Curriculum Specialist, Indigenous Learning

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create.

Please note that internal job postings are open only to current permanent OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees and temporary OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees with one year of continuous service.

Reporting to the Manager, Teaching Support and Curriculum Enhancement, and collaborating closely with the Director, Indigenous Initiatives, the Curriculum Specialist, Indigenous Learning, is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic Indigenous learning initiatives that advance understanding of Indigenous histories, methodologies, and cultural art and design practices through curriculum development and renewal, faculty professional learning, online course development, and community engagement. The Curriculum Specialist provides individual and team-based support and resources to facilitate the integration of Indigenous knowledges across undergraduate and graduate programs; through its focus on curriculum review, renewal and structural change, the Curriculum Specialist plays a leadership role in advancing the Indigenous teaching and learning priorities of the University's Academic and Strategic Plan.

The Curriculum Specialist works in consultation with the Faculties, the Chair of the Indigenous Visual Culture (INVC) program, the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), and the Indigenous Education Council (IEC), and collaborates closely with Indigenous academic leadership, faculty, and staff to support OCAD U community engagement with and renewal of OCAD U’s Indigenous Learning Outcomes.

The Curriculum Specialist works within the Centre for Learning & Teaching (CLT) as part of a larger team delivering a range of programs and services for faculty, students, Teaching Assistants and other instructional staff, and is supported by the Indigenous OCAD U community which includes the Indigenous OCAD U Committee, Indigenous Student Centre, Indigenous Education Council, and the Indigenous Cultural Advisory Circle.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Lead and support curriculum development across OCAD U’s undergraduate and graduate programs to advance Indigenous histories, perspectives, knowledges, methodologies, and cultural practices of art and design, that support Indigenous student experiences and success
• Collaborate with the ISC and INVC program to undertake needs assessment processes to identify Indigenous student learning experiences, with a focus on addressing systemic barriers to learning
• Organize and lead the (re)design and renewal of OCAD U’s Indigenous Learning Outcomes (ILOs), including planning the strategy to achieve the University's goals for the ILOs; develop supporting documentation, resources, and processes that facilitate ongoing engagement with the ILOs across the University.
• Coordinate and conduct consultations on the ILOs with faculty, IEC, Indigenous Cultural Advisory Circle and Indigenous community partners in Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and other stakeholders as required
• Co-facilitate and support the design, development and production of an online Indigenous art, design and history course to advance the University’s decolonial teaching and learning goals, collaborating with a multi-disciplinary course development team
• Develop teaching and learning resources and faculty professional learning initiatives that support Indigenous student success
• Develop and deliver community engagement programming for faculty and staff to support the understanding of Indigenous learning and decolonization, as required
• Conduct environmental scans and related research and prepare reports, as needed, to inform approaches, facilitating alignment with promising practices and sector norms in Indigenous teaching and learning, where appropriate
• Provide subject matter expertise in Indigenous pedagogies, methodologies and decolonizing approaches to inform and strengthen the Centre's ongoing Indigenous engagement and programming
• Support the Manager, Teaching Support and Curriculum Enhancement, and the Director, Indigenous Initiatives, in related functions and special projects

Qualifications

• Indigenous citizenship (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), connection to an Indigenous community, a history and/or evidence of lived experience and an understanding of Indigenous culture(s) and practices
• Successful completion of a graduate/Master's degree with a specialization in Indigenous Education, Curriculum Studies or similar, Ph.D./Ed.D preferred
• Four (4) years of progressive experience working in Indigenous educational programming, community engagement, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education, community-based knowledge, and lived experience.
• Experience in the development and delivery of hybrid and online curriculum, an asset
• In depth knowledge of Indigenous pedagogies, methodologies and ways of knowing at the post-secondary level, including decolonizing and Indigenizing pedagogies, land-based learning, storytelling, experiential learning, and intergenerational and relational approaches to teaching and learning
• Three (3) years of experience developing collaborative partnerships to advance decolonization, including experience of organizational change-based projects in comparable sectors; demonstrated experience facilitating professional learning to build institutional capacity
• Familiarity with post-secondary studies in art and design is essential; background in studio art or design a strong asset
• Significant experience living and/or working with Indigenous communities and well-versed in protocol matters related to Indigenous relationships is essential
• Demonstrated ability to manage programming with proven vision and initiative grounded in Indigenous epistemologies
• Demonstrated intercultural competence; experience working with diverse Indigenous communities, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community members, faculty, academic administrators, administrative staff, program staff and students
• Facilitation and consensus-building skills, with demonstrated ability to navigate complex and sensitive conversations across diverse community members, with faculty and staff
• Post-secondary teaching experience or experience in a post-secondary teaching centre, writing centre or similar academic support unit is an asset. An equivalent combination of teaching, community, and/or professional experience demonstrating the required knowledge and competencies will also be considered.
• Understanding of the barriers and learning needs of Indigenous post-secondary students
• Program planning skills with ability to meet deadlines and manage complex projects
• Strong collaborative work orientation; ability to work both independently and consultatively within a team environment
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, anticipate and respond to resistance and influence curriculum development and educational initiatives through dialogue, consultation and partnership
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including academic and professional writing experience
• Experience designing and implementing consultation and needs assessment processes
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles and practices of equity, anti-racism, decolonizing and accessibility; experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, faculty and staff
• Flexibility to adjust hours and location of work as needed to support programs and events outside of regular office hours and location

Compensation: OPSEU Unit 1, Appendix B, Grade 4; $46.33 to $60.88 per hour

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, for a total of 35 hours per week. This is a temporary contract expected to continue until May 31, 2027.

Mode of Work: This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangements; however, a minimum of three (3) days per week of on campus work is required with flexibility to adjust the days and times of work on campus to meet programming needs.

Application Details: The successful applicant will have Indigenous citizenship, connection to an Indigenous community (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) and will have a commitment to Indigenous community development, partnership building, and growing OCAD University’s priority to decolonize and Indigenize art and design education. Candidates are encouraged to share information in their cover letter about their Indigenous citizenship and relevant experience with Indigenous communities .

Interested internal permanent OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 or temporary OPSEU Local 576 Unit 1 employees with one year of continuous service applicants are invited to submit an updated *resume and cover letter ( PDF ) , no later than Tuesday August 4th, 2026 .

• Please upload your resume and cover letter as one PDF . Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Job Code

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities.

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.