001 - Manager, Powley Institute

Métis Nation of Ontario•Sault Ste. Marie, ON

34d

About The Position

The Manager plays a central leadership role in advancing the Powley Institute’s mandate as a Métis‑led centre for research, education, cultural preservation, and knowledge mobilization. This position ensures that the Institute’s operations, partnerships, and communications uphold the Métis Nation of Ontario’s purpose: to promote Métis self‑determination, strengthen community‑rooted scholarship, and protect and advance Métis rights, history, and culture. Working collaboratively across internal teams and with external partners, the Manager provides strategic oversight, operational excellence, and culturally grounded leadership that supports the Institute’s growth as a national anchor for Métis knowledge and innovation. The Manager reports to the Director of the Education and Training Branch.

Requirements

University Degree
3 to 5 years of experience
Progressive leadership experience in a research, education, cultural, or Indigenous‑governance environment, with demonstrated success managing teams, programs, or institutional operations.
Experience working with Métis or Indigenous communities, organizations, or governance structures, including relationship‑building, consultation, and supporting community‑driven priorities.
Demonstrated experience in project and program management, including planning, budgeting, reporting, risk management, and delivering complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
Deep knowledge of Métis history, rights, governance, and policy frameworks, with the ability to apply Métis‑specific and Indigenous research principles across education, culture, and community‑rooted initiatives.
Advanced leadership, supervision, and people‑management skills, including coaching, performance management, conflict resolution, and fostering a culturally grounded, accountable, and respectful workplace.
Strong analytical, planning, and evaluation skills, with the ability to design and implement data governance, quality assurance, and reporting systems that support evidence‑based decision‑making.
Expertise in partnership development and stakeholder engagement, particularly within K–12 and post‑secondary education systems, government, funders, and Métis community partners.
High‑level organizational, financial, and project‑management skills, including budgeting, risk management, contract oversight, and the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight of all agreements, daily operations, and reporting requirements related to the Powley Institute, ensuring full compliance with program parameters while maximizing funding opportunities and institutional impact.
Lead relationship‑building and partnership development across Ontario’s K–12 and post‑secondary education systems, ensuring all engagements, benchmarks, and outcomes are systematically tracked, analyzed, and reported.
Offer sector‑specific leadership grounded in deep knowledge of Métis and Indigenous policy, rights, governance, and post‑secondary education frameworks, ensuring alignment with the Institute’s mandate and Métis self‑determination.
Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate services delivered by staff and contractors, including functions related to funding agreements, consulting services, personnel and payroll, technology, and security.
Develop comprehensive work plans with clear priorities, deliverables, timelines, quality measures, and accountability structures that support the Institute’s strategic goals.
Manage the full employment lifecycle for direct reports, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, discipline, and termination, while supporting supervisors in effective people leadership.
Lead the development and implementation of quality assurance, data governance, and evaluation strategies to strengthen program integrity and evidence‑based decision‑making.
Plan, administer, and monitor budgets for projects, contracts, equipment, and supplies, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to program delivery, quality, staffing, finances, and organizational reputation.
Conduct research and prepare high‑quality reports, briefing notes, policy analyses, and presentations for senior leadership, funders, and governance bodies.
Represent the Institute at meetings with senior management, funders, elected officials, government partners, and community stakeholders, presenting on key initiatives as required.
Develop communication tools and knowledge‑mobilization resources that enhance understanding of Métis issues, rights, history, and policy contexts.
Promote, monitor, and measure compliance with funding requirements by designing and implementing effective data collection, reporting, and record‑keeping systems.
Support the development, implementation, and expansion of new programs, initiatives, and services aligned with the Institute’s mandate.
Manage complex, confidential, and sensitive issues with tact, discretion, cultural humility, and sound judgment.
Facilitate the resolution of complex conflicts among staff, fostering a respectful, accountable, and culturally grounded workplace environment.
Work closely with the Chair of Research to advance the Institute’s research agenda, ensuring alignment with Métis‑led priorities; supporting project development, ethics and governance processes; and coordinating resources, staffing, and reporting to enable high‑quality, community‑rooted scholarship.
Promotes the values of the organization within the workplace and in the community by demonstrating positive and professional relationships with others (employees, citizens, council, volunteers, advocates, etc.)
Reports all unsafe conditions, hazards or practices, accidents and incidents in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and adheres to all Health and Safety requirements within the MNO’s policies and procedures and provincial legislation.
Performs other job/branch-related duties as required.

Benefits

4% Vacation pay
Pension plan
Annual paid two-week holiday closure in December
16 paid public and employer holidays
15 paid health & wellness days
Challenging, multi-disciplinary work environment that fosters learning and professional development
Substantial educational incentive to promote personal and professional growth
An opportunity to make a direct or indirect impact on the lives of the Métis Peoples across the Province
Employee Assistance Plan
Telemedicine plan
Goodlife corporate membership discount
Bell Mobility's exclusive partner program
Staple's corporate discount
Dell member purchase program
Mark's corporate discount