Collections Officer

Description:

About us:

U of T Mississauga—the second largest campus of Canada’s top-ranked university and the only research university in Ontario’s booming Peel Region—is one of the world’s great catalysts of human potential. 

Our employee community hums with the energy of 3,400 faculty, librarians and staff, who power our campus with curiosity, connection and care. We work together to spark life-changing research and innovation, make an indelible mark on the world by building equitable cities and societies, enable healthy lives, create a sustainable future and ignite entrepreneurship. Above all, we prioritize student success, and seek to give our 16,500 students the lift of a lifetime through learning and discovery. We love to open opportunities available nowhere else for our community to achieve their ambitions and make their unique contributions to Canada and the world.

This work all comes together on a spectacularly green campus, alongside the Missinihe-ziibi (Trusting Creek or Credit River), where we seek to honour truth, reciprocity and reconciliation on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We’re thrilled to welcome those who want to learn more about us and to be part of what we do.

Working Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45am- 5:00pm. This role is four (4) days on-site.

Your opportunity:

The Department of Anthropology and Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) at UTM is seeking an Indigenous-Centred Collections Officer to play a pivotal role in transforming the stewardship of archaeological and cultural collections through Indigenous direction, collaboration, and relationship-building. The role of the Collections Officer reports to both the Department Manager in the Department of Anthropology and the Director of Indigenous Initiatives in the OII. The successful candidate will help guide consultation, repatriation, rematriation, or long-term stewardship processes for archaeological belongings originating from Indigenous territories across what is now known as Ontario. This position offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Nations, support reconciliation commitments, and helps shape community-directed approaches to belongings and collections stewardship and coordination that honours Indigenous rights, knowledge, and governance. 

Your responsibilities will include:

• Oversee the organization, documentation, and curation of Indigenous ancestral archaeological belongings
• Coordinate Indigenous-directed consultation and relationship-building with Indigenous Nations through UTM OII
• Support the Department’s Collections & Data Committee in developing Indigenous-directed standard operating procedures
• Liaise with Indigenous communities, Anthropology department at U of T St. George campus, government partners, and other institutions
• Coordinate repatriation, rematriation, and collaborative stewardship processes
• Plan for the long-term stewardship of existing and future collections
• Manage logistical aspects of stewardship and repatriation processes, including packaging, shipping coordination, and preparation of materials for transfer in collaboration with relevant institutional units
• Occasional travel within Canada may be required to support consultation and repatriation or rematriation processes

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
• Six to seven years of progressive experience in collections management, archaeological or cultural heritage stewardship
• Demonstrated experience in indigenous engagement and/or consultation
• Demonstrated experience navigating repatriation/rematriation processes, preferrably working directly with or within indigenous communities
• Indigenous membership or citizenship, and/or lived experience with Indigenous communities, demonstrated commitment as an Indigenous ally, and strong cultural competency.
• Familiarity with Indigenous protocols and practices of community engagement and respect for Indigenous governance structures and data sovereignty in Canada
• Understanding of Canadian legislative frameworks related to archaeological stewardship and repatriation
• Training or experience in museum studies, collections management, or archaeological practice, including those licensed to practice archaeology in Ontario

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Communicator
• Cooperative
• Diplomatic
• Problem solver
• Responsible
• Tactful

Closing Date: 10/29/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type : Budget - Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 14 -- $95,344 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $121,932. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.