COPPUL Indigenous Knowledges Coordinator

Description

The Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) is seeking an Indigenous Knowledges Coordinator with experience and competencies working within Indigenous organizations or with Indigenous knowledge traditions. The IK Coordinator should have a holistic approach to project management work and be able to plan and carry out tasks and assign responsibilities in collaboration with colleagues, ensuring that projects progress toward completion. We are seeking someone with experience working in cross-organizational and distributed teams, and who has experience in academic libraries or archives, community or academic research roles, and/or cultural heritage sector roles. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work with a wide range of people and perspectives, and should have excellent oral and written communication skills.

About COPPUL

As the regional academic library consortium for Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia), COPPUL leverages resources, expertise, and infrastructure across our diverse member libraries to support and enhance teaching, learning, student experience, and research on our campuses. We identify areas of intersection across the membership. We embrace opportunities for learning, engagement, and collaboration with new and existing partners. Recognizing our shared commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility as well as Truth and Reconciliation, we diversify our programs and services to provide value across the membership. We work to broadly communicate our strategies, initiatives, and successes and to care for COPPUL to ensure its long-term vitality and impact.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Executive Director and in collaboration with the Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee (IKSC), the Coordinator leads COPPUL’s work in the area of Indigenous Knowledges. Informed by COPPUL’s strategic priorities, the Coordinator actively seeks opportunities to advance COPPUL’s Indigenous Knowledges program, including identifying consortial initiatives that support and connect the work of COPPUL members, establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues in member libraries and beyond, and contributing to ongoing Indigenous Knowledges project assessment. Current and past projects include event planning, working with COPPUL colleagues and vendors to extend access to library resources to northern Indigenous communities, working with other COPPUL colleagues on the Indigenous Historical Publications Working Group, among others (see the COPPUL website for details). The Coordinator guides and is guided by the IKSC and COPPUL’s Executive Director and staff team, in a mutually supportive effort to provide dynamic, collaborative and innovative services to COPPUL members. In this role, there is scope for the successful candidate to lead and shape activities and outcomes to their unique skills, interests and relationships.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Advance Indigenous Knowledges initiatives in keeping with COPPUL’s Strategic priorities.
• With the COPPUL Executive Director, articulate work plans aligned with strategic priorities and IKSC guidance/advice.
• Support the work of, collaborate with, and walk together with the COPPUL Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee.
• Assess and continue to develop e-resource access programs in collaboration with the IKSC, COPPUL staff and vendors.
  In collaboration with relevant COPPUL committees and working groups, explore opportunities and partnerships for engaging in digital preservation and stewardship projects including building relationships with Indigenous communities whose publications our member libraries may be considering for digital stewardship projects.
• Support the Oskâpêwis Mentorship Group.
• Become familiar and engage with regional/national/international initiatives related to Indigenous Knowledges.
• Engage with and draw from professional and collegial networks to inform practice.
• Participate in member meetings as necessary (travel may be required).

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in library and information science, archives, or museum studies is preferred but other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• A minimum of two years working in academic libraries or archives, community or academic research roles, and/or cultural heritage sector roles.
• Experience working in cross-organizational and distributed teams.
• Experience in project management.
• Connections with Indigenous communities.
• Experience with event planning is an asset.
• Awareness or familiarity with digitization projects and/or digital preservation practices is an asset.
• Awareness or familiarity with electronic resource licensing is an asset.

Terms of appointment:

This is a full-time, remote position funded for up to three years. The salary range is $90,000 – $115,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications, plus benefits and 9% in lieu of pension. Vacation leave is 20 days annually. Some travel is required to attend meetings. COPPUL is willing to consider filling the position as a secondment opportunity, and also willing to consider adjusting the position from full-time to part-time for the successful candidate, depending on availability and other considerations.

Preference will be given to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous. Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Please send a letter of interest, a CV, and three references to Jean Blackburn, COPPUL Executive Director, at execdir@coppul.ca. Applications should be submitted on or before September 23rd, 2024. Questions about this posting can be sent to the same email address. The position will remain open until filled.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility:

COPPUL is committed to equity and diversity and seeks to foster the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, ability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as an Indigenous person.

Compensation: $90,000 – $115,000

Closes: 23 September, 2024

Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries
Remote , BC