Program Officer - Indigenous Arts

ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 82,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is seeking an accomplished mid to senior level Indigenous arts professional to oversee granting programs and services across Indigenous and general arts communities. Location options include Toronto or remote sites within Ontario, with occasional travel and overtime expected.

The role requires deep knowledge of Indigenous arts, at least five years of leadership in arts management, budgeting, and grant administration.

Qualifications

• Direct working knowledge of Indigenous arts and experience supporting Indigenous artists and arts orgs.
• Minimum 5 years’ mid-to-senior level arts leadership experience.
• Proven leadership in implementing arts development strategies, programs and initiatives.
• Post-secondary education in the arts or equivalent experience.
• Experience and knowledge in grant writing and public funding systems.
• Knowledge of Indigenous philosophies and Indigenous communities in the province.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships.
• Program delivery or project management with staff supervision.
• Budgeting experience for projects and organizations.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English; knowledge of an Indigenous language, French, or ASL is a plus.
• Strong organizational, administrative, problem-solving and multitasking skills.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work with diverse groups.
• Willingness to travel within Ontario and occasional overtime.
• Driver’s license is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify needs of Indigenous artists and arts orgs; help shape strategies and policies.
• Provide grant-seeking support, feedback and guidance on programs and applications.
• Oversee assigned granting programs, including eligibility criteria and priorities.
• Guide the granting process: review applications, select assessors, meetings, and draft recommendations.
• Analyze and manage program budgets and workflows.
• Outreach and development for Indigenous arts communities and partners.
• Supervise staff and ensure timely program administration.
• Address issues in coordination with the manager.
• Build relationships with arts communities, funders and partners.
• Engage in ongoing consultation to keep programs relevant.
• Provide cross-team support as needed; occasional overtime and travel to regions.

Skills

Indigenous arts knowledge

Arts leadership

Leadership

Strong communication

Organization & multitasking

Teambuilding

Decision making

Collaboration

Overtime and travel willingness

Driver's license

Education

Post-secondary education in the arts

Tools

MS 365 Office Suite

Grants management software

Job description

Salary Range: $82,148.00 To $124,434.00 Annually

The Ontario Arts Council is a publicly funded agency of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. Since 1963, OAC has supported professional artists and arts organizations to benefit all Ontarians. Through grants, services, outreach, and partnerships, OAC fosters a vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem. We are committed to equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion, ensuring the arts remain vital to life, the economy, and community across the province.

Deadline date for submissions: November 26, 2026

Location: Toronto or an approved Remote location elsewhere in Ontario. The remote option is intended to support outreach, and relationships with Indigenous arts communities across the province.

Contract type: Regular full-time

Vacancy: One

Remuneration: $82,148 - $124,434

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is seeking an accomplished mid to senior level Indigenous arts professional with extensive work experience within the Indigenous arts communities to apply their arts administration skills and broad arts discipline knowledge. The position will work towards the development, oversight and administration of a variety of granting programs and services across OAC disciplines and funds, both those dedicated to Indigenous artists and arts organizations, as well as those serving the general arts communities.

Your leadership skills, combined with an innovative and thoughtful approach to supporting the diverse needs of Ontario’s Indigenous arts communities and the wider arts sector enables you to act as a critical link between artists, organizations and the OAC.

In accordance with OAC’s hiring mandate for this designated program area and section 24 of the Ontario Human Rights Code, only Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) applicants will be considered. Applicants must self-identify in their application and identify their Indigenous Nation(s)—First Nation, Inuit or Métis—and the community or communities they are from.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify needs of Indigenous artists and arts organizations, provide input into related strategies and policies, and support the implementation of programs and services in response to those needs
• Responsible for applicant granting support, feedback and consultation; communicate program goals, priorities, principles and strategies; provide information and advice on programs and the application process in a safe and respectful manner
• Manage, develop and provide administrative oversight of the assigned granting programs, including input on program eligibility criteria and priorities
• Guide the granting process, includes reviewing applications, selecting assessors, facilitating assessment meetings, making oral presentations and written grant recommendations and reports, and communicating results
• Analyze, manage and administer program budgets and program workflow
• Conduct outreach and development for the arts communities represented by the assigned granting programs
• Supervise and support associated staff, ensuring program administration is timely and accurate
• Handle, in conjunction with the manager, any issues and concerns
• Develop and maintain relationships with arts communities, organizations, funders and partners
• Engage in consultation around the assigned grant programs to determine continued relevance to identified needs
• Provide support as needed when other Program Officers require additional assistance
• Work occasional overtime, attend events on evenings and weekends and travel to different regions in Ontario to meet with artists and arts organizations to build awareness of OAC programs, and provide hands‑on training on the granting process

Key Qualifications:

• Direct working knowledge of the history, current status and trends and key issues in Indigenous arts and experience working in support of Indigenous artists and arts organizations
• A minimum of 5 years’ mid-to-senior level arts leadership experience in arts and culture management
• Proven ability to provide leadership in the implementation of arts development strategies, programs and initiatives
• A post‑secondary education in the arts or an equivalent combination of professional experience and education related to the responsibilities is required
• Experience and knowledge in grant writing and public funding systems
• Knowledge of Indigenous philosophies, ways of working, and policy development working within and in support of diverse Indigenous arts communities in the province
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships
• Successful experience in program delivery or project management, with supervision of project plans and the workflow of staff
• Practical financial knowledge and direct experience managing project and organization operating budgets
• Excellent and effective oral and written communication and presentation skills in English; with proficiency in an Indigenous language, French, or ASL is an asset
• Solid organizational and administrative practices with problem solving and multi‑tasking abilities
• Excellent interpersonal, teambuilding, and consultative skills
• Sound judgement, initiative and flexibility
• Known to work collaboratively with and in support of individuals and groups with diverse identities, lived experiences, and perspectives
• Advanced computer proficiency in Microsoft 365 Office Suite, and familiarity with grants management software solutions an asset
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime and travel within Ontario
• A valid driver’s license is preferred

OAC is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce. OAC values a diversity of perspectives, ideas and lived experiences as an asset in serving Ontario’s communities.

OAC recognizes that interested individuals may not meet all of the above qualifications and possess other relevant education, and professional and lived experience that would make them the right candidate. Applicants are invited to share this with us in their cover letter.

Individuals are invited to submit a cover letter and resume. Please note that applications that do not include a cover letter and disclosure of Indigeneity will not be considered:

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for interview will be contacted.

The O AC does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess or select applicants during the hiring process.

Please contact us at [e-mail] if you are unable to apply on‑line and/or require accommodations during the recruitment process due to a disability.