Program Manager, BILS (Deadline: January 6, 2025)

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.

Position Description

The Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) is Faculty of Forestry’s new four-year undergraduate degree. This interdisciplinary program is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students interested in learning about Indigenous ways of knowing, ecology, law, governance, economics, communication, research, enhancing community capacity, and data and business management methods. Honouring and valuing the knowledge and experiences of Indigenous Peoples, students will also learn about Indigenous-led land healing and action-oriented reconciliation. 

The BILS program will be delivered in a multi-access form whereby students in the program can attend courses in person at the Vancouver-Point Grey campus and online.  Three BILS Learning Hubs will be developed in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Okanagan, and Haida Gwaii regions of British Columbia to support students in the program when they are learning offsite and online.  The Program Manager will be responsible for all learning components of the BILS Program, which includes developing the BILS program and the institutional structure to support the program, engaging in the day-to-day management of program activities, and supporting students, instructors and guest speakers at the Vancouver campus (onsite).

Compensation Range

$6,251.00 – $8,986.00 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.

Organizational Status

Works under the general direction of the Director, Student Services and Director, Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives in the Faculty of Forestry. Works alongside the Online Program and Operations Manager, and in collaborative alliances across all levels of stakeholders, including faculty and staff, students, other UBC units, as well as external organizations (domestic & international).

Work Performed

Program and Course Development

• Advise the Program Director in developing, improving, and revising courses and curriculum at both the course and program levels, while engaging with UBC experts, stakeholders, and students to modify course design.
• Develop course content (Yrs 1-4) and an inventory of learning resources for Canvas LMS and public websites.
• Design course materials, including BILS manuals, presentations, safety and pedagogical guidelines for teaching assistants, marking keys
• Gather feedback and data and provide recommendations on adjusting instructional and learning strategies for continuous quality improvement cycle for BILS.
• Recruit and oversees BILS instructional staff in all areas except curriculum.
• Develop and manages various educational activities such as workshops, seminars, consultations, presentations and lectures, writing communication
• Oversee all aspects of the onsite delivery of educational programs/courses, including annual course bookings and instructor teaching schedules
• Manage the adjudication and allocation processes for both student and faculty awards, including internal and external scholarships, bursaries, grants for Indigenous students, Annual Nation Building grants, and BILS faculty travel exchange grants.
• Manage and lead the day-to-day program development for the Bachelor of Indigenous
• Lead the reporting to MasterCard Foundation EleV program and other programs on their gifts to the BILS program.
• Collaborates on the creation, allocation, and monitoring of the program budget, ensuring optimal resource distribution for course delivery, accurate reporting, and proper record-keeping procedures, while managing payments and fund transfers.

Student Advising/Admissions/Promotion:

• Advise BILS and Faculty of Forestry Indigenous students on campus for needs assessments and wellness check-ins, related academic issues, and related volunteer, co-op, and employment opportunities.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of on-campus, and lower mainland student social events.
• Determine circumstances which require consultation with program leads, Indigenous elders or knowledge holders and Indigenous communities, including specific protocols for relationships with UBC’s various host nations.
• Determine BILS student eligibility for job placements, ensuring that all safety protocols are clearly understood, communicated and followed.
• Write Positionality Statements for Applications for BILS Program Director and the Council of Advisors for final recommendation.
• Develop BILS admission materials
• Develop and deliver informational sessions and outreach visits to off-site communities to promote the BILS program
• Collaborate in the planning and delivery student orientation.
• Perform other related duties as necessary in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of this position.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Consequence of error is high. There is a high degree of interaction with others. Working as a collaborative team, appropriate communication and attention to detail is critical.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Director, Student Services and Director, Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives in the Faculty of Forestry. Works independently as well as in collaboration with the Online Program and Operations Manager and receives feedback and direction from the Director, Student Services and Director, Indigenous and Intercultural Initiatives in the Faculty of Forestry. Works closely with the BILS Program Director and Advisory Council, as well as committees for the adjudication and allocation of grants to students and BILS faculty, and the organization of the Annual Nation Building Conference. Work is reviewed against achievement of project objectives and in terms of quality and effectiveness in meeting educational goals.

Supervision Given

Supervises student staff within the BILS program.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of four years of related experience, or the 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

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, preferably with a primary focus in Indigenous Studies/Education; an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, preferably with a primary focus in Indigenous Studies/Education; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• In-depth knowledge of Indigenous worldviews, pedagogy, cultural practices and protocols in both historical and modern contexts.
• Experience in Indigenous education curriculum and pedagogical approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct respectful consultation and collaboration with communities, including the Musqueam Nation.
• Has experience working in cross-cultural and educational settings.
• Experience working with IBPOC communities, organizations and people  
• Familiarity with historical and contemporary Indigenous issues, particularly as they relate to post-secondary education  
• Demonstrated education and/or work background related to equity, diversity, decolonization, and/or inclusion policies, practices, and procedures.  
• Understanding of patterns of inequity in outcomes and how those connect to social and organizational structure and operational processes.
• Experience in design, development and facilitation of processes and educational programs or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in recruiting, advising, supporting, and mentoring Indigenous students.
• Experience in developing projects involving infrastructure and coordination with various government and non-government organizations.  
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.  
• Experience in facilitating group processes both face-to-face and online.  
• Experience in teaching face-to-face and using online and multimedia technologies.
• Experience developing strategic engagement processes and developing strategic plans is an asset.  
• Effective oral and written communication; and, interpersonal, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of the secondary and post-secondary education system in BC, including the relationship between colleges, Aboriginal institutions, technical institutes and universities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in cross-cultural settings.  
• Ability to maintain connection between a long-range vision and day-to-day functions.
• Ability to manage a demanding workload by determining priorities, planning ahead and anticipating problems. Knowledge of cross-cultural adult education principles.  
• Familiarity with the University community, policies, and systems, is considered an asset  
• Ability to meet deadlines.  
• Both goal and process oriented.  
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office at an advanced level e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, videoconferencing applications e.g. Zoom and electronic surveys e.g. Qualtrics, Doodle.  
• Ability to create and accurately maintain digital records and filing systems.  
• Ability to take and transcribe accurate meeting minutes and produce action items.  
• Proficiency working with Project Management tools and applications e.g. Asana, Airtable, Trello.
• The ideal candidate is a diplomatic multi-tasker with excellent judgment, broad communications skills, and is strategically minded.
• Knowledge and understanding of natural resource and Indigenous community issues in BC/Canada.
• Strong professional working network within the community related to Indigenous natural resource stewardship in BC / Canada with a larger international community being an asset
• Demonstrated ability to achieve complex goals working within the Indigenous communities
• The incumbent will exercise resourcefulness in the coordination and delivery of the BILS program for potential and current students.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to think strategically and exercise diplomacy, tact, and discretion.

How to Apply for this Program Manager Position

Interested applicants should apply on the UBC Careers website. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2025.