Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement

Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand and create.

This opportunity is open only to qualified individuals who identify as Indigenous Peoples of North America, including those who identify as First Nations (status, non-status, treaty or non-treaty), Métis, Inuit, or Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian Peoples.

 This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost (VPAP), the Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement is primarily responsible for maintaining and growing relationships between the University and various Indigenous communities through relationship building, community building, building justice, and mutual respect. Working collaboratively with the University, the Special Advisor to the Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, and external partners, this administrative role supports Indigenous success within the institution while contributing to the decolonization of OCAD University (OCAD U) practices, policies and structures through advocacy and community-building. This role acknowledges the important Indigenous artistic histories that inform, and contribute towards, recentering Indigenous Knowledge(s) within academic discourse. The Executive Director also provides oversight to the Indigenous Student Centre.  

As part of the senior administration, the Executive Director serves to meaningfully connect Indigenous students, faculty, and staff with Indigenous Knowledge Leaders outside of the OCAD U community, as well as the Indigenous Education Council and the Indigenous Student Centre. The advocacy for Indigenous faculty, staff and students, including prospective students and their families, will recognize that intergenerational well-being is central to Indigenous communities and essential for decision-making processes, and will honour opportunities to enable the exchange of knowledge between these groups. 

OCAD University is committed to restoring just and equitable relationships on an interpersonal, institutional and societal level by prioritizing Indigenous rights and knowledge systems, recognizing and acknowledging treaty obligations, and respecting Indigenous sovereignty. The Executive Director recognizes that the families of students and prospective students are entrusting the University community to provide a welcoming, respectful and safe environment for them. The role supports the production of Indigenous Knowledge and experience, as well as actively contributing to shaping future Indigenous Knowledge and experience within institutional systems. This position recognizes and prioritizes that important work to support the development of Indigenous artistic knowledge and skill within the art and design university context.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Familiarize yourself with the current and ongoing state of Indigenous People(s) and practices within OCAD University and support Indigenous success by providing an annual plan of action to the President. 
• Galvanize existing efforts of decolonization of OCAD U, attending to the recommendations and visions of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIW2S) movement, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). 
• Work with internal and external communities, to challenge and replace existing colonial practices, policies and structures within and across the University to create positive change for Indigenous students, staff, faculty and their families. 
• Collaborate with the Admissions office to appropriately support the needs of potential Indigenous students and their families. 
• In collaboration with the Special Advisor to the Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, support the implementation and refresh of the recommendations of the Provost’s Task Force on Indigenous Learning and the development of an Indigenous Strategic Plan for OCAD U.
• In collaboration with the Special Advisor to the Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, lead the bridging of OCAD U communities, including the Indigenous Education Council, the Indigenous Student Centre, the Indigenous Knowledge Leaders’ Advisory Council, the Indigenous Visual Culture program, and the Indigenous Student Association. 
• Serve as OCAD University’s key representative in building relationships with the local Indigenous Nations surrounding OCAD U, develop community-to-community conversations and outreach in Toronto and the surrounding areas; work towards the establishment of an Indigenous Knowledge Leaders Advisory Council
• Initiate, build and strengthen relationships with Indigenous Nations including the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Six Nations of the Grand River, and Mississaugas of the Credit on behalf of the University
• Develop and maintain with all Indigenous Peoples, including Métis Nation, Inuit, and Urban Indigenous communities. 
• Seek out and share culturally appropriate and relevant resources, materials and opportunities for learning, community engagement and relationship-building and to support Indigenous success inside and outside of the University. 
• Support ceremonial practice for students, staff and faculty, by building connections and collaboration, and supporting wellness and healing both within and outside of OCAD U. 
• Initiate and support fundraising efforts in collaboration with the University administration such as Advancement and Government Relations, which may include the development of Indigenous physical spaces at the University. 
• Provide senior-level advice and guidance regarding the recruitment and retention of Indigenous staff and faculty to OCAD University Managers, as well as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Sustainability Initiatives (ODESI), and the People & Culture Office. 
• Advocate for the wholistic support and advocacy for Indigenous students, faculty, staff and their home communities by acting as a key figure to provide Indigenous members of OCAD U ombuds services. 
• Support the University’s restorative justice process as outlined in relevant policies (Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy and Non-Academic Misconduct Policy). 
• Attend and participate in relevant OCAD U community events. 
• Make space for Indigenous faculty and staff to gather, celebrate, and support each other. 
• Make space for the voices of Indigenous students and their families to be heard at OCAD U. 

Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a graduate degree with a specialization in Indigenous Art, Indigenous Art History, Indigenous Studies or similar area. Equivalent advocacy or community experience will be considered as a suitable alternative. 
• Lived experience and understanding of the cultural beliefs and practices of at least one local Indigenous community. 
• Experience working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous community to support and develop, and implement programs that support and nurture Indigenous knowledge/spaces within institutions 
• Knowledge of Indigenous art practices and history. 
• Knowledge of other Indigenous cultural protocols and practices, including Indigenous mentorship models. 
• Knowledge of ceremony within Indigenous community contexts to maintain accountability, relevance, responsibility to community, fulfillment, self-care, balance and overall wellness and recognition of their contributions to the Indigenous community. 
• Knowledge of decolonial processes and practices, preferably within an educational institution. 
• Ability to work across organizational structures to influence positive change. 
• Ability to work in institutional environments, using senior-level vision in preparing action plans, financial literacy and working with organizational policies. 
• Ability to respond to sensitive and complex situations with discretion and care. 
• Demonstrated ability to connect with and bridge communities. 
• A demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity, preferably including experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty. 
• Indigenous citizenship (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), connection to an Indigenous community, a history and/or evidence of lived experience and an understanding of the Indigenous culture(s) and practices

Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus benefits. 

Hours of Work: Total of 35 hours per week. This is a hybrid opportunity, with the flexibility to report to work on campus and work remotely.

Application: The successful applicant will have Indigenous citizenship, connection to an Indigenous community (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), and a history and/or evidence of lived experience and an understanding of the Indigenous culture(s) and practices.

Application Deadline: Interested applicants are invited to submit an updated *resume and cover letter (PDF) by selecting "Apply Now" below. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

*Please upload your resume and cover letter as one PDF. Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Job Code

If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to Alli O’Shea, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, at aoshea@ocadu.ca

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. 

In order to alleviate the under-representation of Indigenous administrators, this opportunity is open only to qualified individuals who identify as Indigenous Peoples of North America, including those who identify as First Nations (status, non-status, treaty or non-treaty), Métis, Inuit, or Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian Peoples.

This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.