Manager, Indigenous Community Partnerships

Duties: 

• Work with Indigenous community partners and VIU faculty to conduct educational/training needs analysis, feasibility assessments and engage with faculty partners on curriculum review and adaptations to meet the Indigenous community economic and social development strategies.
• Explore opportunities for the creation and delivery of non-credit, continuing education offerings to meet education and training needs of Indigenous communities.
• Network and collaborate with a variety of partners for funding submissions, negotiations, implementation and reporting.
• Practice diplomacy with an understanding of protocol within communities and organizations while prioritizing inclusive problem solving and conflict resolution strategies should challenges arise. Recruit, hire, and train temporary and regular full-time staff to support program implementation in Indigenous communities and implement processes for supporting employees remotely. Teach, train, develop or otherwise improve the skills of others through effective coaching and guidance.
• Create honest, trusting, and successful working relationships with others (inside and outside the organization) by consistently demonstrating competence, reliability and representing a co-creation approach through demonstrated principles, actions, and communications.
• Support the adaptation of internal VIU systems, policies, and processes to fit external realities (e.g., Indigenous self-determination/community demands and interests, Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, Sustainable Development Goal #4, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) government legislation).Create budgets for off-grant activity that ensures the expenses of community partners and VIU are covered and financial targets are met or exceeded.
• Translate the objectives, strategies, and priorities of Indigenous communities into practical, workable programs, projects or plans in partnership with various faculty areas at VIU and with other post-secondary and training providers.
• Build and develop team approaches to problem solving where individual skills and abilities are 'pooled', yet possess the ability to be decisive in situations that require immediate action to address and resolve issues or critical incidents.

Given the collaborative nature of this work and the focus on community-based program co-development and co-delivery, this position contributes significantly to the identification of promising practices, policies and procedures related to supporting Indigenous students' access, retention and completion in educational programs, while maintaining fiduciary responsibility.

Required Qualifications: 

Vancouver Island University has a long history of building relationships and working in partnerships with Indigenous people and communities. This position requires a profound insight of Canada's colonial history and its harms, and an understanding of the responsibility educational institutions have in decolonization and working toward systems change in a way that is led by Indigenous communities and students. This position is critical to the ongoing success of this work and further extends and enacts the spirit and intent identified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report to establish and maintain mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Minimum master's degree in a relevant discipline (Indigenous Ecotourism, Education, Business, Indigenous leadership/governance, community planning, etc.) from an appropriately accredited institution. Three to six years in the post-secondary system with related experience in contract training, project management, or program co-development with Indigenous communities. A combination of post-secondary and industry/community experience may be considered.

• Proven experience in managing all aspects of the proposal/grant process (writing, collecting data, financial tracking and budget development, financial and qualitative/quantitative reporting).
• Demonstrated ability in developing and maintaining partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations, understanding of local protocol and diversity among different Nations and the role Elders and traditional knowledge keepers play in program development and delivery.
• Proven ability to make decisions, negotiate contracts, resolve conflict, act decisively in stressful situations.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently and as part of a management team in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• Strong team mindset where individuals work together and share equally in the exchange of ideas, concepts and process outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising other employees.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software programs.
• Inclusion of multiple perspectives and adjusts work to reflect the complex network of forces at play.
• Takes a 'big picture' approach to developing new ideas, techniques and opportunities for improving overall effectiveness, performance and productivity.
• Ability to prepare and present information and provide persuasive evidence to senior management and government to make necessary changes in systems, i.e., policies, procedures, resource flows, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of post-secondary and or university-college system in BC. Lived experience within Indigenous communities. The ideal candidate will be an energetic self-starter who is flexible, solutions-oriented, creative and resourceful.
• Understanding of collaborative data stewardship and able to produce various communications, concise reports, and visual representations for and with communities and their partners on complex, multi-year projects.
• Training in trauma-informed practice, critical incident management, ASIST.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note: 

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students.  In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences.  We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter.  When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity.  Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.