Director, Indigenous Academic Initiatives

Day of the Week Mondays to Fridays

Shift 8:30-4:30

Work Arrangements

This regular full-time position is available immediately.

Occasional travel will be required between Douglas College locations. Regular hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Douglas College (DC) is committed to supporting a healthy work/life balance for Employees. As per the DC Administration Policy A70 Work from Home, College employees may be eligible to work from home on a part-time basis, subject to operational requirements and approval by their manager.

What Douglas Offers

DO what you love. Be good at it. That’s how Douglas College defines a great career. It’s a philosophy that resonates through our classrooms, our offices and our boardrooms. It inspires our students and drives us to make Douglas College one of BC’s Top Employers. We love what we do. And we’re looking for passionate, motivated people to join us in making one of Canada’s best colleges even better.

The Role

Reporting to VP Academic and Provost, the Director, Indigenous Academic Initiatives, provides day-to-day and strategic leadership for Indigenization within the Academic portfolio. Working collaboratively with campus partners, is responsible for overseeing and providing leadership for the academic Indigenization goals at the College and providing strategic support for related Indigenization priorities and special projects.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the VP Academic and Provost, the Director, Indigenous Academic Initiatives is responsible for a portfolio of work within the following areas:

Indigenization within the Academic Portfolio

• Provide strategic advice and guidance to the VP Academic and Provost on Indigenous academic initiatives;
• Provide expert advice and high-level support to units across the College, and especially to those lacking expert faculty and staff, in their address of Indigenous issues and development and implementation of Indigenous academic plans and initiatives;
• Develop and foster relationships with key partners, including provincial and federal government agencies, and with educational institutions and Indigenous organizations at the local, regional, provincial, national and international levels for the purpose of enhancing Indigenous academic initiatives at the College;
• Interpret and advise the VP Academic and Provost and VP Student Affairs on provincial mandates related to Indigenization and Indigenous education in post-secondary;
• Chair committees and working groups as needed and as directed by the VP Academic;
• Contribute an Indigenous perspective to social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at the College;
• Direct the work of consultants, student assistants, and others who are employed to contribute to Indigenous initiatives at the College;
• Advise on the continued development of strategic priorities related to Indigenization at the College, with a particular focus on Indigenous academic initiatives;
• Participate in the Vice President Academic Council to remain current on College-wide academic issues and to bring forward discussions related to Indigenous academic initiatives and issues;
• Advise on academic policies that relate to Indigenous learners and/or Indigenous education
• Research, write and deliver documents, reports, and presentations within the College to committees and other bodies, and to local, provincial, national and international agencies and organizations.

Strategic Leadership in Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy

• Assess needs and lead the development of resources for instructional faculty to support Indigenous student success as well as institution-wide Indigenous engagement in teaching and learning;
• Serve as a resource person and consultant to the Advisory Committee on Indigenous Studies to support curriculum development, transfer, field schools / study abroad, and articulation pathways;
• Working collaboratively with the College’s instructional community of practice, provide leadership and strategic direction to initiatives that centre Indigenous engagement in classroom culture;
• In collaboration with the Research and innovation Office, provide advice on the development of guidelines to support Indigenous-centred research ethics and community-based research practices;
• Develop initiatives for long and short-term goals that advance the College’s commitment to social responsibility including aligning College practices and processes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the TRC’s Calls to Action.

Employee Professional Development

• In collaboration with Human Resources, lead the development and implementation of employee professional development to support Indigenization across the College;
• Provide advice and support to administrative staff and faculty to develop learning activities related to cultural competency, cultural safety, and cultural humility;
• Identify, develop and review professional development curriculum and professional development for faculty, staff and administrators, making recommendations for funding allocation and investments;
• Work collaboratively with College Elders and others (e.g., Indigenous Student Services) to facilitate cultural learning opportunities for employees;

Community Engagement

• Cultivate relationships with local Indigenous communities and organizations; advise on respectful, responsible, and reciprocal partnership opportunities that advance Indigenization efforts within the Academic portfolio;
• Review, revise, and manage protocols for Elders and knowledge keepers in collaboration with Student Affairs & Services;
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Student Affairs & Services, Marketing & Communications and Human Resources) on College-wide program and event planning, delivery, and evaluation related to Indigenization (e.g., annual Memorial March, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and National Indigenous Peoples’ Day).

To Be Successful in this Role You Will Need

The Director, Indigenous Academic Initiatives will have

• Established professional credibility as evidenced by a Master’s degree in Education, Indigenous Studies, or related discipline;
• A minimum of five (5) years of related experience in a similar position, ideally in a post secondary context;
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressive leadership and administrative experience in a post-secondary or relevant setting;
• Demonstrated robust knowledge and understanding of Indigenous history, culture, historic & current Indigenous perspectives, relevant issues and/or comparable lived experience;
• Demonstrated experience as a relationship builder and trusted liaison, by demonstrating integrity and being authentic, collaborative, inclusive and a creative problem solver;
• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion;
• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to Indigenization;
• Understanding of best practices in Indigenous education;
• Understanding of and experience with the assessment of Indigenous academic initiatives in a post secondary context;
• Proven capacity to manage change and a demonstrated ability to drive innovations from conception through to implementation;
• Demonstrated success in handling highly sensitive issues in complex environments, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and objectivity;
• Demonstrated use of discretion, confidentiality, sound judgment, sensitivity, and critical thinking;
• Demonstrated excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills that are adapted based on the intended audience/stakeholder group;
• Ability to work within a culturally and demographically diverse campus community;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines and manage changing priorities;
• Ability to adjust work schedule as necessary to meet needs that may arise outside of traditional work hours.

Link to Full Position Profile

Equity Statement

Douglas College is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable learning and working environment. In support of this journey, we welcome all people to apply, including people from groups that are experiencing inequity, including, but not limited, to Indigenous Peoples, racialized or persons of colour, persons with mental or physical disabilities, persons who identify as women, and/or persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and persons of all faith identities, age, marital status, and parental status.

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