Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor

Job title:

Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor

Company

City of Kitchener

Job description

DescriptionSenior Indigenous Relations AdvisorCompetition Number2024-576Job Code1275Posting DateJanuary 14, 2025Closing DateFebruary 14, 2025 (at 6:00pm)Job StatusPermanent Full-TimeThe City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territories of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples, within the Haldimand Tract, which encompasses six miles on either side of the Grand River. As a Canadian municipality, the city is responsible for, committed to and obligated to advance reconciliation alongside First Nations Rightsholders and other Indigenous communities. We acknowledge the tenuous relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the government and commit to a safe and supportive environment for staff to advance truth and reconciliation.The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 292,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:Position Overview:The City of Kitchener is seeking a Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor, to build and strengthen meaningful and respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as Kitchener develops a path to understanding, healing, and reconciliation. Calling upon a deep understanding and knowledge of the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada informed by lived experience and relevant work experience, the Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor recommends processes and initiatives that support the city to fulfill its commitment to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report: Calls to Action and improve access and service delivery to Indigenous peoples through the identification and removal of systemic barriers in municipal operations, spaces, and services.This role reports to the Director, Equity, Anti-Racism and Reconciliation and is part of a 5-person team. This role provides expertise and advice to assist city leaders and staff to develop respectful and transparent relationships with Urban Indigenous communities, honour treaty recognition and the city’s duty to consult with First Nations Rightsholders, specifically Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. In addition, this role will lead distinct bodies of work in policy development and program design ensuring strategic integration with the city’s governing documents and in a manner consistent with the recommendations of the TRC.Responsibilities:Capacity Building

• Identify gaps and areas of opportunity through centralized coordination and awareness of organizational initiatives or actions that advance truth and reconciliation while ensuring alignment with the needs and interests of Indigenous communities within Kitchener (Waterloo Region).

• Develop a gap analysis report summarizing the findings to better prepare the city to work alongside Treaty Partners and local First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, communities, and organizations to advance truth and reconciliation and engage these communities in proposing recommendations for action to close these gaps.

• Lead, collaborate on and support assigned strategic and operational projects that advance reconciliation alongside Indigenous communities and other staff.

• Provide advice and recommendations to senior leadership on issues related to the local First Nations, Metis & Inuit communities, including the city’s response to the TRC, United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Final Report on the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

• Lead the development and implementation of a Reconciliation Action Plan in consultation with First Nations, Metis & Inuit communities, and the Region’s Reconciliation Action Partnership.

Partnership and Relationship-Building

• Build and sustain relationships with Treaty Partners and other First Nations, Metis, and Inuit leaders and communities to build, maintain, and restore trust with the city and serve as a point of contact for members of Indigenous communities who are engaging with the city.

• Participate in Waterloo Region’s Reconciliation Action Partnership (RAP) to work collaboratively across the Region to coordinate reconciliation actions.

• Build strong and collaborative relationships with staff to effectively support them in improving and enhancing programs and services that support reconciliation.

Policy and Report Creation

• Support Indigenous peoples’ access and use of public spaces to carry out cultural and ceremonial practices including formalizing and revising practices into policy/procedure.

• Research and develop internal document(s) that support the well-being and distinct cultural needs of Indigenous staff and communities.

• Prepare reports and other documents utilizing Indigenous worldviews that advance reconciliation at the city.

Engagement and Community Communication

• Provide engagement and relationship-building expertise to staff to support respectful and appropriate interactions with local Indigenous communities, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous youth.

• Apply Indigenous worldviews to engagement and community consultation to ensure these values are reflected in operational decision-making.

• Maintain transparent communication, especially with Indigenous communities, on the progress of city operations and initiatives that advance truth & reconciliation.

Education and Professional Development

• Curate and develop training for staff and Council that will increase understanding of Treaty Partners and local First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, traditions, values, knowledge, histories, treaties, and rights, resulting in increased capacity of non-Indigenous (settler) staff to work respectfully and appropriately with Indigenous peoples on Indigenous-centred initiatives in a municipal context.

• Coordinate ongoing staff learning opportunities, including the city’s corporate learning program, that provide practical knowledge and resources for staff to apply toward reconciliation initiatives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Comprehensive lived and professional experience working in collaboration with Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations. Includes experience in community engagement and relationship building.
• Knowledge and skill normally acquired through a post-secondary degree in a relevant professional discipline (e.g., sociology, social work, equity studies, human rights), or an equivalent combination of education and/or related experience that may include knowledge gained from learning from Elders, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and community members.
• Deep understanding of Indigenous communities and organizations across Waterloo Region, including First Nations Rightsholders, specifically Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
• Comfort establishing or nurturing existing relationships with community partners, including members from First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and other historically excluded groups. Established relationships with the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation are an asset.
• Significant comprehension of Two-Eyed Seeing to integrate into healthy relationship building, community consultation and facilitation, strategic planning, change management, and demonstrating accountability.
• Deep understanding of the impacts of colonization in Canada, including contemporary issues facing Indigenous communities, with a strong commitment to equity, anti-racism, relationship-building and advocacy for reconciliation.
• Awareness of government processes, experience examining policies and programs; and practice building, and applying reconciliation and other equity-related frameworks.
• Ability to conduct research – analyze and interpret to solve or minimize abstract and complex issues. Includes preparing reports and developing and delivering presentations.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and with a high level of sensitivity. Capable of handling multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to advance priorities and balance objectives in a political/community environment while maintaining positive and professional working relationships.
• Demonstrated computer skills, with the ability to use software such as Microsoft Office.
• Ability to travel to various locations within the Waterloo Region.

The City of Kitchener is committed to an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and to ensuring our workforce reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity deserving groups.We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please contact Human Resources at , or 519-783-8081 to make your needs known, so that we can support your full and equal participation throughout the hiring process.We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.Please note that as per Human Resources Policy HUM-HIR-110, “Employment of Relatives of Staff Members and Elected Officials”:“The immediate relatives of staff of the Human Resources Division, all Directors, General Managers, or the Chief Administrative Officer and Elected Officials shall not be employed by the City in any capacity.The immediate relatives of all other Management personnel shall not be employed where such employment would be:1. within the same Department in the case of permanent full-time, temporary full-time and part-time classifications.2. within the same Division in the case of students.”DepartmentCorporate ServicesDivisionEquity, Anti-Racism, and ReconciliationUnion AffiliationNon-Union/ManagementNumber of Positions1Hours of Work35 hours per week, Monday to FridayLocationInitial LocationCity HallCityKitchenerCompensationSalary Range$91,885 – $114,856 annuallyGrade/Band10 (under review)

Expected salary

$91885 – 114856 per year

Location

Kitchener, ON

Job date

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:43:55 GMT

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