Manager, CommUNITY Relations

Job Description

<p>Manager,<br>CommUNITY<br>Relations<br>Restorative Indigenous Educational Wellness and Reconciliation<br>Indigenous Education Department<br>PASS Grade 7 (under review) $123,233 - $138,701<br>About The Board<br>The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to decolonizing education, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision,<br><em>Growing Together</em><br>, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique and distinct identities as well as individualized needs of every student and every staff member at HWDSB. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 80 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.</p><p>Staff Wellness<br>At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our distinct and diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights.</p><p>Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee's well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components.</p><p>Indigenous Education<br>Kahwà:tsire<br>,<br>Zaagi'idiwin<br>, Family<br>The Territory Family Fire is where we maintain and sustain relationships with students, families, the local Indigenous community of Hamilton, and host nations. Through the practice of place-based pedagogy, we develop land and water-based teachings relevant to local territory. This is where we honour host-guest nation relationships, and where we make meaningful space to go beyond the land acknowledgement by truly honouring the original peoples to these lands and territories and their languages, customs, ceremonies, governance systems, and ways of knowing, being and doing. The Manager, CommUNITY Relations - Restorative Indigenous Educational Wellness and Reconciliation is the Speaker. They will be responsible for Cultural Safety and Celebrating processes and practices tied to land-based learning and through engagement and collaboration with local Indigenous partners, communities, and organizations.<br><em>Celebrate accuracy, authenticity, and accountability to local/host Indigenous communities, by advancing Restorative Indigenous Educational Wellness, while reconciling our roles as Indigenous Peoples and treaty partners.</em><br>About The Role<br>The Manager, CommUNITY Relations - Restorative Indigenous Educational Wellness and Reconciliation reports to the Indigenous Education Lead. The Manager, CommUNITY Relations works in inter-relationship and interconnection with the Territory Family Fire and across all Family Fires to revillagize, reclaim, renew, restore and celebrate unity of strength through the meaningful and ethical engagement of Indigenous learners, families and communities navigating their current context, realities, experiences and unique circumstances in public schooling. Speaker of the Territory Fire, the Manager, CommUNITY Relations plays a critical role in strengthening relationships between Indigenous learners, families, communities and the school system.</p><p>Rooted in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Calls to Action, the HWDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and the Indigenous Education Circle Strategies Action Plan (IECSAP), this role eliminates systemic barriers within education, while promoting nation-specific, identity-affirming, culturally grounded, holistic health and trauma-informed approaches to schooling to actualize a restorative education system. The Manager CommUNITY Relations creates conditions for Indigenous learners to thrive, ensuring equitable access to Restorative Indigenous Education that respects and uplifts Indigenous rights, knowledges, languages, cultures and ways of knowing, being and doing.</p><p>Duties Include But Are Not Limited To</p><ul><li>As the Speaker of the Territory Family Fire, this role is responsible for the oversight, management, guidance and the implementation of the Strategic Directions of the IECSAP and the BAP initiatives on Indigenous Education tied to land/territory and celebration</li><li>Increase capacity among the Territory Family Fire to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, nation-specific and identity-affirming support to Indigenous students and families navigating the education system and other systems (e.g., Child Welfare, Health Care).</li><li>Work in syncretism with appropriate Treaty Partner allies to refresh HWDSB's Land Acknowledgement and approaches to celebrating and honouring the local environmental context across school and system practices.</li><li>Plan and celebrate student achievements that foster intergenerational healing and wellness (i.e., year-end celebration).</li><li>Provide authentic land-based learning experiences, cultural programs and ceremonial approaches with and alongside third-party community members as per current and updated policies to strengthen system awareness and understanding, while reducing risk and making space for the equitable inclusion of Indigenous pedagogies in schools and classrooms.</li><li>Strategic Leadership & Collaboration: Lead cross-functional collaboration with school teams, administrators, and central departments to foster culturally safe and responsive learning environments that authentically reflect Indigenous voices, histories, and lived experiences.</li><li>Empowerment & Advocacy Oversight: Oversee initiatives that empower Indigenous students and families through system navigation, advocacy, and access to school board services and community-based Indigenous supports. Ensure alignment, distinctiveness, and complementary and compatibility with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) frameworks.</li><li>Systemic Change & Decolonization: Champion the decolonization of school and system practices in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action plan (IECSAP). Provide strategic direction on integrating student voice, culturally relevant curriculum, and land-based learning.</li><li>Community Engagement & Partnership Development: Serve as a senior liaison between HWDSB and Indigenous communities. Collaborate on the co-development of Mutual Agreements of Understanding and maintain relational accountability to ensure alignment between Indigenous community partner organizations (i.e., HRIC and Niwasa) and HWDSB. Strengthen and sustain partnerships with urban Indigenous organizations, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community leaders to enhance educational outcomes, strengthen our canoe and cultural safety.</li><li>Conflict Resolution & Restorative Practices: Provide leadership in conflict resolution processes involving Indigenous students and families. Act as a neutral facilitator to address discriminatory, colonial, or exclusionary practices, ensuring restorative and culturally appropriate outcomes. Collaborate in syncretism with Safe Schools, Equity, Inclusion and Well-Being to ensure alignment, complementary and compatible practices and approaches are enacted across schools and at the system level.</li><li>Staff Capacity Building: Guide and mentor educators and staff in developing strength-based, relational, and culturally appropriate practices that honour Indigenous worldviews. Lead professional learning initiatives and resource development.</li><li>Holistic Student Success: Contribute to and oversee multi-disciplinary case management teams, ensuring Indigenous perspectives inform holistic understandings of student success and well-being.</li><li>Leadership in Engagement & Consultation: Lead Indigenous student leadership initiatives, parent engagement strategies (i.e., CC:ROSE and CC:ROSE PGE) and community consultations. Use findings to inform policy, programming, and proactive responses to emerging Indigenous, human rights, and equity issues.</li><li>Conflict Mediation & Policy Alignment: Manage complex cases involving student and family concerns related to systemic discrimination or policy misalignment. Collaborate with school leadership to develop equitable resolutions and prevent escalation. Maintain and sustain positive relationships with the Human Rights and Equity, Inclusion and Well-Being departments.</li><li>Community Voice & Program Development: Act as a strategic resource in the creation and sustainability of student, parent, and community groups. Facilitate engagement to gather Indigenous community voice and proactively address barriers to restorative educational wellness and cultural safety.</li></ul><p>Qualifications</p><ul><li>Post secondary degree in Indigenous Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, Social Work or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.</li><li>A minimum of five years' managerial experience in Indigenous community organizations, education systems, or social services with a strong focus on Indigenous Education, equity, inclusion and culturally grounded supports.</li><li>A strong understanding of inherent rights, roles and responsibilities, Indigenous knowledge systems, and the human rights barriers, systemic inequities and the unique needs and circumstances of Indigenous learners, families and communities facing discrimination, preferably in the K-12 education context and workplace context.</li><li>Knowledge and application of the TRC Calls to Action, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Ontario First Nation, Metis and Inuit Education Policy Framework.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to support Indigenous learners and families impacted by systemic institutionalized racism, discrimination and colonial legacies in education and other institutions.</li><li>Strong understanding of the HWDSB's Human Rights Policy, Equity and Inclusion Policy, Safe Schools Policies, related Ministry of Education policies and procedures and Indigenous Education policies and strategic priorities.</li><li>Demonstrated ability for conceptualizing and addressing individual and family educational human rights and equity concerns from an Indigenous perspective.</li><li>Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build respectful, reciprocal relationships with students, families, staff and Indigenous communities.</li><li>Proven acumen and good decision‐making responding to sensitive and urgent situations, maintaining privacy and confidentiality and ability to be compassionate, empathetic and impartial.</li><li>Ability to manage stress, urgent timelines, and high paced and high‐volume customer service environment.</li><li>Ability to engage and facilitate courageous conversations and manage conflict.</li><li>Ability to work directly with students, families, school administration and staff.</li><li>Excellent organizational, time-management, analytical and critical thinking skills.</li><li>Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams).</li><li>Requirement to work evening hours when required based on system needs.</li><li>Valid Driver's License and access to a vehicle as travel is required.</li></ul><p>Assets</p><ul><li>Familiarity with Indigenous led organizations and networks in Hamilton and surrounding areas.</li><li>Experience in restorative practices, land-based education and/or Indigenous pedagogies.</li><li>Experience providing services and working with groups and communities that experience discrimination and inequities.</li><li>Lived experience as a member of Indigenous nation and/or communities.</li></ul><p>Deadline for submission is 4:<br>00pm on<br>Wednes<br>day November 2<br>6<br>,<br>2025<br>. Applicants who are short-listed for this position will be invited for an in-person interview at the HWDSB Education Centre (wheelchair accessible). If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs as HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds.</p><p>Employment Equity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Statement<br>Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, local environmental context and the broader community.</p><p>HWDSB's vision of Growing Together is rooted in our mission to ensure every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and unique needs of our students, staff and our communities.</p><p>HWDSB Seeks Qualified Candidates Who Share Our Commitment To Equity, Inclusion And Indigeneity, And Who Will Contribute To The Vision Of Creating Inclusive And Equitable Outcomes For Every Student. HWDSB Especially Invites And Welcomes Applications From</p><ul><li>Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).</li><li>Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.).</li><li>Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.</li><li>Persons who identify as women.</li><li>Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e., Two-spirit and LGBTQIA+).</li></ul><p>As part of HWDSB's commitment to employment equity, inclusion and Indigeneity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.</p><p>HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.</p><p>Land Acknowledgement<br>HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty.</p><p>The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity.</p><p>We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.</p><p>Applicant Self-Identification Form<br>The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB's progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system . Information on this form is collected pursuant to (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act . Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and . Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select "prefer not to answer". This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form please contact .</p>