University of British Columbia
Director, Academic Initiatives - First Nations House of Learning

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. UBC attracts, nurtures and engages 70,757 students from 160 countries on two major campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna. With a $3.98B budget, research funding at $773M, 18,953 faculty and staff, and 375,000+ alumni, this is Canada’s second largest university and North America’s most international university.

The First Nations House of Learning (FNHL) is responsible for the administration of the First Nations Longhouse, a facility modelled on a traditional Northwest Coast longhouse, located at UBC’s Point Grey campus on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) territory. Since opening in 1993, the Longhouse has become an integral part of the university campus. The Longhouse, in addition to housing the offices of the FNHL team, provides a centre for the campus Indigenous community and a vibrant programming space, including a meeting, study and social space for students. It is also a place to welcome other Indigenous communities, scholars, and organizations and extend relations throughout the province and world.

The mandate of the FNHL is to make the university’s resources more accessible to Indigenous students and faculty and improve the university’s ability to meet the needs of Indigenous communities locally, in BC, Canada and around the world. In service of this mandate, the Director, Academic Initiatives relies on Indigenous knowledge and relationships, vision, leadership, diplomacy and a team approach to guide strategic planning, communication and implementation of initiatives.

The Director, Academic Initiatives reports to the Senior Advisor and Associate Vice-President Indigenous Affairs and works closely with Faculties and support units at UBC Vancouver to advance the development and implementation of the 2020 Indigenous Strategic Plan. They support the development and implementation of policies, academic programs, research and other initiatives that address the needs and aspirations of Indigenous learners and advance the priorities of Indigenous education.

The Director, Academic Initiatives will ensure the administration of the FNHL including its coordinating and strategic planning functions. They work in partnership and collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, and the adjacent Xwi7xwa Library.

The ideal candidate is a creative, dynamic, and visionary scholar, who anchors their work in their Indigenous knowledge(s) acquired through lived experience in Indigenous community context(s). An academic background in Indigenous Studies is welcome but not required, and Indigenous candidates from a diverse range of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. In addition to the Director, Academic Initiatives position, the successful candidate must be eligible to be appointed at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure.

The targeted salary range for this position is $170,000 to $220,000 annually, supplemented by a competitive total rewards package.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.  An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.