Intermediate Specialist, Indigenous Programs

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Job Type:

Employee

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs):

N/A

Job Family:

Student and Campus Support

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Common Law Indigenous Program

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

SSUO

Date Posted:

June 17, 2024

Closing Date:

June 28, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

SSUO Grade 10

Salary Range:

$77,637.00 - $98,070.00

About the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law

Over the past 20 years, the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa has become a national and global leader in many fields. We are the only law school to offer a common law degree in both English and French, and our faculty is one of the most accomplished in the country. We are an engaged Faculty, and we have a strong culture of public engagement. We also have a strong bond with the legal community in Ottawa and a special relationship with the Supreme Court of Canada. We are leaders -- leaders in research, leaders in the profession and leaders in our community. On any given day, members of our faculty may be seen testifying before a Parliamentary committee, providing expert commentary in the media, or contributing to public policy debates on the issues of the day. We are the most-cited law faculty in the national media. Through our dedication we have built strong experiential learning opportunities for our students where our students have unparalleled access to, and interaction with, the highest judges in the land to help foster an inclusive and high-quality student experience. 

Position purpose:

Under the supervision of the Assistant Dean, JD Program, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing the Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that apply to legal education and career development for lawyers. This includes designing, managing and delivering academic support (including support for admissions, academic success, graduation, networking with legal community and access to graduate studies) as well as providing cultural support services (including one-on-one counseling and advice on integration) to Indigenous law Learners.

The incumbent will also be responsible for actively recruiting Indigenous students to the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, JD program. The incumbent accomplishes this by engaging Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, effectively utilizing resources, activities and recruitment strategies.

In this role, your main responsibilities will include:

• Provides academic skills development and community support opportunities for Indigenous Learners by planning and carrying out activities related to Indigenous culture, recruitment to and promotion of community health and individual wellness for Indigenous Learners.

• Develops and executes plans for major events (Treaties Recognition Week, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, etc.) and recruitment strategies within the portfolio including engaging community partners, increasing awareness of Indigenous legal and social issues and fostering the admissions process.

• Provides guidance and support to students; and recommends services that are culturally relevant and that recognize the rich cultural background and unique learning needs of Indigenous learners in order to ensure their success and retention in the program. 

• Acts as resource person to students and faculty by providing information on services and supports available for Indigenous students facing academic, personal or financial challenges by making referrals to appropriate services on campus. (psychological services, Housing, Access Services, and Health Services, etc.).

• Provides information and individualized support to Indigenous law students, facilitates their acclimatization to legal studies, so as to address potentially systemic problems these students may face. Creates, develops and maintains consultative processes to assess the needs and situations of Indigenous students in crisis on an individual basis. Takes the lead on files related to Indigenous students accommodation requests due to the cultural specificity.

What you will bring:

• Juris Doctor degree with a minimum of five years of professional experience

• Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, communities, protocols and practices;

• Knowledge of how graduate studies function and of Faculty of Law standards;

• High degree of commitment to the advancement of Indigenous students at the Faculty of Law;

• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in the development and implementation of organization-wide policies and strategies;

• Experience in producing promotional material, designing educational support programs;

• Excellent interpersonal, student services and/or human resources skills;

• High degree of professionalism, initiative and ability to work independently.

• Demonstrate strong organizational, analytical skills and manage multiple priorities in order to respect deadlines;

• Proven ability to solve problems and envision creative solutions;

• Willing to work flexible hours in order to meet the Faculty strategic plan of action;

• Knowledge and engagement of local, regional and national resources and services provided by and for Indigenous partners, organizations and communities.

• Strong ability in project management, planning and organizing events; and working with multiple deadlines.

• Strong ability to work autonomously.

• Strong problem-solving, and critical thinking ability.

• Knowledge of the University of Ottawa academic programs, regulations and academic support environment.

• Bilingualism in English and French, or a willingness to learn a second official institutional language is required. Knowledge of an Indigenous language is an asset.

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa: 

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.