Special Projects Officer, Indigenous Initiatives

University of Toronto•Toronto, ON

20d

About The Position

Please note that short-listed candidates may be asked to participate in an Indigenous substantiation process. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives was established in response to the U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Steering Committee’s final report, Answering The Call:Wecheehetowin. The Office’s mandate is to support and guide the U of T community as it continues to work towards reconciliation. Efforts are directed towards listening, coordinating,advising, and collaborating with academic and non-academic communities in addressing the Calls to Action. The Office intersects with areas such as teaching and learning, student experience, Faculty and staff recruitment and engagement, and community-based research. The Office also conducts a regular environmental scan, produces a report to establish the impact and progress of Indigenous Initiatives on campus, and manages the activities of the Council of Indigenous Initiatives and the Elder’s Circle. Reporting to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives, the Special Projects Officer (Indigenous Initiatives) is responsible for advising and recommending solutions, implementing project plans, identifying and responding to the objectives and priorities of the University’s strategic vision coming out of Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, the universities response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action. The Special Projects Officer (Indigenous Initiatives) provides direct support to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives, as well as indirectly supporting the Office of the Vice-President and Provost, the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture and other university academic, administrative and support units and campuses through project management; initiating and undertaking research on a wide variety of issues and topics; consulting and interacting with faculty, staff and students; providing advice to university units; following up on decisions, implementing and tracking the development and/or enhancements of Indigenous initiatives, programs and supports. As needed, the incumbent will also provide support to the Executive members of the portfolio, and ensure ongoing maintenance of the highest level of pro-activity and service for the portfolios of the Offices of the Vice-President and Provost and the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture. The incumbent will provide a high level of executive and confidential administrative support to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives, as well as answer and direct incoming inquiries. The incumbent will also take the initiative to help ensure that deadlines and schedules are met; participate in the coordination of any correspondence; and organize meetings. The incumbent works in a complex environment that requires a high degree of sensitivity, responsiveness and a need to maintain absolute confidentiality. The role of the Special Projects Officer will continue to evolve and the individual must be willing to respond to the given priorities of the day and be willing to work cooperatively in a challenging and dynamic environment.

Requirements

University degree required, professional or post graduate degree (Master's or Ph.D) an asset, or equivalent in education and experience.
Minimum 4 years’ experience in a University setting in progressively senior positions.
Extensive experience with the University and knowledge of University policies and procedures and an understanding of the University’s organizational structure, including its governance.
Knowledge about media (including traditional, new and social media), protocol, diplomacy and excellent understanding of the University’s mission and intersection with the broader community.
Minimum four years related experience working within Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) communities/agencies in a project management, human resources /community development role.
Minimum six (6) years of project management (leading, organizing and tracking the outcomes of complex and multi-stakeholder projects) and senior executive assistant experience required, preferably within a post-secondary or government environment.
Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office (must be able to set up templates and macros in Word and Excel, set up Excel spreadsheets and graphics, and prepare sophisticated PowerPoint presentations).
Internet, Acrobat, scheduling software and familiarity with Microsoft SharePoint an asset.
Highly developed oral and written communication, research analytical, relationship management and organizational skills.
Demonstrated collaborative approach to problem solving.
Demonstrated ability to interact and collaborate with individuals at all levels within the University as well as externally, including students, staff, faculty and community partners.
High degree of political acuity and judgment; ability to deal with senior University Officers in a manner which facilitates cooperation and consensus building; ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team with a high degree of initiative, discretion, and tact; ability to work under pressure; superior organizational skills in planning, project management and task coordination; flexibility and problem solver orientation; and strong leadership capabilities
Must embrace diversity and inclusion as an integral component of a quality university experience.
Ability to produce detailed and comprehensive reports from a large volume of complex information.
Strong knowledge of Indigenous educational issues and of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report.
Demonstrated relationships with services agencies within Indigenous communities and/or urban centres and governments.

Nice To Haves

Professional or post graduate degree (Master's or Ph.D) an asset, or equivalent in education and experience.
Internet, Acrobat, scheduling software and familiarity with Microsoft SharePoint an asset.
Competence in an Indigenous language a definite asset.

Responsibilities

Advising and recommending solutions
Implementing project plans
Identifying and responding to the objectives and priorities of the University’s strategic vision coming out of Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, the universities response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action
Providing direct support to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives
Indirectly supporting the Office of the Vice-President and Provost, the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture and other university academic, administrative and support units and campuses through project management
Initiating and undertaking research on a wide variety of issues and topics
Consulting and interacting with faculty, staff and students
Providing advice to university units
Following up on decisions, implementing and tracking the development and/or enhancements of Indigenous initiatives, programs and supports
Providing support to the Executive members of the portfolio
Ensuring ongoing maintenance of the highest level of pro-activity and service for the portfolios of the Offices of the Vice-President and Provost and the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture
Providing a high level of executive and confidential administrative support to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives
Answering and directing incoming inquiries
Taking the initiative to help ensure that deadlines and schedules are met
Participating in the coordination of any correspondence
Organizing meetings