Associate Director, Strategic Indigenous Enrolment Initiatives Full Time

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
The Associate Director is a key member of the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar leadership team, partnering with a broad range of stakeholders to define and remove systemic barriers to Indigenous student enrolment, retention, and student success across the university. The role serves as an advisor to the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and the leadership team in Enrolment Services on Indigenous matters, and helps design strategies and approaches.

This position provides leadership in the development and implementation of strategic enrolment and student services initiatives for Indigenous students. Additionally, this position plays a vital role in identifying and nurturing collaborative relationships with individuals and teams across the University. These partnerships are essential to reducing systemic barriers and enhancing opportunities, supports, and pathways for Indigenous student recruitment, retention, and academic success. The role also establishes and maintains internal and external communication links to Indigenous communities, organizations and other institutions.

This position works collaboratively with UBC stakeholders such as the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives, First Nations House of Learning, Vice President, Students Office, Associate Vice-Presidents, Students Office, and Indigenous Programs and Services Office.

Work Performed:

Strategic Planning and Monitoring
Provides leadership and consultancy to central units and faculties throughout the Vancouver campus on the execution of evidence-informed recruitment and retention strategies for Indigenous students, ensuring their implementation and incorporation into the appropriate university & faculty plans.

Provides consultancy in the development, implementation, and assessment of strategies with Enrolment Services teams that support Indigenous enrolment goals.

Advises, escalates and negotiates issues affecting indigenous students with senior leadership across campus to support the indigenization of university programs and services.
Engages leaders and stakeholders to facilitate the integration of recruitment and retention strategies across the university. Consults on the development of goals & implementation of initiatives assessing their potential effects on Indigenous students and advising on opportunities, risks and solutions.

Identifies systemic barriers and develops processes to address them through participation in university-wide committees and initiatives focused on Indigenous priorities, including as a standing member of the Indigenous Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, and meets regularly with the President’s Advisory Committee on Indigenous Affairs, building networks & resources across campus.

Reports on relevant initiatives to senior leadership, including updates on both Indigenous enrolment efforts.

Serves as a trusted advisor to the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and leadership team on Indigenous matters and strategic priorities.

Prepares briefing notes and recommendations for the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and leadership team on Indigenous issues, emerging trends, and protocols.

Leadership
Collaborates with the University-wide Indigenous Student Services Team representing their concerns and observations at university wide committee meetings.

Ensures the resolution of systemic issues faced by students through cross-functional leadership and collaboration among staff from a variety of units and faculties.

Works with the leadership of Enrolment Services to guide the development of professional learning opportunities for staff in support of inclusive student recruitment and retention goals and practices. This includes ensuring that operational plans are consistent with aspirations for Indigenous students as described in university-wide strategic plans.

Partners with the Indigenous Leadership across campus to develop proposals and reports for funding opportunities with the Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills.

Partnership Development
Cultivates and sustains strategic relationships with key partners including Indigenous communities and organizations, and other institutions to support UBC’s recruitment and retention efforts.

Leads initiatives with education partners and community organizations that support Indigenous goals, such as the UBC-Langara Aboriginal Transfer Partnership, other post-secondary institutions, Indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations.

Manages key projects related to the indigenization of the institution, such as the implementation of new scholarships for indigenous students, and outreach programs.

Advises faculties who seek to develop new partnerships and initiatives to support diverse student populations.

Data Analysis and Reporting
Interprets institutional data related to Indigenous student enrolment, retention, and success to identify trends, gaps and opportunities.

Collaborates with Planning and Institutional Research or other data teams to request and contextualize data for strategic planning.

Translates data insights into actionable recommendations for faculties and units to improve Indigenous outcomes.

Contributes to the development of performance indicators and evaluation frameworks for Indigenous enrolment initiatives.

Prepares briefing notes and reports for the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar, that synthesize data findings with strategic implications.

Training and Capacity Building
Develops and deliver workshops on Indigenous student needs and inclusive practices.

Creates toolkits and guidelines for Enrolment Services staff.

Policy and Process Review
Leads and/or co-leads reviews of enrolment policies to identify and remove systemic barriers.

Collaborates with governance bodies to review policies.

Performs additional responsibilities as required, consistent with the purpose and scope of the role.

Qualifications :
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of five to six years of related experience, or an 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.
• Experience working with faculty, staff, and students in a post-secondary institution, preferably a university, in a role specific to Indigenous students.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities to develop meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships.
• In-depth knowledge of issues regarding Indigenous students in secondary and post-secondary education, combined with a strong commitment to advancing the educational aspirations of Indigenous peoples.
• In-depth knowledge of Indigenous culture, history and socioeconomic issues within British Columbia and Canada.
• A strong knowledge of University governance, structures, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and to assume significant public speaking roles.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomacy; strong intercultural skills and ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• Experience using system-wide information systems, and a variety of word processing, database and presentation software applications