Director - Indigenous Initiatives

About the Role

The Director, Indigenous Initiatives provides strategic leadership to advance the organization’s commitments to reconciliation, Indigenous inclusion, cultural safety, and equitable access to services. Working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous partners, this role fosters respectful, reciprocal relationships that support meaningful collaboration and shared outcomes.

As a strategic advisor across the organization, the Director will help embed Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems, and culturally safe practices into programs, services, policies, and decision-making. Through partnership and systems leadership, the role supports the development and continuous improvement of culturally responsive mental health and wellness services that honour Indigenous ways of knowing and promote improved access, experiences, and outcomes.

What You’ll Be Doing

Indigenous Partnerships, Community Engagement and Reconciliation Leadership

• Build and maintain respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partners.
• Develop partnership strategies grounded in Indigenous engagement protocols, cultural safety principles, and community expectations.
• Support ongoing consultation and collaboration with Indigenous partners in program design, delivery, and evaluation.
• Represent the organization in community forums, partnership initiatives, and reconciliation-focused activities.
• Establish and manage ethical and culturally appropriate Elder and Knowledge Keeper engagement approaches.
• Enhance and manage honorarium frameworks aligned with community expectations and best practices.

Indigenous Access, Service Pathways and Systems Transformation

• Lead the development of Indigenous-centred access strategies that improve service navigation, continuity of care, and equitable outcomes.
• Collaborate with Indigenous communities and system partners to co-develop culturally safe referral pathways and integrated service models.
• Identify and address systemic barriers affecting access, participation, and outcomes for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities.
• Champion approaches that recognize Indigenous concepts of wellness, healing, family, and community.
• Work with community partners, health systems, social service organizations, and government stakeholders to strengthen service integration.
• Monitor utilization, access, and outcomes data to identify disparities and recommend improvement opportunities.
• Ensure program and service design reflects Indigenous perspectives and contributes to culturally safer experiences for Indigenous clients and families.
• Support broader accessibility and inclusion efforts for equity-deserving groups through an intersectional lens.

Cross-Functional Alignment and Organizational Integration

• Partner with leaders across Clinical, Operations, Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Customer Experience, and Business Development to embed Indigenous perspectives into organizational priorities.
• Support culturally appropriate communications and engagement strategies in collaboration with internal teams.
• Promote consistency and integration of Indigenous initiatives across programs and service areas.
• Contribute to integrated initiatives that may include virtual, in-person, and community-based components.

Anti-Racism and Equity Strategy Integration

• Support the development and implementation of the organization’s Equity Strategy.
• Embed anti-racism frameworks across Indigenous initiatives, services, programs, materials, and communications.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to leaders and departments on culturally safe practices and reconciliation-focused approaches.
• Identify systemic barriers and recommend actions to advance equity, inclusion, and cultural safety.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure content, messaging, practices, and services reflect culturally safe and trauma-informed approaches.

Leadership, Governance and Indigenous Advisory Engagement

• Provide leadership, coaching, mentorship, and performance oversight to team members responsible for Indigenous initiatives and community engagement.
• Foster a workplace culture grounded in respect, cultural humility, collaboration, learning, and reconciliation.
• Oversee Indigenous engagement and cultural liaison functions, ensuring clarity of roles, priorities, and organizational alignment.
• Lead the planning, facilitation, and ongoing effectiveness of Indigenous advisory structures and councils.
• Chair the Indigenous Initiatives Advisory Council and ensure governance practices reflect transparency, accountability, and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Ensure advisory structures are representative and inclusive of diverse First Nations, Inuit, Métis, urban Indigenous, and lived experience perspectives.
• Translate advisory input into actionable organizational strategies.
• Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on reconciliation commitments, Indigenous engagement outcomes, risks, and opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

Education and Knowledge

• Post-secondary education in Indigenous Studies, Social Work, Public Health, Health Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, lived experience, and community-based knowledge working with Indigenous communities.
• Lived experience as an Indigenous person and/or deep, demonstrated connection to Indigenous communities is highly valued and may be considered in place of formal education.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Indigenous communities in Canada, including cultural practices, histories, protocols, governance, and contemporary realities.
• Understanding of distinctions-based approaches, Indigenous self-determination, and Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Familiarity with culturally grounded frameworks such as Two-Eyed Seeing, medicine wheel approaches, land-based perspectives, and other Indigenous ways of knowing.
• Knowledge of culturally safe and trauma-informed care principles.

Experience

• 8 to 10 years of cumulative experience in areas related to Indigenous engagement, health, social services, equity, reconciliation, or community development.
• At least 5 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada.
• Experience developing, implementing, or advising on equity, anti-racism, cultural safety, or reconciliation frameworks.
• Experience leading advisory councils, governance tables, or community engagement structures related to Indigenous initiatives.
• Experience managing complex, community-informed initiatives in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience coordinating stakeholders, managing timelines and resources, and delivering outcomes that reflect both community input and organizational goals.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to build and sustain trust through authenticity, consistency, cultural humility, and respectful engagement.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical implementation.
• Strong facilitation, consultation, and advisory engagement skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple functions, teams, and levels of leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, including intercultural communication.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to plan, execute, and evaluate complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated accountability to Indigenous communities and partners.
• High level of integrity, ethical leadership, and sound judgment.
• Collaborative, inclusive, and adaptive leadership style.
• Strong listening skills and responsiveness to community needs.

Hiring Preference

Preference will be given to qualified First Nations, Inuit, and Métis candidates. Candidates are encouraged to self-identify in the recruitment process.

This role is designated for Indigenous candidates, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis candidates, in alignment with the organization’s commitments to reconciliation, Indigenous leadership, cultural safety, and equitable access to services.