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The Opportunity
The Nikanahtpat / Director of Indigenous Initiatives plays key operational and strategic roles at St. Thomas University. Operationally, the Director provides oversight to the Wabanaki Student Centre, Indigenous Experiential Learning initiatives, and campus programming with Indigenous content, and plans and executes a strategy for Indigenous student recruitment.
Strategically, the Director plays a lead role in developing new initiatives, including bridging programs and academic offerings within First Nation communities, enhancing relationships with First Nation communities and organizations in the Maritime region. They will also lead the development of policies and initiatives that will ensure STU is an institution of choice for Indigenous students in the Maritimes, offering an academically and culturally-rich experience within a safe and supportive environment.
The Director will participate in meetings of the Senate Committee on Reconciliation and play a support role for the Student Reconciliation Committee. Regularly liaising with external communities, students, and senior administration to ensure coordination of all Indigenous-related initiatives is an important part of this new position.
The Director position directly oversees the Indigenous Student Services Coordinator and supports the work of the Elder in Residence and the Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator. The Director is responsible for creating an annual budget and ensuring the execution of all elements of that budget, while also seeking further grant funding and completing relevant grant reporting.
Term: 3-year contract term
Classification/Level: Exempt, D1
Closing Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
What you'll do
Responsibilities
- Student Support: The Director provides leadership and oversight to all aspects of support for Indigenous students transitioning into STU, during their time at the University, and in preparation for life after graduation. Working closely with the Indigenous Student Services Coordinator, the Director ensures that student needs are met, that programming and supports are relevant and well-utilized, as well as coordinated with relevant offices around campus. The incumbent will track Indigenous student retention and make relevant recommendations or develop appropriate interventions, as required.
- Relationships: The Director holds primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of relationships with First Nation communities and organizations across New Brunswick, the Maritimes, and Quebec. This will involve regularly traveling to communities, developing partnership initiatives, and responding to concerns.
- Student Recruitment: The Director will lead the development and implementation of a multi-year recruitment strategy to increase overall Indigenous Student Recruitment. The strategy will be developed collaboratively with the Director of Recruitment, the Indigenous Student Services Coordinator, and with input from students and communities.
- Campus Leadership: The Director sits on the Senate Committee on Reconciliation, advises the Student Reconciliation Committee, and plays a coordination and leadership role with all campus initiatives involving or centering on Indigenous content. This involves all managerial responsibilities for the Indigenous Student Services Coordinator, budgeting, grant-writing and reporting, acting as the primary liaison for the Elder in Residence, and communicating regularly with senior administration.
- Program Development: The Director works closely with academic leaders on and off campus, and with community leaders, to develop and enhance academic programming such as bridging-year studies and in-community course delivery.
- Policy Development: The Director will play a lead role in the development and review of policies that will enhance STU's commitment to truth and reconciliation, and to providing a positive and thriving environment for Indigenous students and staff to live, learn, and work.
What you'll need
Qualifications
- A University degree (a Master's degree would be considered an asset).
- A minimum of five (5) years' experience in a leadership role working with or within an Indigenous community, organization, or post-secondary context.
- Experience leading and managing people.
- Excellent oral and written communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- An understanding of the needs of Indigenous students in accessing and being successful in post-secondary education. Experience in areas of student support or recruitment would be an asset.
- A track record of building connections with Indigenous communities.
- Familiarity with Indigenous communities in the region.
- The ability to manage multiple projects and relationships simultaneously.
- Experience in public speaking.
- Valid driver's license.
Working Conditions:
- Occasional need to work evenings and weekends to attend relevant campus or community events.
- Regular travel to First Nation Communities and high schools.
- Required to have a constant and visible presence on campus to enable close attention to the needs and concerns of student and community members.
Candidates are responsible for clearly demonstrating in their cover letters how they meet the requirements of the position. All applications are to be received by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date. Please note that the selection process may include testing related to the advertised requirements. Candidates will be advised of any testing prior to the interview.
An equal opportunity employer, St. Thomas University is committed to employment equity for women, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minority groups, and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
St. Thomas University is situated on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Wəlastəkewiyik / Maliseet whose ancestors along with the Mi'Kmaq / Mi'kmaw and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati Tribes / Nations signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with the British Crown in the 1700s.
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St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University
Founded in 1910, St. Thomas is a primarily undergraduate university located in Fredericton, NB. With an enrolment of 1,700 students, STU offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degrees for undergraduates, in addition to distinctive program opportunities like the Bachelor of Arts (Aviation Stream), the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey Bachelor of Social Work, and the Bachelor of Applied Arts. For those interested in post-degree or graduate studies, St. Thomas offers a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Social Work.
Professors are distinguished scholars, authors, and commentators, and provide an outstanding education to their students. STU outperforms the Canadian university average for effective teaching, a supportive environment, student-faculty interactions, and higher order learning (National Survey of Student Engagement). Students report greater gains in critical thinking, writing, and problem solving when compared to the national average (CUSC Survey of First-Year Students). The university holds Canada Research Chairs in global and transnational studies and in physical culture and social life, as well as a health research chair in community health and aging.
Mission
St. Thomas University prioritizes teaching and learning so that each student is prepared for personal and career fulfillment. Through leading programs informed by our humanistic approach and opportunities for experiential education, we offer a robust and inclusive learning community that fosters connections across academic disciplines and emerging scholarly areas. On our beautiful campus, supportive faculty and staff create the ideal place for discovery and possibility. Each St. Thomas student is empowered to think independently, communicate effectively, and act responsibly. Meaningful contributions to the communities we serve locally, nationally, and globally are made today, through our teaching and research, and tomorrow, through the success of our alumni.
Vision
St. Thomas University commits to become the leading choice for students seeking a holistic university student experience.