Make your mark in this executive role dedicated to strengthening Indigenous education in Ontario. This impactful opportunity will appeal to leaders who are passionate about making a significant impact on First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners and communities in Ontario's education sector.
As Director of the Indigenous Education Office, you will lead a team in planning, developing and implementing strategic directions, policies, programs, and resources to support access, inclusion and success of First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners in Ontario's education system.
You will manage and build effective relationships with Indigenous education partners and key education sector stakeholders to develop and promote collaborative approaches and partnerships that promote and reflect First Nations, Metis and Inuit history, languages, cultures, contributions and education needs. This role will give you the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the fastest growing youth population in Ontario.
The Director will lead a high performing team to work collaboratively with external partners, education section partners, and other levels of government and internal partners across the ministry to develop policies and programs to meet the needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in Ontario. The Director will also work with their leadership team and staff to advance innovation, creative problem-solving, and best practices in policy and program development. As a member of the ministry's senior leadership team, this Director will be accountable for advancing employee engagement and wellbeing, and upholding a diverse, inclusive, accessible and respectful workplace where every employee has a voice and the opportunity to fully contribute.
An effective leader in the OPS is responsible, innovative and collaborative. A responsible leader is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability and courage in how they interact with others. An individual who models ethical behaviour, and who is honest and capable of making difficult choices. An innovative leader is someone who leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset. An individual who inspires others, values continuous learning and encourages development and integration. A collaborative leader focuses on helping others to grow, drives people-centered outcomes and promotes an environment of inclusivity. A leader who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more diverse and accessible workplace.
OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:
The OPS is an innovative, responsive, and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable. Diversifying leadership teams is a top OPS priority with the goal to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most underrepresented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) in leadership positions.
To advance this goal, the OPS is collecting socio-demographic information that will help to address potential barriers and achieve equity in hiring. You are requested to complete the
voluntary survey and contribute to building a more diverse, anti-racist, inclusive and accessible OPS.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply. As an organization that promotes equity and diversity, the OPS encourages applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized, and persons with disabilities. The OPS offers employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of
Ontario's Human Rights Code. A dedicated team of employment accommodation specialists are available to discuss individual accommodation needs and ensure the hiring process is inclusive and free from barriers. Contact them at
ExecutiveAccommodations@ontario.ca if you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process. All information discussed related to accommodation will be kept confidential.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy, the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint and the
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the public service.
What can I expect to do in this role?
Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, you will:
• Develop strategic frameworks to support Indigenous education in Ontario.
• Administer ministry programs to support the success of First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners.
• Lead the preparation of policy and financial submissions for approval by senior ministry officials.
• Provide oversight and guidance on the management of Transfer Payment Agreements, led by the Indigenous Education Office, with school board and third-party organization recipients. Develop, manage and be accountable for the Indigenous Education Office budget.
• Identify and prioritize critical Indigenous education issues and concerns as part of the annual budget-setting process.
• Work closely with colleagues across governments to ensure a collaborative approach across the education sectors.
• Build and promote effective relationships with a variety of Indigenous education partners and key stakeholders within Ontario.
• Direct the development and implementation of strategies and activities to build and foster collaborative partnerships and strengthen linkages between the government, school boards, schools, First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners and communities.
• Ensure the First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives are reflected and integrated in policy and program development across the ministry.
• Support activities, learning and events in the ministry to expand knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, histories, cultures, perspectives and contributions.
• Provide briefings and strategic advice to the Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister on policy options, analysis and recommendations related to Indigenous education, partner and stakeholder issues.
• Advance a culture among colleagues and staff that prioritizes collaboration, engagement, inclusion, equity, accessibility, excellence, respect and well-being.
How do I qualify?
Leadership
• You have leadership expertise and experience in education and/or advanced education, and the ability to serve as an effective representative between the Ministry and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples, as well as all education partners.
• You have proven expertise in innovative strategic planning, with an emphasis on the design and development of strategic partnership frameworks
• You are an inclusive leader who fosters and creates a culture of diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and equity in the workplace.
• You demonstrate resiliency and have experience leading and motivating high-performing and multi-functional teams in a fast-paced, highly visible, and demanding environment, while promoting employee wellbeing and engagement.
• You demonstrate political acuity and can effectively brief and deliver strategic and confidential advice to the senior leaders and various other stakeholders.
• You have a strong track record of building credibility with staff, stakeholders, and partners.
• You are experienced in change management and have a track record of championing the adoption of innovative methods and technologies that drive true transformative business practices and solutions and taking measured and appropriate risks related to innovation.
• You have experience working through contentious human resource and labour relations issues.
Relationship Management and Political Acuity
• You have demonstrated experience and ability to engage with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and organizations to promote partnerships and respectful and inclusive relationships
• You have in-depth knowledge of the issues within the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit education communities
• You have a proven track record of fostering collaborative internal and external relationships to promote a seamless integration of policy/program design and service delivery.
• You are an effective communicator, negotiator and consensus builder who can work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to advance shared priorities and manage complex issues.
• You can independently build and manage relationships with external partners and stakeholders based on transparency, accountability, and trust.
• You have a high degree of integrity and political acuity to manage complex issues within the context of multiple interests, and with high public profile and scrutiny.
• You anticipate and respond to politically sensitive situations.
• You can work collaboratively across divisions, ministries, levels of government, and/or with external partners to advance innovative initiatives and continuous service improvements.
Job Knowledge
• You have expert knowledge of strategic policy development as well as development and delivery, within a government context.
• You have knowledge and experience in applying government financial management policies and with transfer payment oversight.
• You have demonstrated critical analysis and research skills to assess and act on sensitive and high-profile policy issues.
• You have experience in engagement, consultation, and negotiation methods, techniques and best practices; new and emerging trends in communications (e.g. social media and the government's vision) to manage the development and implementation of stakeholder, Indigenous and key partner relations and communications strategies and to support ministry initiatives.
• You have experience working through Strategic Planning Process submissions (multi-year financial planning) and providing strategic advice related to ministry funding decisions.
• You are adept at managing multiple competing priorities.
• You are a confident public speaker and presenter able to engage a wide variety of audiences effectively.
