Program Coordinator, The Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI)

Job Summary

The Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI) offers programming, resources, and consultations focused on Indigenous engagement. OISI provides guidance to Faculties, departments, operational units and student groups across UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses in their alignment with the eight goals and 43 actions of the Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP).

This Program Coordinator (PC) supports the planning, development, delivery, and evaluation of programs and special projects associated with ISP implementation, as well as ongoing and emerging Indigenous initiatives. Responsibilities include guiding ISP implementation through workshops; conducting research and analysis relating to OISI projects; preparing briefs in preparation for ISP-related engagement; and managing strategic programs and projects for the OISI team.

This position is situated in demanding environment which requires the highest level of tact, discretion and sensitivity with a particular focus on Indigenous communities and partners.

Organizational Status

The Program Coordinator reports to the Indigenous Strategic Programming Manager.

The Program Coordinator receives assignments from the Director, Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI) and the Senior Advisor and Associate Vice-President on Indigenous Affairs to support Indigenous initiatives and programming.

The Program Coordinator may be required to work flexible hours, including across multiple time zones, as needed.

Work Performed

• Manages the ISP committees (e.g., ISPEAC, ISPCC) that are under the leadership portfolio of OISI.
• Develops program timelines, tracks progress, and contributes to reports.
• Ensures OISI programming and resources align with ISP implementation actions. Conducts relevant research related to strategic and program goals including Indigenous methodologies.
• Develops and implements systems and triages requests for strategic support related to ISP implementation for the OISI team.
• Plans and facilitates meetings, and recommends next steps and courses of action for programs/projects based on meetings and broader plans.
• Identifies, develops and implements new documentation and systems to ensure smooth overall program delivery and standards, and ensures changes are implemented with careful attention to process and ongoing program viability.
• Analyzes and evaluates requests and provides recommendations based on finding.
• Participates in conducting engagements and consultations with various stakeholders and the UBC community.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Inappropriate judgment can compromise the OISI’s ability to meet its objects and goals, and its relationships within the University and with external Indigenous organizations and communities and government agencies, and can impede UBC's progress on its Indigenous Strategic Plan and in relation to Indigenous initiatives at the local, regional, provincial, national and international level.

UBC Indigenous initiatives are now more extensive, diverse, complex, and inter-dependent. Relations with Indigenous communities and organizations present a special concern: injudicious or uninformed actions by the Program Coordinator can damage important relationships with community partners, creating damage requiring years to repair. The Program Coordinator must exercise sound judgment over a wide range of issues and circumstances, often within a limited time frame and with limited opportunity for consultation.

Supervision Received
The Program Coordinator reports to the Indigenous Strategic Programming Manager and receives assignments from the Director, the Senior Advisor and Associate Vice-President Indigenous Affairs and other OISI team members.

Supervision Given
None.

Minimum Qualifications
University degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with historical and contemporary Indigenous issues, particularly as they relate to post-secondary education.
• Demonstrated education and/or work background related to equity, diversity, decolonization, and/or inclusion policies, practices, and procedures.
• Program planning and coordination experience and skills, including setting of goals and priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead others and to function as an effective team member.
• Excellent facilitation, public speaking, writing and verbal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in cross-cultural settings.
• Ability to maintain connection between a long-range vision and day-to-day functions.
• Ability to manage a demanding workload by determining priorities, planning ahead and anticipating problems.
• Familiarity with the University community, policies, and systems, is considered an asset.
• Ability to research and locate required information using a variety of methods (e.g., online information, sources).
• Ability to meet deadlines and is both goal and process-oriented.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented.
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office at an advanced level (e.g. Outlook, Word, Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint), videoconferencing applications (e.g. Zoom) and electronic surveys (e.g. Qualtrics, Doodle).
• Ability to travel when necessary.
• Able to work later or within other time zones, when required.