Indigenous Student Support Specialist

Date Posted: 01/22/2025
Req ID: 41397
Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga
Department: UTM:Ofc of the Vice-President & Principal
Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
Position Number: 00048679

Description:

About us:

U of T Mississauga—the second largest campus of Canada’s top-ranked university and the only research university in Ontario’s booming Peel Region—is one of the world’s great catalysts of humanpotential.

Our employee community hums with the energy of 3,400 faculty, librarians and staff, who power our campus with curiosity, connection and care. We work together to spark life-changing research and innovation, make an indelible mark on the world by building equitable cities and societies, enable healthy lives, create a sustainable future and ignite entrepreneurship. Above all, we prioritize student success, and seek to give our 16,500 students the lift of a lifetime through learning anddiscovery. We love to open opportunities available nowhere else for our community to achieve their ambitions and make their unique contributions to Canada and the world.

This work all comes together on a spectacularly green campus, alongside theMissinihe-ziibi (Trusting Creek or Credit River), where we seek to honour truth, reciprocity and reconciliation on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We’re thrilled to welcome those whowant to learn more about us and to be part of what we do.

Your opportunity:

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto Mississauga works to support Indigenous students, staff, and faculty as well as invite future Indigenous students to a welcoming and inclusive community. The forward-facing component of the office is the Indigenous Centre which works to promote equity and inclusion of Indigenous people among staff, students, faculty, and throughout the campus. Core to this is promoting a deeper understanding of the cultures, histories, philosophies, traditional practices, spiritual ways and concepts of relationship building. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives liaises and advances the university’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Actions. Through the services of the Indigenous Centre, we support Indigenous students and employees at UTM and promote equity and the inclusion of Indigenous peoplethroughout the campus community. Reporting to the UTM Director, Indigenous Initiatives, the Indigenous Student Support Specialist will be responsible for assisting Indigenous students throughout their studies at UTM. This will include providing financial, academic, and co-curricular support as well as liaising with and referring to various departments on campus for student-centred support. This is a great opportunity to join our growing Indigenous initiatives and dynamic, enthusiastic, and dedicated OII team and advance Indigenous inclusion at UTM.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising Indigenous students on culturally specific issues, financial academic transition support and other issues
• Advising students on co-curricular, academic and personal matters by providing options and consequences incorporating personal circumstances impacting academic success and an understanding of an individual’s background
• Screening and making referrals to appropriate resources and services
• Keeping well-informed on the research, literature, theory, trends and best practices for post-secondary success
• Designing surveys, interviews and other research tools for program evaluation
• Analyzing and making recommendations for programming enhancements
• Developing strategies that maximize outreach to students
• Developing content for marketing and/or promotional materials

Essential Qualifications:

• University degree or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum four (4) years relevant experience working with post-secondary students and/or Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) communities/agencies
• Experience with delivering services to students
• Experience working with Indigenous community and/or Knowledge Keepers
• Experience working with diverse communities
• Experience in advising, community development and/or project coordination
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with a range of community members, such as students, staff, faculty, librarians, and other key stakeholders
• Demonstrated relationships with Indigenous services, agencies, communities, and/or governments
• Knowledge of Indigenous educational issues and barriers, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), and other resources pertaining to Indigenous communities
• Demonstrated commitment to the promotion of positive relations with users, colleagues, and community partners
• Proven organizational, initiative, and time-management skills required to coordinate service delivery and projects simultaneously and prioritize work under minimal supervision
• Good judgement, tact, and discretion in dealing with confidential information
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interpret policies and guidelines and develop processes and procedures
• Strong organizational and administrative skills and paying careful attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and also collaboratively in a team environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

Assets (Nonessential):

• Knowledge of University of Toronto Mississauga programs or services an asset
• Demonstrated commitment to proactive planning
• Knowledge of video conferencing software for remote meetings
• Competence in an Indigenous language a definite asset

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Cooperative
• Insightful
• Problem solver
• Self-confident
• Tactful

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: 02/05/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 12 — $79,874. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $102,147. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.