Mandate:
The Special Advisor Indigenous position plays a critical role in helping ACET collaborate and co-design research with Indigenous communities in BC and across Canada through transparent, respectful, and meaningful engagement. Having a direct connection ACET’s Executive Director and interfacing with the UVic Office of the Vice-President, Indigenous (VPI), as well as representatives from diverse Indigenous communities, this role will be responsible for ACET strategic planning and engagement activities with Indigenous communities, including community relations, issue management, resource planning, reporting and ACET Project development with Indigenous partners. The Special Advisor will also work with the ACET Research Culture and Learning officer to develop and incorporate specific Indigenous training and guidance for researchers. They will also provide strategic advice on Governance and ACET processes to properly embed principles of Indigenous rights and reconciliation and help to manage the SRA 5 Manager (Indigenous) and the network of Indigenous community Research Managers allowing for sharing knowledge and consistency.
The Special Advisor will understand and situate current and new ACET activities and Projects by collaborating across the ACET team, the VPI, Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE), as well as researchers and other ACET partners. They will also identify, build on, and work to build reciprocal, respectful, long term, and continuous relationships with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities to help them identify and develop and co-create ACET Projects. In collaboration with the VPI, the Special Advisor will ensure ACET implements relevant elements of the ACET institutions’ Indigenous plans and associated policies, as well as the federal research funding agencies' Indigenous Research strategic plan, policies and recommended practices. They will also work across other ACET partner institutions to ensure ACET is contributing to those institutions’ similar efforts towards Indigenous reconciliation. In addition, they will coordinate with other CFREFs to learn from and contribute to best practices in Indigenous research activities and training.
To be successful, the candidate will be well versed and experienced in working effectively and respectfully with Indigenous communities, ideally in the context of climate, sustainability, and energy. The candidate must also be a skilled collaborator and effective communicator with individuals and across team environments.
Objectives:
- Build respectful relationships with First Nations, Métis, Inuit communities in Canada, and eventually also international Indigenous communities, community organizations, political leadership, and other post-secondary institutions to formulate ACET Projects
- Provide leadership, guidance and direction on Indigenous engagement and co-creation activities across ACET activities and researchers, including leading the development of Indigenous partnered ACET Project development, approval and operations
- Provide timely and insightful guidance and advice to ACET team members and advise on Indigenous cultural perspectives and protocols
- Contribute to policies, strategies and implementation of actionable plans to maintain program initiatives in alignment with organizational strategic framework and objectives, including interfacing to relevant international Indigenous-led organizations
This position will support initiatives and events hosted by ACET that may take place in the evenings or on the weekends and requires the ability and willingness to work these hours as required. Some travel may be required including to remote communities.
