Edtech.com's Summary

University of Alberta is hiring an Indigenous Student Engagement Specialist to run engagement programming and holistic advising for Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts. The specialist manages a dedicated gathering space, produces a student newsletter, and organizes cultural events and ceremonies alongside First Peoples House and other Indigenous campus partners. The work also feeds into faculty strategy for recruiting and retaining Indigenous students.

Highlights

Manage the Indigenous Student Gathering Space, keeping it stocked and clean and scheduling events and activities there.
Produce an Indigenous student newsletter and maintain online channels such as the website, message boards, and e-newsletters.
Plan engagement events and cultural ceremonies with First Peoples House and the Indigenous Student Union, and give direction to the new Arts Indigenous Student Association.
Advise current and prospective Indigenous Arts students from admission through graduation, including processing applications, evaluating transfer credit, and clearing students for convocation.
Meet with academically at-risk students to track their progress and refer them to the right sources of help.
Recommend short- and long-term retention goals and initiatives, such as an Indigenous Student Peer Mentor program and an Arts Indigenous Student Council.
Connect with alumni and community members to create professional development opportunities for Indigenous students.
Requires a bachelor’s degree, with Arts or Native Studies preferred, and two to three years of post-secondary advising or student services experience preferred.
Candidates must be First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, with knowledge of cultural protocols, ceremonial practices, and the Treaty 6, 7, and 8 First Nations and Métis communities in Alberta.
The posted salary range is $61,237.32 to $83,944.20 per year.

Indigenous Student Engagement Specialist Full Description

Job Identification

4487

Job Category

Administrative Support

Posting Date

10/13/2026, 12:25 PM

Job Schedule

Full time

Locations

Edmonton, AB, Canada (On-site)

Grade

Category Type

Support Staff

Position Type

Support Staff - Regular

College/Administrative Portfolio

College of Social Sciences + Humanities

Faculty/Department

Arts

Hours Per Week

Annual Salary Range

$61,237.32 to $83,944.20

About the Job

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal applicants will be given priority consideration based on minimum qualifications, or a combination of experience, skills, and abilities before external applicants are considered.

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

Reporting to the Senior Officer, Student Programs & Services, and working closely with the Manager, Advising & Engagement, the Indigenous Student Engagement Specialist (ISES) is a member of the Faculty of Arts Engagement team and oversees two critical areas that facilitate Indigenous student success in the Faculty of Arts:

Providing engagement to/with current Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts – including managing an Indigenous Student Gathering Space, creating and disseminating an Indigenous Student newsletter, creating and providing support and direction to the Arts Indigenous Student Association (to be established), and planning/organizing various engagement/cultural events and activities.
Providing holistic advising support to current and prospective Indigenous students on academic and non-academic concerns.

This role is also responsible for working directly in collaboration with First People’s House, Indigenous Enrollment Management, and other members of the Indigenous campus community.

Responsibilities

Indigenous Student Engagement

Develops, implements and maintains electronic initiatives (website, chat rooms, message boards, e-newsletters, blogs).
Manages the Indigenous Student Gathering Space – this includes stocking it with snacks and other items, ensuring it is clean and well kept, providing events and activities, etc.
Plans and implements engagement events, cultural ceremonies, collaborating (where applicable) with First Peoples House, Indigenous Student Union, and other Indigenous offices.
Liaises with alumni and other community members to provide professional development opportunities for Indigenous students.

Indigenous Student Advising

Provides holistic advising supports to current Indigenous Arts students and prospective students.
Working closely with the Advising team, provides ongoing advising on student’s programs from admissions through to graduation, including processing application/admissions for Indigenous applicants, evaluating and posting transfer credit, providing advising on course selection and other program specific advise, participating in the academic standing process, and evaluating and clearing students for convocation.
Schedules appointments with students who are identified as academically at risk. This appointment will serve to monitor the students’ progress, determine whether or not there are any problems and assist or refer the students to the relevant source of information or assistance.

Strategic Planning

Supports the development of strategic plans aimed at increasing Indigenous student retention and engagement, as well as building the Faculty of Arts Indigenous student profile.
Works closely with the Indigenous Enrollment Management/Recruitment team, participating in the Indigenous recruitment network as applicable.
Based on the strategic plans, makes recommendations on engagement/retention goals (short and long-term), key messaging and potential initiatives, such as creating an Arts Indigenous Student Council, Indigenous Student Peer Mentor program, and planning/implementing both cultural and social events for Indigenous students
Contributes and participates in the faculty’s overall student engagement strategy, providing an Indigenous lens to events and services provided.

Qualifications

Minimum Bachelor’s degree (Arts or Native Studies preferred)
Two to three years of experience in post-secondary advising and/or student services preferred.
Is First Nations, Métis, or Inuit with a strong understanding of cultural protocols and ceremonial practices.
Demonstrated personal experience with Indigenous practices and relational ways of knowing required to connect with Indigenous communities, schools and students, plus a familiarity with Treaty 6, 7, and 8 First Nations and Métis communities in Alberta
Familiarity with Indigenous Post-Secondary Institutions and transfer student process, including post-secondary transfer articulation agreements, would be an asset
Strong cultural sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy
Ability to speak and communicate in any Indigenous language is considered an asset
Experience with strategic planning and/or project management an asset
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong public speaking skills
Knowledgeable in PeopleSoft Campus Solutions an asset.
Computer proficiency in a Windows environment using MS Office applications, social media and Google applications.
Ability to work collaboratively within a large complex organization with a variety of stakeholders across many disciplines and maintain high levels of professionalism
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision to meet research targets, goals, and expectations
Knowledge of University of Alberta policies and procedures an asset

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter

This role requires confirmation of First Nation, Métis or Inuit membership or citizenship. Selected applicants will be asked for documentation prior to attending an interview.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

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Indigenous Student Engagement Specialist

Edtech.com's Summary

Indigenous Student Engagement Specialist Full Description

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