Director, Indigenous Research

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At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of the worlds leading research universitiesan institution inspiring people ideas and actions for a better world. With two main campuses (Vancouver and the Okanagan) more than 70000 students 20000 faculty and staff an annual budget approaching $4 billion and over 400000 alumni in more than 145 countries UBC is a dynamic globally connected university recognized for its research intensity and societal impact.

Under the leadership of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI) and guided by the 2020 UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan the Director Indigenous Research designs establishes and leads UBCs institution-wide framework for Indigenous-engaged research. The Director develops the vision and operating model and provides strategic and operational leadership across the research lifecycle pre-engagement and relationship building ethics and protocol development research conduct knowledge mobilization and data to enable respectful reciprocal partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations. The role aligns existing units and services on both the Vancouver campus and serves as UBCs lead advisor on Indigenous research practices Indigenous data governance and community-based research enablement. The position works collaboratively with colleagues at UBC Okanagan.

Organizational Status
The Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation is responsible for administering policies and processes which facilitate research excellence at the University. The Director of Indigenous Research will report to the Associate Vice-President Research & Innovation and will have broad latitude to engage in consultation on behalf of and to set the direction for the organizational infrastructure and management of Indigenous research support under the VPRI guided by the relevant goals of the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.

Work Performed

• Design develop and promote frameworks for Indigenous research partnerships including engagement strategies ethical research strategies the development and negotiation of protocol agreements and provide training and mentoring on this framework for researchers in collaboration with faculties schools and other offices engaging with aspects of Indigenous research on the UBC Vancouver campus.

• Design establish and lead a central organizing structure that coordinates Indigenous research partnerships across UBC Vancouver aligning with the VP Academic & Provosts Office Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives First Nations House of Learning the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre Office of Research Ethics and faculty Indigenous initiatives.

• Collaborate with colleagues engaged in Indigenous Research Support at UBC Okanagan especially around policies and practices that have an impact across campuses.

• Provide leadership for Indigenous-engaged research at UBC setting vision and direction across the full research life cycle (planning pre-engagement relationship development ethics/protocols data stewardship knowledge translation repositories).

• Develop and implement staffing and operational plans for an Indigenous research hub within VPRI sequencing near-term set-up and longer-term growth in collaboration with VPRI leadership and the UBC Indigenous research community.

• Identify and implement structural and process improvements that advance the goals of the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan updating policies procedures and supports as needed.

• Lead university-wide partnerships aligning internal stakeholders and external partners whose mandates intersect with Indigenous research to enable coherent community-engaged practice.

• Strengthen internal research pathways and networks by working with existing Indigenous research clusters to identify priority areas and external partners prioritizing Indigenous communities.

• Design deliver and oversee training and mentoring for faculty students and research staff on all stages of Indigenous research including pre-engagement preparation relationship-building practices and protocol agreement negotiation (ethics data management community benefits).

• Promote and facilitate the hiring of Indigenous students to work on and support research projects in collaboration with academic units and research teams.

• Develop engagement strategies and protocols for collaborative research partnerships including best practices and ongoing dialogue with research networks the UBCV Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) and the UBCO IAC for initiatives impacting the Okanagan.

• Promote and support innovative research methodologies that prioritize community co-ownership and partnership integrating Indigenous ways of knowing across project lifecycles.

• Identify and support funding opportunities that enable the promotion and pursuit of Indigenous-engaged research.

• Guide development and negotiation of protocol agreements related to research ethics data management and community benefits aligning community expectations with institutional processes.

• Work closely with the Office of Research Ethics to align review pathways with community-driven protocols and ensure supports at each stage of research.

• Create and convene forums for dialogue and exchange (e.g. presentations talks lunch-and-learns conferences) between Indigenous individuals and groups and the academic community to support knowledge translation and mutually beneficial outcomes.

• Lead and supervise staff within the Indigenous Research Support Initiative and the evolving Indigenous research hub including recruitment performance management professional development and (as required) termination.

• Exercise superior judgment tact discretion and initiative in all engagements to prevent harm protect trust and steward relationships with Indigenous communities and partners.
  
  

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position requires superior judgment tact discretion and initiative. Errors in judgment with internal or external constituents could have negative impact on the Office of the Vice President Research Indigenous communities and the University.

Failure to recognize and navigate the complexities of the relationships among Indigenous communities Indigenous peoples and research activity can result in harm to those communities and those people and a loss of trust with the University. This can result in lost opportunities to co-develop important research initiatives which could benefit all parties.

Supervision Received
The Director reports to the Associate Vice-President Research & Innovation. The incumbent is expected to work both independently and in close collaboration with participants from Indigenous communities organizations involved in research with Indigenous communities and the University.

Supervision Given
The Director position is expected to supervise existing staff in the Indigenous Research Support Initiative and lead a plan for developing and staffing an Indigenous research hub in close collaboration with the Vice-President Research & Innovation Office IAC ISPEAC the Office of Research Ethics and other members of the research community. It is expected that additional staff will join VPRI in the developing Indigenous research hub over the course of its first two years of operations and the position is responsible for the management of these staff including hiring performance appraisal and termination.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Masters degree preferred. Minimum of eight years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to a candidate with a masters or doctoral degree with significant experience in Indigenous research leadership or administration.

• Significant experience in university-based research collaborations with Indigenous communities.

• Extensive experience in Indigenous research including expertise in methods ethics and other legal and regulatory requirements.

• Experience in research administration at a large complex research-intensive university.

• Demonstrated success in navigating complex and competing priorities and recognized by Indigenous communities as a trusted and respectful colleague.

• Demonstrated success in facilitating large-group discussions and focus-groups skill in conflict resolution and in negotiating complex research collaborations is preferred.