Director, Diversity & Inclusion

Job Description

At McCarthy Tétrault, we offer challenging and rewarding career opportunities and are delighted to have been selected for the eleventh consecutive year in 2023 as one ofand one of . Our culture is built on professional excellence, collaboration, innovation, thought leadership and entrepreneurialism. We embrace inclusion in all its forms and we provide the tools and opportunities to help our people develop to their full potential.

This position is based out of Toronto . McCarthy Tétrault employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

As a Director, Diversity & Inclusion, you will be:

• Researching, designing, supporting, and advising on the ongoing development and execution of the firm’s award-winning Inclusion Now strategy, and associated programs and policies.
• Demonstrating inclusive leadership skills to mentor, coach and lead indirect reports.
• Regularly presenting to internal stakeholders to engage in Inclusion Now strategy and objectives.
• Cultivating strong and positive working relationships with key stakeholders within the Firm to support the ongoing evolution, adoption, and integration of Inclusion Now.
• Providing best practice support and guidance to functional groups as needed, to support the strategy.
• Supporting the research and development of strategic partnerships with partner agencies and community organizations to help guide our external corporate social responsibility efforts.
• Research and recommend strategic partnerships with special interest and community organizations to help guide our inclusion and corporate social responsibility efforts and share best practice information.
• Researching, recommending, and supporting thought leadership opportunities relevant to DEI to increase the profile of the Leadership Team, other internal stakeholders, and the Firm’s Inclusion Now profile.
• Developing and managing internal and external communications, i.e. Firm-wide diversity or corporate social responsibility communications, website content, client facing materials, executive presentations, reports, etc.
• Working with the Chief Inclusion Officer and Human Resources to establish, manage, and analyze demographic data and metrics, as required, on all Inclusion Now goals, targets, and benchmarks.
• Reviewing and updating all communication on our website, social media pages, job descriptions and internal documents to ensure we use non-discriminatory language.
• Managing internal Firm surveys and providing associated reports, analytics, themes.
• Design, implement, facilitate and support all diversity and inclusion leadership training, education, and awareness programs. Develop diversity awareness and inclusion materials/content for use in people/talent programs at all levels of the organization.
• Delivering Inclusion Now events and initiatives designed to increase inclusivity, engagement, and recruitment and retention experiences.

As our ideal candidate, you will distinguish yourself by the following profile:

• Completed post-secondary degree in a relevant field required. LL.B. or JD preferred.
• A minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, administration, stakeholder management, and communication required. Ideally acquired in legal or professional service environment.
• Ability to provide motivation and leadership through influence and collegiality (as opposed to direct reporting relationships).
• Internal and external client-focused team player with an affinity for getting things done in a collaborative, multiple-authority environment.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written); ability to speak effectively to a variety of audiences, including presentations in large meetings.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision. Confident in making day to day decisions, knowing when to escalate and seek assistance.
• Ability to handle extremely sensitive and confidential information and exercise tact and discretion dealing with people and/or sensitive issues.
• High degree of professionalism, interpersonal skills, and reliability. Excellent time management, multi-tasking, organizing, and planning skills. Ability to meet critical deadlines.
• Excellent relationship management and consulting skills, which results in the ability to earn the trust of sponsors and key stakeholders (e.g., affiliate businesses, business leaders).
• Proven ability to promote an inclusive and engaged culture and implement related activities.
• Project Management designation (goal setting, task allocation and fiscal management) is an asset.
• Bilingual in French and English is an asset.

As a member of the McCarthy team, you will have access to:

• Outstanding benefits from day one, including insurance premiums paid by the Firm and wellness and technology reimbursements.
• Competitive compensation, paid overtime and generous time off, including a day off to volunteer and a day off for your birthday.
• A commitment to professional development and growth opportunities for our people at all levels, supported by a culture that fully embraces and encourages two-way feedback.
• Strong community involvement and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• A collaborative, cohesive culture that connects lawyers and business teams through collective purpose.

We thank all applicants for their interest in McCarthy Tétrault; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status. McCarthy Tétrault is an equal opportunity employer that fosters an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment. Please notify us if you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process.