Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Partner

At Schlegel Villages we aspire to Honour Diversity in Village Life

Our Villages are recognized communities of acceptance. Everyone is included and respected in their spirituality, cultural diversity and individual diversity. We celebrate and support life purpose within the community.

“Embraced, just as I am.”

Schlegel Villages Support Office, located in Kitchener, Ontario, has an exciting opportunity for an Engagement Partner (DEIB) to join their team, with an anticipated start of January/February 2026

The Engagement Partner (DEIB) will serve as advisor and resource, providing guidance on embedding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and Team Member Well-being practices to ensure all team members feel valued and included in alignment with our Diversity Aspiration.

Responsibilities:

• Acting as a trusted advisor, work closely with the Sr Director of People Development and Engagement, Support Office and Village leadership teams to develop, implement and evaluate People DEIB strategies, enhancing our Diversity aspiration for team members and residents
• Create, maintain and revise Team Member Well-being programs, education and initiatives at the Support Office level, providing guidance and resources to Villages where needed
• Research and stay informed on key trends, providing analysis of any related regulations and make recommendations on policy and practice
• Identify barriers and develop recommendations to ensure recruitment policies, practices, and systems are equitable and enable the retention, development and advancement of all recognized groups of diversity
• Support DEIB advisory and working groups to seek team member perspective on current state in the work force, ensuring advisory groups are consulted for initiatives and give input on the creation of DEIB needs framework, education, resources and toolkits
• Assess organizational education and learning needs, reviewing policies, and create strategy for education and learning and liaise with broader People Team and advisory committee to develop and implement any learning plans.
• Collect and analyze data related to DEIB initiatives, track metrics, maintain accurate records and generate regular reports on DEIB progress, and areas for improvement
• Collaborate with various Support Office teams in creation of annual observances calendar of events, developing and providing internal education and training and event opportunities to the organization to advance awareness of these events across the organization

Travel Requirements:

Schlegel Villages Support Office is located in Kitchener, Ontario, with 18 Villages located throughout Southern Ontario. This is a hybrid role with requirements to be on site and/or weekly travel to our Villages. Geographical home base of candidates is flexible, but regular travel will be expected.

To be successful as our Engagement Partner (DEIB), you will have:

• Strong understanding of DEIB concepts, best practices and experience implementing DEIB initiatives and processes
• Passion for well-being initiatives, education and programs that support and empower our team members
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging that is in alignment with Schlegel Villages aspirations, values and mission
• Demonstrated strong understanding of equity, accessibility, intersectionality, anti-racism, decolonization, anti-oppression, truth and reconciliation, the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and their application in an organizational
• Ability to prioritize and pivot while managing many and varied tasks with a proven ability to prioritize complex tasks with critical deadlines and the wisdom to understand when a project or initiative needs to be put on pause.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and change management with the ability to both inspire teams, build consensus and foster trust and transparency.
• Ability to analyze and present data, reports and presentations to various internal groups tailoring messages to a diverse audience with sensitivity and in alignment with Schlegel Villages values
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate discussions in both large and small group settings with empathy, sensitivity, compassion and curiosity, with respect for diverse opinions and perspectives
• Excellent collaborative and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to think
• Ability to manage conflicts and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and without judgement
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Not required but an asset:

• Post-secondary education in Diversity Studies, Human Rights, Social Justice, Human Resources, or a related discipline (nice to have, but not a requirement)

How Schlegel Villages supports our Team Members:

• Competitive salary, and benefits;
• Significant opportunities for Growth and Development: Our Leaders come from within;
• Ongoing Team Member Appreciation incentives and generous rewards and recognition;
• Extended Health Benefits & Retirement Savings;
• Individualized Assistance for Team Member Education and Development;
• Loans and Scholarships to help our team members realize their greatest potential;
• Financial Hardship Support Program: Wilfred Schlegel Hope Fund;
• A Unique Family Culture: Every Person in Every Village is a branch of our Family Tree

You can be you while being a part of our family.

At Schlegel Villages we are redefining elder care through innovation, village design and culture change, but we know the key to our Village success and our residents’ satisfaction is YOU and our teams.

We aspire to provide all members of our communities, including team members, with a life enriching experience. We are family owned and operated and we take our mission seriously: “to provide holistic health care in a home environment, located within an internal neighbourhood design that promotes a caring community with emphasis on optimal health and life purpose for each resident”.

Schlegel Villages is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), within our recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please speak with the hiring leader.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are ingrained within the Schlegel Culture, and our Villages are more welcoming, open-hearted and vibrant because of it. Each Village is strengthened by the unique lived experience of every person connected to it. Everyone is included and respected in their spirituality, cultural diversity and individuality. Regardless of ability, heritage or cultural roots, our people are embraced, just as they are, and we celebrate and support life purpose within the community.