Manager, Indigenous Academics and Research

Mohawk College; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 89,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Progressive vacation plan

Defined Benefit pension plan (CAAT)

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON, seeks a seasoned Manager for Indigenous Academics and Research (MIAR) to lead Indigenous research initiatives and academic programming. You will collaborate with Indigenous communities, faculty, and researchers to develop curriculum, IKLO, and partnerships while ensuring compliance with Indigenous research principles.

You will monitor project progress, manage contracts and budgets, oversee staff, and drive Indigenous content across teaching and learning.

Qualifications

• 3-year diploma/degree in Indigenous Education, Indigenous Research and Methodologies, Administration, or related.
• 5 years of related experience.
• Deep understanding of Indigenous history, culture, community needs and issues facing Indigenous learners.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategies, implementation, and evaluation of academic initiatives including curriculum and IKLO.
• Supports strategic planning and business plans for Indigenous academics.
• Maintains partnerships and coordinates academic delivery and programming.
• Develops Indigenous courses or programs and applies Indigenous pedagogies in classrooms.
• Builds relationships with Indigenous communities and internal partners.
• Monitors progress of projects, administers contracts, tracks budgets and staffing.

Skills

Project management

Relationship building

Leadership

Communication

Indigenous knowledge

Education

Indigenous Education degree

Indigenous Research & Methodologies degree

Administration degree

Job description

Status: Full Time
Hours: Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week
Home Campus: Fennell (fully on-site with the occasional opportunity to work remotely)
Rate of Pay: Payband 10 ($88,983 - $111,230 per year)
Vacancy Status: 1 vacancy available
Posting Date: September 8th, 2026
Closing Date: September 18th, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST
We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators, we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.
The Manager, Indigenous Academics and Research (MIAR), reporting to the Director, Centre for Indigenous Relations, Knowledge, and Learning (CIRKL), is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and operational oversight of initiatives that advance Indigenous research and academic programming at Mohawk College.
Working collaboratively with Indigenous communities, faculty, academic leaders, and researchers, the incumbent develops and implements projects that support Indigenous approaches to research and its priorities, ensuring compliance with Indigenous research principles. The incumbent also oversees academic priorities including development of new curriculum, Indigenous Knowledge Learning Outcomes (IKLO), maintain academic partnerships, oversees the inclusion and development of Indigenous perspectives in teaching and learning, and developing and operationalizing academic strategies.
The incumbent will be required to monitor progress on all projects and their outcomes, administer contracts, track financial activities for projects, and provide management of staffing within their area. The successful incumbent requires strong project management, relationship building, and leadership skills and lived experience of Indigenous culture and ways of knowing and being, while also contributing to the college strategic priorities.

What You’ll Be Doing

Leadership, Academic Management & Support

• Oversee strategies, implementation, and evaluation of academic initiatives including curriculum, land-based activities, programs, IKLO implementation etc.
• Supports strategic planning and business plans/development for Indigenous academics.
• Supports the Centre for Indigenous Relations, Knowledge and Learning (CIRKL) and other college areas in maintaining partnerships through administrative and operational duties related to academic delivery, including programming opportunities, practices outlined in MOUs etc.
• Provides support and oversight to the development of Indigenous courses or programs and facilitates the application of Indigenous pedagogies into the classroom practice.
• Engages with Indigenous community for collaboration in the development of course and programs – supports course/program reviews for Indigenous learners’ access.
• Develops, oversees and evaluates Indigenous programs both independently and in collaboration with other colleagues and departments.
• Develops short- and long-term plans for current and future programs that respond to the strategic and academic plans of the college and Indigenous Initiatives.
• Builds and maintains relationship with Indigenous communities, partners, faculty, and other internal partners.
• Maintains communication with Indigenous Learner Success leadership to support recruitment efforts and changes or updates to programming.
• Provides instruction, facilitation, presentations and learning experiences for learners, staff, and faculty where Indigenous content is being delivered as identified and needed.
• Serves as a point of contact for academic quality in the delivery of programs at partnership locations.
• Participate in meetings and presentations pertaining to Indigenous Academics.
• Provides regular updates on the status of Indigenous curriculum development, Indigenous programs, Indigenous content, and other projects/initiatives.
• Develops, implements, and refines internal processes and systems to ensure operational efficiency.
• Protects Indigenous Knowledge.

Academic and Institutional Support

• Collaborates with academic departments to advance and provide updates to Indigenous curriculum, IKLOs implementation.
• Liaises with other Schools and Divisions on academic quality and delivery and represents Indigenous Education on various internal committees.
• Develops and implements quality improvement processes to streamline academic operations of Indigenous Programs.
• Maintains and completes statistical reports related to Indigenous programs.
• Ensures community collaboration and consultation within college processes where it relates to academic development, delivery or program review.
• Holds schools accountable for hiring indigenous faculty, and aligning with other requirements in Indigenous Policies at Mohawk College; ensures compliance with college policies, health & safety regulations, privacy legislation, etc.
• Supports the development of resources and procedures related to Indigenous academics, programming, programs, courses, and content.

Research Methodologies & Projects

• Support a strategic, collaborative, advisory relationship with key members of the Indigenous community, faculty, staff, learner and other college departments for the advancement of the Mohawk College Strategic Plan and Indigenous Education Strategies.
• Collaborates and consults with the Research and Ethics Board of Mohawk College and Institutional Research on research including survey instruments, analyze data etc.
• Collaborates with the Indigenous community, faculty, staff and learners to develop research-based lines of inquiry on major focus areas.
• Designs and conducts focus groups; prepares and presents focus group reports.
• Oversees literature reviews and synthesizes research studies.
• Maintains an acute awareness of research best practices in Indigenous Education.
• Identifies and pursues funding opportunities for research – proposal development, tracking, reporting etc.
• Collaborates with areas in the college and/or community on research projects and methodology.
• Ensures projects comply with institutional policies, ethical standards, and Indigenous research protocols including OCAP.
• Works collaboratively to identify and develop information systems that support the collection and maintenance data.

Administration

• Prepares reports and recommendations for strategic plan and reports back.
• Provides leadership across varied operational functions while overseeing all associated HR responsibilities, including staffing assignments, workload distribution, performance development, and alignment of team capacity with departmental priorities.
• Oversees all HR implications for faculty and support staff, ensuring that recruitment, onboarding, workload assignments, performance management, contract preparation, and issue resolution are executed in full compliance with current collective agreements, contractual obligations, and institutional HR policies.
• Coordinates recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of support staff.
• Prepares employment contracts, Staffing Action Forms (SAFs), and tracks staff hours in alignment with collective agreements.
• Provides functional guidance and support to part-time staff and project teams.
• Evaluates project outcomes using qualitative and quantitative measures.
• Supports budget tracking and reconciling.
• Supports MOUs and other draft agreements.

Other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring To The Role

• 3-year diploma/degree in Indigenous Education, Indigenous Research and Methodologies, Administration, or related.
• 5 years of related experience.
• The incumbent must have a deep understanding of Indigenous history, culture, community needs and issues facing Indigenous learners as well as the ability to develop, maintain and nurture relationships that will support current and new Indigenous academic partnerships.
• Driver’s license, or reliable transportation to attend various off campus locations.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• The ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse students, employees, and communities.

What We Offer

• Progressive vacation plan starting with 22 vacation days per year plus holiday closure.
• Defined Benefit pension plan (CAAT) with contributions matched by Mohawk College.
• 93% top up of maternity and parental leave pay for 52 weeks.
• Annual employee performance incentive program.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, paramedical services (massage therapy, acupuncture, naturopath, psychotherapy and psychology), short-term and long-term disability.
• Ability to take courses at a reduced rate for employees and dependents.

To find out more about working at Mohawk College, including our Employee Value Proposition, please visit https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/careers-at-mohawk
We are committed to reconciliation and nurturing an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible (IDEA) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We welcome applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
The College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources.
To learn more about Mohawk College’s commitments, please visit the Mohawk College strategic plan webpage: https://www.strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/