Manager of Indigenous Programs

VIBE Arts; Toronto; On-site; CAD 47,700 - 58,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental care

Extended health care

Life insurance

Work from home

Job summary

VIBE Arts is seeking a Manager of Indigenous Programs to lead and shape our Indigenous programming in Northern Ontario and the Toronto mentorship expansion. The role reports to the Director of Programs & Mentorship and involves supervising the Indigenous Program Coordinator, recruiting cohorts, and ensuring culturally grounded practices.

You will collaborate with the Indigenous Advisory Circle and Elder advisor while building partnerships with schools and community hubs.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working directly with Indigenous communities, organizations, or governments in a culturally safe, respectful, and reciprocal manner
• Grounded in Indigenous community life through practice, relationships, or lived urban/northern Ontario context
• 5 years’ experience in Indigenous arts, arts administration, cultural programming, or related field
• Comfortable providing cultural guidance in non-Indigenous settings and identifying improvement areas
• Experience mentoring or supporting emerging artists and community practitioners
• 2-5 years’ experience supervising staff or contractors
• Hybrid work experience within a small nonprofit team
• Familiarity with grant-funded project structures is an asset
• Knowledge of or connections within Toronto's Indigenous arts community and Northern Ontario Indigenous networks
• Understanding of program development, implementation, and community-based services
• Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks
• Strong communication, diplomacy and empathy for sensitive situations

Responsibilities

• Provide cultural leadership and oversight to align programs with Indigenous knowledge and community needs
• Oversee recruitment and mentorship of Toronto-based Indigenous artists youth cohorts
• Direct supervision and mentorship of the Indigenous Program Coordinator
• Build relationships with Indigenous organizations, artists, and cultural workers in Toronto and Northern Ontario
• Represent the program at sector gatherings and partnership conversations
• Contribute to culturally grounded evaluation practices and annual reporting
• In Year 3, document learnings for broader impact

Skills

Indigenous communities experience

Indigenous life/connection

Indigenous arts administration

Cultural guidance

Mentoring emerging artists

Staff supervision

Hybrid work environment

Grant-funded project knowledge

Toronto Indigenous arts networks

Program development and implementation

Monitoring & evaluation

Communication, diplomacy, empathy

Job description

The Opportunity

VIBE Arts is seeking a Manager of Indigenous Programs to lead and shape our existing Northern Ontario Programming, and newly funded Indigenous arts mentorship expansion in Toronto. Supported by an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow Grant, this initiative builds on a proven northern Ontario model - connecting established Indigenous artists from the north with emerging Indigenous artists in Toronto to co-design and deliver land-based, culturally grounded arts programming for children, youth, and families.

This is a senior role with creative and programmatic influence. Working closely with the Director of Programs & Mentorship, Indigenous Advisory Circle, and Elder advisor. You'll also supervise the Indigenous Program Coordinator and lead the recruitment and mentorship of Toronto-based Indigenous artist cohorts over the three-year grant term.

VIBE Arts is not an Indigenous-led organization. We're looking for someone to bring their expertise, knowledge and lived experience to our Indigenous programs.

What you’ll do

Cultural Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide cultural guidance to VIBE's leadership and program team, drawing on your own knowledge, relationships, and community connections
• Support the development the Indigenous Advisory Circle, including helping to identify and recruit members
• Work alongside the Advisory Circle and Elder advisor to ensure the program remains grounded and accountable to the communities it serves
• Review program curricula, artist agreements, and community communications

Artist Mentorship & Cohort Development

• Lead recruitment and selection of 6 emerging Toronto-based Indigenous artists per year, in collaboration with the Advisory Circle
• Oversee and support the mentorship relationships between established Northern Ontario artists and the Toronto cohort
• Coordinate Elder advisor visits and support meaningful integration of Elder guidance into the artist experience
• Identify which artists are ready for expanded leadership and help create those pathways

Supervision & Team Leadership

• Lead the hiring process for the Indigenous Program Coordinator, in collaboration with the Director of Programs & Mentorship
• Directly supervise the Indigenous Program Coordinator with regular check-ins and clear direction
• Contribute to a team culture that is relational, accountable, and grounded in the values of the program

Community Relationships & Partnership

• Build and maintain relationships with Indigenous community organizations, artists, and cultural workers in Toronto and Northern Ontario
• Support the Coordinator in developing partnerships with Toronto schools and community hubs
• Represent the program at relevant sector gatherings and partnership conversations

  Evaluation & Reporting

  • Contribute to culturally grounded evaluation practices - such as story-sharing, artist reflections, and community feedback
  • Provide qualitative program insights for OTF reporting
  • In Year 3, help document what's been built into that others can learn from

  What you’ll bring

  • Demonstrated experience working directly with Indigenous communities, organizations, or governments in a culturally safe, respectful, and reciprocal manner
  • Grounded in Indigenous community life in some way — whether through your own practice, relationships, cultural work, or lived experience in an urban and/or northern Ontario context
  • 5 years’ experience in Indigenous arts, arts administration, cultural programming, or a related field — consideration given to lived experience and community knowledge
  • Comfortable providing cultural guidance in a non-Indigenous institutional context, and confident in identifying areas of improvement
  • Experience mentoring, supporting, or working alongside emerging artists, cultural workers, or community practitioners
  • 2-5 years’ experience supervising or guiding staff or contractors
  • Comfortable working in a hybrid environment within a small nonprofit team
  • Familiarity with grant-funded project structures is an asset
  • Knowledge of or connections within Toronto's Indigenous arts community and/or Northern Ontario Indigenous arts networks is a strong asset
  • Understanding of program development, implementation, and best practices in community-based services
  • Familiarity with program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks
  • Communication skills, diplomacy and empathy to interpret information and deliver advice, clarify client or stakeholder needs, offer solutions, and resolve escalations in new or somewhat sensitive situations.

  Your work environment

  • Four-day work week (Monday-Thursday), 32 hours per week, with flexibility on start and end times
  • Hybrid work environment with regular in-office presence
  • Regular evening and weekend availability may be required for program events, artist cohort gatherings, and Elder visits
  • Some travel to Northern Ontario may be required to support artist mentorship relationships
  • A Criminal Record Check is required upon hire
  • Benefits Package
  • 2 Weeks Vacation
  • G Class Drivers license an asset

  Pay: $53,000.00 per year

  Benefits:

  • Dental care
  • Extended health care
  • Life insurance
  • Work from home

  Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON M5V 3A8