Indigenous Outreach and Recruitment Adviser

Reporting to the AVP, Indigenous Education and Internal Engagement, the Indigenous Outreach and Recruitment Adviser (the "Adviser") supports the Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support (CILS) in its mandate to provide a safe and supportive environment to potential and new Indigenous students (Status, Non-Status, Metis and Inuit), and to provide recruitment, transition and outreach services to support students’ personal and academic success. The incumbent is part of a team that acts as the student’s Professional Advising point of contact with the institution and requires a high level of institutional knowledge (both academic and student experience/support familiarity) and professional advising acumen to be successful. The incumbent plays a significant role in the development of potential and new Indigenous students and is the first point of a continuum of care. Utilizing Indigenous based experience and knowledge, you will initiate, plan, and organize activities using knowledge of resources and supports for Indigenous students, including financial supports, support the cultural adjustment of Indigenous students and collaborate with the greater college community to provide first year experience and transition support services, building strong connections with students, faculty, staff and the Indigenous community.

Responsibilities include assisting potential and new Indigenous students by promoting Sheridan’s programs, CILS services and other Sheridan resources (e.g. peer tutoring, counselling, student advisement, health, financial). The incumbent utilizes partnerships with key stakeholders, communities, and organizations to promote awareness and involvement in Sheridan’s Indigenous programs.

The incumbent is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing events, activities and projects focused on celebrating and recognizing the cultures of Indigenous peoples through teachings and cultural events. The incumbent also contributes to the development and implementation of communication tools, and performs data analysis related to tracking Indigenous Student enrollment and transition.

What You’ll be Doing

• Outreach and Recruitment
  • Organizing and conducting a comprehensive elementary, secondary and non-secondary school recruitment program relating the full range of programs and services at Sheridan College to Indigenous audiences, with a view toward increasing enrolment and graduations
  • Working directly with Aboriginal Post Secondary Information Program (APSIP) to participate on local and regional events
  • Serving as a primary recruitment contact and ongoing liaison between the College and prospective students, current students, community groups, secondary schools, and other influencers in various matters relating to the application for admission, program information, course information, and college services
  • Assisting with planning, developing, and implementing recruitment strategies, including presentations, events and campaigns
  • Advising prospective Indigenous students on matters including admissions, program details, college life, student resources and support, and financial assistance
  • Working with Indigenous students in communities to identify and locate resources to support academic needs
  • Participating in secondary school recruitment activities, representing the college at special events, and delivering online recruitment programming
  • Gathering information on student experience, preparing reports and recommendations, and identifying new and/or enhancements to programming
  • Creating and maintaining a database for Indigenous statistics including the capture of applicant data, admissions, environmental scans, etc.
• Developmental Advising for first-year students (including Case Follow-Up) & Case Consultation
  • Advising students on both academic (e.g. course availability, academic requirements, group work issues, interpreting policy implications) & non-academic (e.g. struggling to make friends, navigating stress, food insecurity, career uncertainty) matters
  • Evaluating and identifying students’ needs and individual situations to determine the appropriate next steps including referrals to other Sheridan departments/resources (e.g. Student Affairs, faculty or Student Advisor)
  • Maintaining accurate case records of all student interactions in CRM (database) to track the student journey; conducting data analysis and creating service reports
  • Building rapport with students while ensuring confidentiality and safeguarding of student rights
  • Working collaboratively with first-year experience team to develop strategies, and explore alternative pathways, options, and solutions in support of Indigenous students who are experiencing challenges with achieving academic performance, including challenges related to non-academic barriers (e.g. health, disability, family and personal matters, social, emotional, financial etc.)
  • Advising students on how to navigate through the College information system (e.g. Student Advisement & Services, Learning Supports, Financial Aid, Library Services, MyStudent Centre) on a wide range of academic matters (e.g. policies, procedures, registration, financial aid, band funding, grades, career pathways, etc.)
• Transition and First year experience
  • Delivering a variety of student workshops, seminars and training modules to Indigenous student groups based on identified needs related to transitional issues
  • Participating in Sheridan-wide committees and working groups to communicate regarding retention issues, best practices and trends and to provide information on FYE programming
  • Explaining options relevant to students’ specific situations and assisting students to prioritize and develop a course of action that leads to a solution and includes referrals to Sheridan resources (e.g. Counsellors, Academic Advisors, career path, etc)
• Operational Activities
  • Participating in the development and implementation of CILS goals, policies and procedures; ensuring practices and resources align with Sheridan policies and procedures
  • Maintaining continuity of work operations by documenting and communicating needed actions to management, by discovering irregularities and determining continuing needs
  • Planning, organizing and coordinating events including logistics, venue selection, set up, meals, prizes, signage, determining resources, staging, obtaining vendor quotes for services and equipment, estimating costs, tracking and reconciling purchases, maintaining a budget and overseeing other event related matters
  • Communicating to volunteers, apprising them of the agenda and their role in the event
• Performing other related duties as assigned

About You

You value participating in and creating safe, brave and inclusive environments at work and in the community and want to be a part of a culture where we strive to take actions to ensure no one is left behind.

Your respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion as it relates to the student academic experience informs your way of knowing, practicing, and supporting the Sheridan community.

You have a high level of intercultural competence coupled with a deep understanding of the application of principles of inclusivity.

You have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present to diverse audiences and communities.  

You enjoy balancing many different tasks and can prioritize multiple projects while staying organized and maintaining a high level of attention to detail.

You exercise sound judgement and your sharp problem solving and conflict resolution skills allow you to solve challenges in a creative way.

You enjoy working independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will meet the following qualifications:

• 4-year degree in Social Work, Communications, Psychology, Education, Indigenous Studies, Art, Business or a related field
• Minimum of 3-years progressive experience working in postsecondary education as it relates to Indigenous students, including barriers to participation and success. (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Preference for a candidate who identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) and has lived experience with Indigenous communities 
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous communities (First Nations Métis, Inuit), the Indigenous experience in post-secondary settings, and connection to Indigenous Knowledge Systems 
• Strong connection to Indigenous Nations and communities
• Data analysis - Collecting, recording, analyzing, reporting, and presenting data and research findings)

Who We Are:

Every member of the Sheridan community is passionate about the transformational role we play in people’s lives. Our strategic plan, Sheridan 2027: Forging the Future (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/sheridan2027), charts a path towards a new ground-breaking model of higher education that reshapes post-secondary education and better prepares students for the future. We are committed to demonstrably advancing equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Diversity is our strength and fuels our commitment to excellence. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.

• For more information, visit: Why Work at Sheridan

Other Details

Faculty/Department: Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support
Campus Location: Trafalgar (may be assigned activities at any Sheridan campus)
Work Categorization: Hybrid Position | On-site at least 3 days/week
Reference: J0425-0213
Employee Group: Support Staff
Payband: J
Hourly Range: $42.56 - $49.34
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Hours/Week: 35 
Application Deadline: April 24, 2025

Sheridan is deeply committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, Anishinaabe Nation, Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Sheridan is situated on these lands, and it is our collective responsibility to honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here, and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be working on this land.

Sheridan values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. Sheridan regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. Sheridan seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Sheridan is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources.