Director, Alberta Poverty Reduction Strategy

We at the Tamarack Institute recognize that much of our work takes place on the ancestral homelands of Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. We honour their contributions and support their rights to self-determination, sovereignty, and justice. We are committed to learning the histories of the lands where we live and work, and to contributing to reconciliation and equity.

We also acknowledge those who came to Turtle Island as migrants, and those brought here involuntarily through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and slavery. We pay tribute to ancestors of African origin and descent and honour their contributions to building communities rooted in belonging, equity, and safety. Tamarack is committed to addressing anti-Black racism and working in solidarity with Black and Indigenous communities toward healing and justice.

Tamarack is seeking a 1–2-year contract full-time position of Director, Alberta Poverty Reduction Strategy. The successful candidate can be based anywhere in Alberta, Canada and will work remotely from their home office with the ability to travel throughout the province on a regular basis.

About Tamarack

At Tamarack, our goal is an end to poverty in all of its forms. In 2020, we set a goal to contribute to two million people exiting conditions of poverty, and not just economic poverty but the poverty of our disconnection from each other and from other living things around us. Nearly twenty-five years of work with communities has shown us that rigorous local collaboration can move outcomes not just for some people – but for entire communities.

It has shown us that rigorous local collaboration is a key component of any form of systems change.

Role Description

This is an exciting opportunity to support communities and partners across Alberta to make meaningful change to reduce and end poverty in Alberta. Grounded in a deep understanding of movement building, the political landscape in Alberta and poverty reduction efforts, this role will connect individuals and collective efforts dedicated to ending poverty in Alberta. The Director, Alberta Poverty Reduction Strategy is a two-year contract position (subject to available funding) responsible for stewarding a campaign for a legislated poverty reduction strategy in the Province of Alberta.

You will work with communities and partners to develop and implement strategies to make the case for a strong poverty reduction strategy centering the power of local communities to achieve impact. You will work with Tamarack’s member community, partners across the province, and funders to refine, implement and improve a province wide campaign to meaningfully move the needle on poverty.

On-going Responsibilities

• Refine and implement a campaign for an Alberta poverty reduction strategy
• Review, refine, and lead implementation an existing campaign work plan
• Meet with key system actors in Alberta to review the proposed campaign and refine activities based on feedback and insights
• Regularly review the campaign document with partners and refine activities as needed to achieve success
• Prepare briefs outlining public policy opportunities in Alberta

Steward relationships with key partners and system actors

• Work with Tamarack staff and partner to refine and implement a governance structure to unite partners across sectors to implement that campaign for an Alberta Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Coordinate and co-facilitate a funder collaborative / stewardship council dedicated to ending poverty in Alberta
• Convene key system actors working to end poverty in Alberta to build movement towards a provincial poverty reduction strategy
• Meet with key decision makers in government, business, philanthropy, and civil society to create and make the case for poverty reduction efforts in Alberta
• Develop and cultivate strategic relationships with municipal and provincial agencies to advance Tamarack’s policy agenda
• Support the development of proposals, reports, and other cultivation and stewardship materials for project funders

Build a movement of place-based strategies working to end poverty in Alberta

• Build the capacity of communities in Alberta to develop and implement multi-sectoral place-based strategies to end poverty
• Work with the Manager of Communities, Alberta to provide expert coaching and support for Tamarack members
• Work with the Coordinator, Networks for Change, Alberta to prospect and engage communities ready and interested in developing and implementing place-based strategies for ending poverty
• Support the development of internal and external policy resources including letters, briefs, consultation responses and reports

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