Volunteer Board Member
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a Toronto-based charitable organization that assists women from underserved communities who are experiencing violence or its aftermath. Through services such as legal representation, professional counselling and multilingual interpretation, the Clinic helps women experience less isolation, more stability and expanded personal agency within relationships, while also fostering improved knowledge of and access to legal rights and remedies. In its policy and law reform work, the Clinic is a strategic advocate for sustainable policy shifts to address violence against women and social changes that benefit women.
The Clinic’s vision is a world where diverse women build lives free from violence, work together to create a more just world, and live their own lives in respectful communities that provide meaning and belonging. Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic was established in memory of Barbra Teena Schlifer, an idealistic young lawyer whose life was cut short by violence on the night of her call to the Bar of Ontario on April 11, 1980. Since it was founded in 1985, the Clinic has assisted more than 100,000 women to build lives free from violence. In 2022-2023 alone, the Clinic provided vital resources to approximately 15,000 women in need of its support.
At the Clinic, the umbrella term “woman” recognizes that gender is self-identification that is not necessarily correspondent with assigned sex at birth. The Clinic recognizes the complexity of gender inside and outside the gender binary and, as such, provides services to all individuals who self-identify as anything but as cisgendered men. The Clinic operates with an intersectional lens of inclusion that understands the complexity of compounded identities, especially for survivors of gender-based violence who are our core service delivery stakeholders.
POSITION
The Clinic is seeking new members for the organization’s Board of Directors to contribute insight and counsel during the Clinic’s present period of growth. The Board of Directors is responsible for the effective strategic direction and governance of the organization. The ideal candidates will draw upon their years of progressive leadership and in-depth knowledge of violence against women, as these will help strengthen the organization and increase its impact.
The ideal candidates will be able to express a commitment to supporting a feminist, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed work environment. Inspired by and attuned to the Clinic’s mission (to amplify women’s voices and cultivate their skills and resilience), the preferred candidate will provide governance, strategic guidance and direction towards achieving the Clinic’s goals.
The commitment to the Board will be on a volunteer basis and would involve 5 to 7 hours per month.
We are currently seeking board members who bring the following expertise:
- A Human Resources professional with experience working within the non-profit social services sector with expertise in HR policy development, strategic talent management and a solid understanding and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion work.
- An individual with senior executive level experience at a leading corporate/legal/financial institution or in a social services environment, who is passionate about supporting the philanthropic efforts of the Clinic through building relationships/partnerships, fundraising and making connections.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Attend 10 Board meetings per year, some of which are scheduled in-person only, some of which may be hybrid or virtual
- Prepare for, participate in, and deliberate impartially on all matters brought before the Board
- Hold confidential all matters before the Board while serving as a member and upon completion of their term of office
- Participate and willingness to contribute to organizational strategic plan, effective governance, and strategic leadership, including bringing a financial lens
- Advocate on behalf of the Clinic and its partners, funders, community organizations, etc.
- Take on an active role in assisting with, supporting and representing the Clinic externally with fundraising efforts in order to achieve established fundraising goals
- Participate on 1-2 sub-committees of the Board (which are: Governance & Compliance Committee; Recruitment & Maintenance Committee; Fundraising Committee)
- Serve without remuneration
QUALIFICATIONS
The following relevant experience and skills are an asset:
- Professional and demonstrated experience in the above-mentioned field
- Previous not-for-profit and/or board experience /board training is an asset Ability to lead from a feminist, anti-oppressive and trauma informed framework
- Strong networking and communication skills
- Competencies within one or more of the following areas: risk management and governance; strategic planning; government reporting
BOARD DIVERSITY
Barbra Schlifer Clinic promotes the principles of anti-oppression, equity, diversity, inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Clinic is committed to ensuring that the Board of Directors reflects the diversity of our community and welcomes applications from women of all races, colors, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations.
CONTACT US
To submit your application in confidence, please send your CV to [email protected]
Deadline: Posting will remain open until suitable candidates are confirmed
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates from equity-seeking groups
and is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require accommodation
due to a disability during any aspect of the recruitment process and we will work with you to address your needs.