Job Description

Position:

Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing (IGEN) Program and Research Administrative and Community Support Assistant

Background

The Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing (IGEN) program is a collaborative initiative between five Schools of Nursing in British Columbia, committed to providing opportunity for Indigenous nurses to pursue their Master's degree in Nursing.

The IGEN program is a result of an action oriented CIHR research grant proposal intended to develop this new initiative while evaluating and reflecting on the processes required to implement. IGEN aims to create safe and relevant education to increase the number of Indigenous nurse leaders who can work towards improving the health of Indigenous Peoples. This will be accomplished by building an Indigenous Wellness stream of the MN programs available at each partner institution, as well as creating an Indigenous Wellness Master of Nursing collaborative program that is delivered across the five institutions. The benefits to all students and institutions will be evidenced by demonstrating the collaborating nature of shared academic resources while supporting students in their home territories to pursue their own Indigenous distinction based learning.

This program is supported and informed by an array of working groups and stakeholders representing the five institutions and various community and institutional perspectives. The Community Home Circle, one of the key working groups present at each institutional site, is comprised of local First Nation and Metis community leaders who meet monthly and are committed to supporting Indigenous nurses. (More in-depth information available on the IGEN initiative available by request)

Job description:

The Project Support Assistant will work closely with the UVic School of Nursing MN Indigenous Stream Coordinator to support both the local UVic Home Circle and the collective IGEN project team working on the co-creation of the collaborative IGEN pathway. This person will be responsible for administrative support for ongoing development and delivery of the new Masters of Nursing Indigenous Wellness Stream (INDW) at UVic and the collaborative implementation among five partner institutions.

Qualifications:

Self Identifies as a First Nations, Inuit or Metis Person, with connection to community (can be urban, rural or remote) or settler ally with strong experiential community knowledge, connection and personal self location insight.

Expressed interest in Indigenous health education and research, equity and cultural safety.

Understands academic environments including program development within post secondary institutions, and basic research processes.

Experience within academic institutions either as a graduate student, faculty or staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Lived experience or history of working with Indigenous communities

Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous cultural safety training and/or Indigenous lived experience is preferred

Able to work independently and complete tasks proactively

Able to set up meetings and maintain working relationships with Indigenous Elders, community members, faculty, & students

Able to communicate effectively (oral and written) with individuals, teams, committees and groups

Experience using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Survey Monkey

Experience and/or knowledge of basic research project work/ processes and ability to contribute to and support research team discussions, including a willingness to learn and be mentored if appropriate

Ability to exercise good judgment, prioritize workload and work effectively to meet deadlines

Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of efficiency, accuracy and attention to detail

Ability to exercise initiative and maintain confidentiality

Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities, make decisions and seek input as needed

Research and Program Job activities and Expectations:

Contribute to the support and organizational needs of IGEN Community Home Circle meetings and activities. (monthly)

Assist with the INDW course/program development, including supporting course evaluation processes, and student course feedback surveys.

Assist with organizing gatherings or events.

Assist with ongoing community engagement needs, including arranging meetings as needed, contacting potential collaborators and maintaining contact with community partners and facilitating remuneration as needed.

Assist with land based learning event development and scheduling.

Assist with knowledge translation tools such as the creation of PowerPoints or other short briefs or summaries in support of program and research development.

Assist with agendas and minutes for local IGEN Community Home Circle meetings.

Liaise with local Indigenous partner communities, establish relationships and connect with networks of supporters, including local Nations, Metis Nation BC local, and appropriate networks on Vancouver Island.

Participate in broader IGEN research meetings as appropriate, upon request

Other arising reasonable duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the MN Indigenous Wellness Stream Coordinator, Leanne Kelly.

Contract length: September 2025 - August 31, 2026

Job Type:

Part-time, Maximum of 10 hours per week, averaged over time. Some weeks may need more hours and other weeks may need less or none.

Salary:

$35.00 per hour

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 11 months

Pay: $35.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 10 per week

Work Location: In person