Associate Director, Campus Community Engagement

University of Victoria; Victoria; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public postsecondary institution is seeking an Associate Director of Community Engagement to provide leadership in responding to strategic priorities and community aspirations. The ideal candidate will possess a graduate degree, extensive knowledge of Indigenous cultures, and at least five years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include developing critical relationships and supporting Indigenous programming initiatives.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree or equivalent in relevant field.
• Five years of administrative and project management experience.
• Technical writing and editing experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in community engagement and cultural protocol.
• Support strategic priorities and community aspirations.
• Develop relationships with First Nations and Indigenous organizations.

Skills

Cross-cultural communication

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Project management

Indigenous cultural awareness

Education

Graduate degree in a relevant field

Experience working in Indigenous communities

Job description

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement (IACE), the Associate Director Community Engagement (ADCE) supports the Executive Director and IACE in responding to university strategic priorities and community aspirations by providing leadership in areas related to community engagement and cultural protocol. Working as a member of the leadership team in IACE, the ADCE will support IACE, OVPI and UVic programming and priorities by providing leadership, including high-level guidance and advice, relating to community engagement and relationships with local and regional First Nations and Indigenous organizations and government partners and to key internal policies and processes.

Education

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a graduate degree in a relevant field and at least five years of administrative and project management experience working in a postsecondary setting and/or in Indigenous communities/organizations, and:
• Extensive knowledge of Coast and/or Straits Salish communities;
• Experience including Indigenous worldviews in an academic environment;
• Experience presenting complex issues and opportunities to high-level officials and third-party leaders;
• Experience providing recommendations, research and advice to support strategic planning;
• Technical writing and editing experience (e.g., proposals, reports, summaries, etc.);
• Management of complex, multi-stakeholder, academic and/or community-based projects;
• Financial management including budget development and reporting

Key job-specific competencies

• Required knowledge:
  • Processes of engaging with provincial First Nations groups, Chief and Council, etc.
  • Cultural awareness of the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia and familiarity with Indigenous communities and the issues they face in relation to the public postsecondary system
  • Challenges, opportunities and advances in Indigenous education in Canada and internationally
  • Indigenous laws, historical perspectives and challenges specific to Indigenous students and communities
  • Secondary and postsecondary education systems and structures in Canada including Indigenous-controlled educational institutes/systems
• Required skills:
  • Ability to work cross-culturally, especially across the range of First Nations and urban Indigenous communities
  • Ability to navigate family governance structures and ceremonial protocols of Coast and Straits Salish communities
  • Ability to establish and maintain relationships by working effectively and productively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community
  • Ability to work to a high degree of independence in carrying out the responsibilities while also working as an integral part of a team
  • Excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to apply analytical thinking and innovation to anticipate, identify and weigh limits, desirables and variables
  • Strong speaking, writing and editing abilities; ability to adapt communication styles to a variety of purposes and audiences
  • Ability to achieve project goals on time while producing deliverables of high quality
  • Ability to work under pressure on several projects, requests and challenges simultaneously
  • This position requires a valid BC driver’s license.