Manager, Strategy and Operations Indigenous Initiatives

University of British Columbia•Kelowna, BC

2d•CA$7,284 - CA$10,474•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies is responsible for implementing key elements of the University of British Columbia’s Indigenous Strategic Plan in teaching, curriculum reform, research and policy, including establishment of a new Interior Salishan Studies Centre and coordination of the full suite (4) of Interior Salish language fluency degrees. To manage these strategic directions, this position will consult with key stakeholders within the UBC ecosystem, other universities, and wider Indigenous territories to conduct needs assessments, curriculum planning, research, policy developments and institution building agenda setting. They will also manage the scope, time and budgets required to develop and operate different Indigenous Studies program initiatives and policies, including the teaching schedules for interior Salishan language revitalisation degrees, coordinating with and organising logistics involving community organisations and external contributors to these degrees, and supervising the Community Liaison and Instructional Coordinators associated with these degrees. The position is responsible for long range planning, instructor and community contributor recruitment, and marketing activities associated with both the Interior Salishan Studies Centre and Indigenous language fluency degrees.

Requirements

Minimum Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
Minimum of five years of related experience.
Experience working in educational contexts relevant to and engaged with Indigenous communities.
Has a fair knowledge of the tertiary sector so they are capable of understanding and dealing with the issues, risks, obstacles, and networking requirements.
Demonstrated ability to conduct respectful consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Capacity to develop, execute and monitor project plans and schedules to realise strategic objective
Availability for occasional travel to local communities is essential.
Self-motivated and self-directed.
Experience in strategic engagement and planning processes.
Excellent organizational skills and time management skills.
Is comfortable with ambiguity and willing to reshape the rules and processes when things change
Has knowledge of and experience with Indigenous communication and interaction protocols.
Has exceptional communication skills to enable appropriate facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement
Proven ability to work in a team and collaborate with others.
Ability to function effectively within a changing environment
Ability to think strategically and exercise diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
Both on-campus (office based) and off-campus (community based) work is required.
Frequent travel in the interior region is required.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference is given to candidates with lived experience of one or more Interior Salishan communities
An understanding of the university environment and culture is an asset.

Responsibilities

Develops policies, systems and organisational practices to ensure the Interior Salish language fluency degrees— the Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF), the Bachelor of Nɬeʔkepmxcín Language Fluency (BNLEK) the Bachelor of St’at’imc Language Fluency Degree (BSTLG), and the Bachelor of Secwepemc Language Fluency Degree (BSECW)—are managed and improved as they grow in size and complexity.
Manages and provides overall coordination of the Indigenous language and knowledge revitalization efforts, including scheduling, resourcing logistics, service agreements with partners, budget management and coordination of teaching programs.
Manages the design work, visioning processes, consultation, policy development and organisational practices associated with the Interior Salishan Studies Centre.
Manages the space and infrastructure associated with the Interior Salishan Studies Centre.
Inspires and contributes to a sense of shared purpose within the INDG program and CCGS.
Negotiates for project resources, develops, executes and monitors project plans and schedules, secure acceptance and approval of deliverables and milestones from sponsor and stakeholders related to realising strategic objectives for the INDG program, CCGS, and FASS.
Manages expectations by aligning projects to strategic goals, managing stakeholders and conflicts, and communicating project status, milestones, and mitigating unexpected difficulties/issues effectively.
Creates, executes and manages appropriate project communications strategy/plan.
Undertakes recruitment and marketing activities associated with both the language fluency and Interior Salishan Studies Centre, including for instructors, language speakers and mentors.
Develops and maintains relationships with external partners (especially organizations and community members associated with the Interior Salishan territories) and manages collaboration activities with these external partners to facilitate strategic initiatives and troubleshoot emerging issues.
Collaborates with other institutions—including indigenous controlled post secondary institutions and universities—to sustain Indigenous strategic initiatives
Negotiates, manages, and facilitates the administrative interactions between community partners and the relevant departments in the University (e.g. finance).
Contributes to the ongoing development of the vision of INDG program, and other related programs, congruent with the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Identifies opportunities for new initiatives be they programs, partnerships or collaborations.
Other related duties.
Provides advice to the Dean’s Office, INDG program and CCGS about strategic directions and developments, risks and opportunities.
Supervises the Community Liaison and Instructional Coordinators attached to Indigenous language revitalisation degrees.