Program Manager, Indigenous Relations (City of Ottawa)




Requisition ID: 535
Department: Community & Social Services Dept.
Service: Gender & Race Equ, Incl, Ind Rel & Soc Dev Srvc
Branch: Indigenous Relations Branch
Employment Type: 1 Full-time Permanent
Work Hours: 35.00 /hours per week
Affiliation: MPE
Salary Information: $100,423.96 - $127,008.70 annually (2019 rates of pay)
Location: 100 Constellation, Nepean
Job Category: Administrative Jobs
Application Close: 10/12/2021
 
The City of Ottawa believes in providing equitable and meaningful opportunities to all potential lemployees. The City also recognizes the importance and benefits of a diverse workforce that is representative of the population it serves and is inclusive of groups designated in Canada’s Employment Equity Act. In light of that recognition and in order to achieve the goals set out in the City of Ottawa Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Plan, certain positions are held for members from these groups. The City of Ottawa conducts strategic outreach to attract competitive candidates who identify as Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities and women as protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Section 15 (2), the Canadian Human Rights Act, Section 16 (1), Ontario Human Rights Code, Section 14 (1) and the Canada Employment Equity Act; The City of Ottawa has designated the following positions (Program Manager, Indigenous Relations in the Community and Social Services Department.

To be considered for designated positions, candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification form as part of the on-line application process.

This is a unique career opportunity for a person who identifies as Indigenous, with the subject matter expertise, skill and commitment to lead and guide the City of Ottawa in creating and implementing strategies promoting reconciliation, with local First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities.

Reporting to the Director, Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development, this position will work with the Indigenous Relations staff, as well as designated staff within Community and Social Services and across the corporation. The program manager will support the City of Ottawa’s ability to better serve Indigenous communities, advise on the application of an Indigenous lens to City initiatives and provide strategic advice and executive-level support to the extended senior leadership team.

This work emerges from efforts led by Indigenous leaders, communities, and City staff to better reflect the City's commitment to truth, right relations, reconciliation, and Indigenous Sovereignty. A vital aspect of this role will be to work with Indigenous partners to define a meaningful, engagement framework.
 

JOB SUMMARY

The introduction of this role will make space for Indigenous leadership to guide city actions with humility, honesty, and mutual understanding. This position will work alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners, to identify opportunities for systemic changes that improve access to city programs and services; seek alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and support collective action to meaningfully address the TRC Calls to Action and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice.
This job will interest candidates who possess:
  • Lived experience as an Indigenous person
  • Experience managing, developing strategies, and successfully implementing policies and programs that support Indigenous peoples
  • Experience building partnerships and working with Indigenous communities to improve access to services and employment in a complex political environment
  • Experience leading social policy analysis, including implementing social justice programs and/organizational change and program evaluation
  • Considerable project management experience, including developing, coordinating, and managing both short and long-term projects and initiatives
  • Considerable experience managing staff to support the ongoing coaching, development, and engagement of a cooperative and high-performing team
  •  Advanced knowledge of municipal governance structures, services and programs, and municipalrelationships with other levels of government and community.
  • Excellent strategic thinking skills in addition to research, analytical, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
  • Highly developed sense of discretion, judgement, and political acumen to deal with sensitive and confidential issues, including an understanding of public relations
  • Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, coupled with the ability to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders, including community leaders, senior City staff, other levels of government, and all levels of the organization
  • Ability to manage advisory and consultation processes involving elected officials, staff, external partners, and community members, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships
  • Ability to foster an organizational culture that emphasizes high professional, ethical standards as well as equity and human rights principles to support public service excellence
  • Ability to understand evaluation frameworks, program/service inter-relationships and future outcomes of intended policy action.
 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of a 4-year university degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration or other related field. Minimum of 5 years of related experience in community services, equity, inclusion and/or anti-oppression fields supporting the development, planning, management, and delivery of programs, projects, and events related to advancing structural or systemic changes in large organizations. A minimum of 2 years in the management of human and financial resources, or the equivalent combination of education and/or related experience that may include knowledge gained from training with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Elders.
 

KNOWLEDGE

  • Facilitate City actions for recommendations from community (ex. adequate funding, access to land for ceremony and healing, meaningful participation in decision-making, communication protocols),while continuing to work with community as shared priorities are identified.
  • Co-develop, implement, and monitor a reconciliation process for the City focused on First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in Ontario
  • Ensure corporate strategic and service planning processes effectively address Indigenous issues, such as promoting Indigenous civic participation and inclusion in the City's decision-making processes
  • Develop a City's Statement of Commitment to ensure that the City's work with Indigenous communities respects Indigenous protocol and worldview
  • Maintain good relationships with the City's partner First Nations leaders as well as with Ottawa’s urban Indigenous organizations
  • Liaise with colleagues in the Gender and Race Equity, Diversity and Inclusion branch to generate synergies and implement joint initiatives that advance Indigenous self- determination
  • Contribute to the development of a comprehensive and culturally responsive plan to respond to the Calls for Justice for MMIWG2S. Plan must involve Indigenous partners, community agencies and leaders, and government in the exploration of policies, programs, and investments needed to respond
  • Provide guidance and strategic advice on the development of reports or briefing notes to support senior management, Council and its committees, ensuring accuracy and that policy recommendations contained therein are evidence-based, defensible and feasible
  • Nurture working relationships, working with Indigenous organizations and communities, multiple City of Ottawa departments
  • Develops and maintains relationships with management, staff, government representatives, Councillors and their staff
  • Understanding of the effects of colonialism and assimilation policies such as the Residential School System, the Sixties Scoop on current systems and structures
  • Knowledge of and familiarity with the goals and strategies of reports including Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, with the demonstrated ability to engage meaningfully with community groups, coalitions and networks
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Ontario Human Rights Code, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other relevant human rights legislation
  • Demonstrated understanding of intersectionality, namely how racism, gender, etc. intersects with other identities including gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation, ability/disability, family status, etc.
  • Must be familiar with applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures
 

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Leadership Competencies The key competencies that describe the skills and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by managers and supervisors at the City of Ottawa are available on Ozone. The seven Leadership Competencies, which align with Servant Leadership, are:

Strategic Leadership - Sets/implements the strategic direction, understands internal and external trends, the political sensitivities of the organization and applies this knowledge to support the long-term vision and success of the City
Demonstrates Business Sense - Understands the impact of decisions on the business and the ability to strive to improve business performance; requires an awareness of business issues, processes and outcomes as they impact the community, the City’s reputation and strategic direction
Builds Collaborative Relationships - Proactively communicates, builds and utilizes professional relationships and partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders
Fosters Innovation and Change - Develops an environment that embraces innovation and efficiently integrates change into the organization
Engages Employees - Leads, coaches, mentors and develops an engaged, diverse workforce of individuals and teams, where work is performed in a safe, respectful environment and successes are recognized and celebrated regularly
Delivers Results - Creates effective plans and performance measures, holds themselves and others accountable for measurable, high quality, timely and cost-effective results
Client-centric Focus - Serves the client interest through focusing individual, team and organization effort on identifying and meeting key and diverse client needs (the term client includes both internal and external clients)
 
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing required. French is an asset.

Please apply: The City of Ottawa Website, by December 10th, 2021

The City of Ottawa has a Mandatory Vaccination Policy which requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination by November 15, 2021 as a condition of employment.

Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.

Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.
  
We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women, Aboriginal peoples and persons of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the HR Service Centre at 613-580-2424, extension 47411.