Associate Director, Strategic Indigenous Enrolment Initiatives

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level D

Job Title

Associate Director, Strategic Indigenous Enrolment Initiatives

Department

Enrolment Services Leadership

Compensation Range

$8,305.08 - $12,952.33 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

February 11, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

 

 

Job Summary

The Associate Director is a key member of the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar leadership team, partnering with a broad range of stakeholders to define and remove systemic barriers to Indigenous student enrolment, retention, and student success across the university. The role serves as an advisor to the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and the leadership team in Enrolment Services on Indigenous matters, and helps design strategies and approaches.

This position provides leadership in the development and implementation of strategic enrolment and student services initiatives for Indigenous students. Additionally, this position plays a vital role in identifying and nurturing collaborative relationships with individuals and teams across the University. These partnerships are essential to reducing systemic barriers and enhancing opportunities, supports, and pathways for Indigenous student recruitment, retention, and academic success. The role also establishes and maintains internal and external communication links to Indigenous communities, organizations and other institutions.

This position works collaboratively with UBC stakeholders such as the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives, First Nations House of Learning, Vice President, Students Office, Associate Vice-Presidents, Students Office, and Indigenous Programs and Services Office.

Organizational Status

The Associate Director reports to the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar. The position works independently or in collaboration with Enrolment Services (ES) unit directors, deputy registrar, and associate directors at both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. The position liaises with senior academic and management staff in all faculties and other university agencies concerned with Indigenous student matters. The work of the Associate Director supports and aligns with university-wide strategic priorities outlined in Shaping UBC’s Next Century, Strategic Plan 2018 – 2028, and UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025-2030, particularly the Inclusion theme, Indigenous people and places core area, as well as the 2019 Indigenous Strategic Plan, and Enrolment Services Strategic Plan.

Work Performed

Strategic Planning and Monitoring

• Provides leadership and consultancy to central units and faculties throughout the Vancouver campus on the execution of evidence-informed recruitment and retention strategies for Indigenous students, ensuring their implementation and incorporation into the appropriate university & faculty plans.
• Provides consultancy in the development, implementation, and assessment of strategies with Enrolment Services teams that support Indigenous enrolment goals.
• Advises, escalates and negotiates issues affecting indigenous students with senior leadership across campus to support the indigenization of university programs and services.
• Engages leaders and stakeholders to facilitate the integration of recruitment and retention strategies across the university. Consults on the development of goals & implementation of initiatives assessing their potential effects on Indigenous students and advising on opportunities, risks and solutions.
• Identifies systemic barriers and develops processes to address them through participation in university-wide committees and initiatives focused on Indigenous priorities, including as a standing member of the Indigenous Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, and meets regularly with the President's Advisory Committee on Indigenous Affairs, building networks & resources across campus.
• Reports on relevant initiatives to senior leadership, including updates on both Indigenous enrolment efforts.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and leadership team on Indigenous matters and strategic priorities.
• Prepares briefing notes and recommendations for the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar and leadership team on Indigenous issues, emerging trends, and protocols.

Leadership

• Collaborates with the University-wide Indigenous Student Services Team representing their concerns and observations at university wide committee meetings.
• Ensures the resolution of systemic issues faced by students through cross-functional leadership and collaboration among staff from a variety of units and faculties.
• Works with the leadership of Enrolment Services to guide the development of professional learning opportunities for staff in support of inclusive student recruitment and retention goals and practices. This includes ensuring that operational plans are consistent with aspirations for Indigenous students as described in university-wide strategic plans.
• Partners with the Indigenous Leadership across campus to develop proposals and reports for funding opportunities with the Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills.

Partnership Development

• Cultivates and sustains strategic relationships with key partners including Indigenous communities and organizations, and other institutions to support UBC's recruitment and retention efforts.
• Leads initiatives with education partners and community organizations that support Indigenous goals, such as the UBC-Langara Aboriginal Transfer Partnership, other post-secondary institutions, Indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations.
• Manages key projects related to the indigenization of the institution, such as the implementation of new scholarships for indigenous students, and outreach programs.
• Advises faculties who seek to develop new partnerships and initiatives to support diverse student populations.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Interprets institutional data related to Indigenous student enrolment, retention, and success to identify trends, gaps and opportunities.
• Collaborates with Planning and Institutional Research or other data teams to request and contextualize data for strategic planning.
• Translates data insights into actionable recommendations for faculties and units to improve Indigenous outcomes.
• Contributes to the development of performance indicators and evaluation frameworks for Indigenous enrolment initiatives.
• Prepares briefing notes and reports for the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar, that synthesize data findings with strategic implications.

Training and Capacity Building

• Develops and deliver workshops on Indigenous student needs and inclusive practices.
• Creates toolkits and guidelines for Enrolment Services staff.

Policy and Process Review

• Leads and/or co-leads reviews of enrolment policies to identify and remove systemic barriers.
• Collaborates with governance bodies to review policies.

Performs additional responsibilities as required, consistent with the purpose and scope of the role.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position is critical to meet the goals of the Indigenous Strategic Plan, Shaping UBC’s Next Century, Strategic Plan 2018 – 2028, and UBC’s Strategic Directions 2025-2030. Ineffective strategies, poor decisions or judgment, inability to exercise tact and discretion, and careless implementation of initiatives would result in the failure to meet the needs and advancement of Indigenous people as a historically under-represented group in higher education, and risks the alienation of Indigenous students and communities

Supervision Received

The Associate Director works independently, under the broad guidelines established by the AVP, Enrolment Services & Registrar. Work is reviewed in terms of the achievement of functional goals to establish initiatives to recruit and retain Indigenous students at UBC.

Supervision Given

The Associate Director may supervise staff including coaching, mentorship, and performance development as well as oversight for research and policy development, program planning and management, and communications and campus outreach work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
• Minimum of five to six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree preferred.
• Experience working with faculty, staff, and students in a post-secondary institution, preferably a university, in a role specific to Indigenous students.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities to develop meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships.
• In-depth knowledge of issues regarding Indigenous students in secondary and post-secondary education, combined with a strong commitment to advancing the educational aspirations of Indigenous peoples.
• In-depth knowledge of Indigenous culture, history and socioeconomic issues within British Columbia and Canada.
• A strong knowledge of University governance, structures, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and to assume significant public speaking roles.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomacy; strong intercultural skills and ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• Experience using system-wide information systems, and a variety of word pro cessing, database and presentation software applications