Director of Indigenization

REPORTS TO: President

LOCATION: On Campus

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

COMPENSATION: $86,452.11 - $90,774.72/year + DOE, Benefits, Exempt Position

Iḷisaġvik College is rooted in the ancestral homeland of the Iñupiat. As an institution, we are “Unapologetically Iñupiaq.” This means exercising the sovereign inherent freedom to educate our community through and supported by our Iñupiaq worldview, values, knowledge, and protocols. The Iñupiaq way of life is woven into our curriculum, programs, activities, and daily interactions within Iḷisaġvik College and our community partners. 
 

SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

The Director of Indigenization is responsible for implementing the initiatives outlined in the 'Indigenizing Ilisaġvik College Framework' developed by the Board of Trustees; and planning, developing, and facilitating learning opportunities for the college community that include staff, faculty, and students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works with the administration to advance strategic plan priority one: Indigenize the institution across the College.
• Works across the institution to expand initiatives to implement the strategic priority to “Indigenize the Institution.”
• Develop and implement a plan for building cultural competence for staff and faculty to indigenize instruction and content.
• Increase Iñupiaq-focus in existing course offerings and programs and develop new proposals for additional curricular areas.
• Work with Student Services to affirm critical issues are examined and addressed to ensure they are responsive to student needs and that systemic solutions to identified problems including barriers to services, are clearly defined.
• Develop viable plans to improve the College’s capacity to attract and retain Iñupiaq faculty and staff and support their career advancement.
• Work with Human Resources to develop competencies required for working with Iñupiaq students for inclusion in pertinent College job descriptions.
• Work with Human Resources to develop hiring strategies, orientation programs, and other efforts that assure that all faculty and staff are aware of the College’s commitment to Indigenize the institution and are provided with the information, training, and support to succeed in that effort.
• Develop a program for faculty and staff to increase their understanding and capacity for addressing challenges for Iñupiaq students and share best practices with their colleagues.
• Develop programs designed to improve student success and build community relationships by instilling a broad understanding of Iñupiaq history, language, and culture in faculty and staff.
• Contributes to the growing College repository of information related to Indigenization, as well as information collected for the restoration, regeneration, and renewal of Iñupiaq knowledge.
• Attends various external events or conferences, as required.
• Provides administrative oversight of the department and supervision of staff in accordance with the organizational structure, i.e. reports, intern supervision, timesheets, purchases, and grants management, that support the day-to-day operations.
• Provide and prepare data, presentations, and reports as requested.
• Serves actively in relevant College and community committees.
• Keeps abreast of and is responsive to local, state, and national opportunities that will support cultural, historical and language preservation and perpetuation. Maintains connections with external entities including Iñupiaq History, Language, and Culture Department (IHLC) of the North Slope Borough, the North Slope Borough School District (NSBSD), American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), and others.
• Must be able to work flexible hours and travel periodically.
• Complies with College policies, procedures, and administrative directives, as well as state, federal, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.                                         
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Self-motivated, detail oriented, that can confidently work independently with minimum direction and supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others. 
• Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship building skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Quick-thinking and solution-oriented; strong team and time management skills.
• Demonstrated experience in public speaking, leading workshops, and/or facilitating groups.
• Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point as well as Internet research.
• Ability to interact effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check.
• Demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: post-secondary educational systems, North Slope Borough [NSB] institutions and organizations; Iñupiat culture, language, values, and traditions and Indigenization efforts/theory
   
• Ability to interpret and represent North Slope community values, customs, and beliefs for the College.
• Ability to interpret and represent College actions and western institutions to the North Slope community.
• Ability to support Iḷisaġvik College’s mission.

EDUCATION//CERTIFICATES/TRAINING [Required]:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional and cultural experience in Education, Indigenous and/or Alaska Native Studies, or related field.
• Two years of experience in developing cultural competencies or Indigenizing organizations.
• Three years of demonstrated administrative and supervisory experience.
• Valid driver’s license.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATES/TRAINING [Preferred]:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Education or related field.
• One year of successful professional teaching, administrative and/or equivalent experience.

Candidates who meet most but not all the qualifications above but have equally strong alternative credentials are invited to apply and will be considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk and hear; The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, and may occasionally drive a vehicle. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: The environmental conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and the employee is regularly required to work indoors with a usually moderate noise level in the work environment.

BENEFITS:

Leave - 16 paid holidays and up to 36 days of paid leave

Retirement - Iḷisaġvik College is a public employer whose employees contribute to the State of Alaska, Public Employees Retirement System.

Health Insurance - Iḷisaġvik College is self-insured and Meritain Health is the health insurance third party administrator. Iḷisaġvik College offers health insurance to our employees with a no cost premium, and $50/pay period for each additional dependent and a low cost annual deductible of $200 for employee only and $600 for family.

Life Insurance - Iḷisaġvik College offers Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage through Guardian Life to employees at no cost to the employee in the amount of $100,000/per benefit.

Additional supplemental or voluntary retirement, life insurance, disability benefits offered. 

 [If any questions, please contact jobs@ilisagvik.edu ]

IỊisaġvik College is a Drug Free Workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer