Director, Indigenous Initiatives & Indigenous House

Date Posted: 06/27/2025
Req ID: 43874
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC: Office of Indigenous Initiatives & Indigenous House
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

About us:

The University of Toronto Scarborough is a place of energy, enthusiasm and passion. Our commitment to inclusive excellence attracts the brightest learners, scholars and employees from around the globe. We take pride in working alongside our Indigenous host nations whose territory we operate on, and we cherish our continuing partnerships with these communities. The University of Toronto Scarborough is an exciting campus with unlimited potential. Join us on our journey.

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House at UTSC works to mobilize University of Toronto’s commitments to Truth and Reconciliation as outlined in Answering the Call – Wecheehetowin. Following the recommendations of the report, the Office guides the University of Toronto Scarborough's efforts in amplifying Indigenous voices and Indigenous place keeping on campus.

Your opportunity:

Reporting jointly to the Vice-President & Principal, UTSC, with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives in the Offices of the Vice-President & Provost and Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity, and Culture, the Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House provides a critical and strategic role in developing and advancing Indigenous-focused strategic planning and initiatives at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus.

The Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House is responsible for the vision and strategic development and execution of Indigenous initiatives at UTSC, along with full strategic oversight, administration and operations of the newly built Indigenous House at the UTSC campus. The incumbent will expertly advise, recommend solutions, develop and implement plans, and coordinate partnerships to advance Indigenous presence, inclusion, supports, and programming at UTSC. The Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House has full oversight of the Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House operations at UTSC, providing supervision to senior staff as well as overseeing long-term operational resource planning for the entire Indigenous Initiatives unit.

The incumbent provides expert advice and makes recommendations to the UTSC senior leadership team on matters relating to decolonization, Indigenization, and Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin: Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto’s Response to the Trust and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The incumbent is responsible for leading, supporting and amplifying campus-wide initiatives that support the University and UTSC’s vision, strategic priorities, academic plan, policies, and objectives.

The Director will work with portfolios at UTSC and the institutional Office of Indigenous Initiatives to review related structures and initiatives, and will make recommendations regarding changes to, and the creation of, new structures and processes to implement Indigenous initiatives to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous people and communities.

The Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous House works closely with Indigenous groups in and outside of the University in the mission of the campus and University, broadly intersecting with such areas as teaching and learning, student experience, faculty and staff recruitment and engagement, and community-based research. The incumbent will engage with Indigenous community members, internal and external, to support activities and build relationships and provide support in advancing academic and administrative activities that promote Indigenous initiatives that will have UTSC, tri-campus, and community impact.

The incumbent works in a complex environment that requires a high degree of sensitivity, responsiveness and a need to maintain absolute confidentiality. The role requires collaboration with colleagues to facilitate access to and to promote a genuine sense of belonging at UTSC for Indigenous peoples and communities.

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, the University uses the term “Indigenous” in this search, which forms part of the U of T Responses to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First nations, Metis, Inuk (Inuit), Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian people.

Essential Qualifications:

EDUCATION: 

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 5 plus years’ working within Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) communities/agencies with demonstrated senior level experience in an educational or related setting.
• The successful candidate will be required to have lived experience as an Indigenous person
• Experience in working with complex issues experienced by Indigenous peoples, in particular the student experience and experience of employees in the workplace is required.
• Experience working with Knowledge Keepers, students, staff, and faculty, and an appreciation for the diverse backgrounds and experiences including financial, academic, career, transition support. 
• Experience designing and delivering educational programs is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing a large team with senior level staff required.
• Must have experience with budget planning, and project management of initiatives of various scales and complexity.
• Experience working within a post-secondary context is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the University’s organizational structure, services and policies is an asset.

SKILLS:

• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office (must be able to set up templates in Word and Excel, set up Excel spreadsheets and graphics, and prepare sophisticated PowerPoint presentations).
• Highly developed oral and written communication, research, analytical, relationship management and organizational skills.
• Internet, website content management, Acrobat, scheduling software and familiarity with Microsoft SharePoint an asset.

OTHER:

• 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.
• Embrace a commitment to Indigenous ways of being, doing and knowing.  
• Ability to produce detailed and comprehensive reports from a large volume of complex information.
• Demonstrated analytical ability and ability to use initiative and good judgement in decision making.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous educational issues and of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), and other resources pertaining to Indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated relationships with services and agencies within Indigenous communities and/or urban centres and governments.
• Competence in an Indigenous language is strong asset.
• Must show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

NOTES:

• A full job description is available upon request from the UTSC HR Office.
• This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto's Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.

Closing Date: 07/30/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 6 -- Hiring Zone: $130,011 - $151,679 -- Broadband Salary Range: $130,011 - $216,687
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial