role in advancing First Light’s organizational goals by ensuring that programs have broad community impact, are sustainable, and support cultural resurgence. This includes identifying growth opportunities, supporting fund development, guiding evaluation practices, and ensuring that programming decisions are informed by both data and community voice. In addition to strengthening program delivery, the Director helps shape long-term strategy and contributes to broader systems change by aligning services with our vision of urban Indigenous sovereignty and wellness.

Who You Are

You are a relational leader with vision and heart. You see community engagement not as a series of programs, but as a way of being in relationship with community. You know that healing, learning, and growth happen in connection – and that every child, family, and community member deserves spaces that reflect their strengths, identities, and dreams.

You lead with humility and courage, walking alongside your teams with clarity and care. You are skilled at seeing big-picture strategy and understanding day-to-day realities, moving fluidly between operational planning, mentorship, and advocacy. You build trust through consistency, curiosity, and accountability, and you honour Indigenous ways of knowing and being in all you do.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision, guidance, and strategic direction for the ELCC and CSP teams to ensure services are culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and responsive to community needs.
• Champion collaboration and integration across teams, fostering strong relationships between ELCC, recreation, cultural programming, and peer support to create seamless pathways for children, families, and community members.
• Contribute to advocacy efforts related to program needs and sustainability, supporting grant writing, reporting, and partnership development to strengthen and grow community engagement initiatives.

Team Leadership & Support

• Mentor and supervise the Manager of Early Learning & Childcare and the Manager of Recreation & Community Supports, providing regular coaching, feedback, and support rooted in relational and trauma-informed leadership.
• Build a team culture based on respect, trust, and shared responsibility, where every voice is valued, and leadership is carried with humility and strength.
• Navigate challenges with clarity, compassion, and restorative approaches, holding space for learning, growth, and healing when tensions arise.

Program Oversight & Integration

• Oversee program development and delivery across ELCC and cultural programming to ensure alignment with First Light’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Embed throughout programs and services Indigenous approaches to mental wellness, cultural safety, and holistic care.
• Integrate regular community feedback in meaningful ways to ensure programs remain relevant, effective, and grounded in community strengths and needs.

Organizational Collaboration

• Work closely with other Directors and the VP of Core Services to strengthen cross-team collaboration and integrated service delivery models.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with other departments, including Health & Wellness, Housing & Justice, Advocacy, and Pathways & Processes to support wraparound programming and community continuity.

Administration & Planning

• Contribute to organizational work plans, budgeting, evaluation, and reporting in alignment with First Light’s values and strategic priorities.
• Ensure thoughtful, timely documentation and accountability across all program areas.

Qualifications

We recognize that knowledge and skills come in many forms. If you do not meet every qualification but feel called to this role, we encourage you to apply. This is a designated position for an Indigenous applicant (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis)

Our ideal candidate has:

• Strong ties to one or more Indigenous communities, cultures, and ways of being.
• A post-secondary degree in a relevant field such as Indigenous Studies, Social Work, Community Development, or Education is strongly preferred; a graduate degree is an asset.
• Previous work experience in a relevant area, such as Indigenous health and wellness, education, or family and youth services. Equivalencies will be considered, including a mix of lived experience, community leadership, and cultural or land-based learning.
• Proven leadership experience in community engagement, cultural programming, or early learning, with a relational approach to supervision and team development.
• Deep understanding and lived experience of Indigenous approaches to wellness, kinship ties, cultural continuity, and community care.
• Experience working with or alongside Elders, Knowledge Keepers, peer supporters, and community leaders in meaningful and reciprocal ways.
• Strong skills in strategic planning, program oversight, budgeting, evaluation, and partnership development.
• Ability to navigate complex interpersonal and organizational dynamics with humility, clarity, and accountability.
• A valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation is required for community-based programming.
• Up to date Vulnerable Sector Check

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] by August 27, 2025.

Preference will be given to qualified Indigenous residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.