Senior Specialist, Indigenous Programs

Title: Senior Specialist, Indigenous Programs

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2024, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Senior Program/Service Specialist - Indigenous is a specialized professional responsible for providing deep technical knowledge and advanced solutions within their specific area of expertise in support of our work in partnership with Indigenous communities. They play a key role in developing, implementing, and optimizing specialized programs, services, and initiatives that align with organizational goals, our Indigenous Peoples Framework principles, and industry best practices. Leveraging their subject matter expertise, they analyze complex challenges, design innovative solutions, and provide targeted guidance and training to internal teams and external partners. They also ensure compliance with regulatory and guiding frameworks, risk management strategies, and quality standards, contribute to research and policy development, and drive continuous improvement in their specialized field to enhance program sustainability and operational resilience.

This position has specific accountability to support advancement against the CRC Creating Safe Environments (CSE) Strategy with specific reference to the Community Engagement Pathway (CEP) and how we walk in relationships. The Senior Specialist also has accountability to steward and coordinate the Indigenous Peoples Help Desk (IPHD). The Senior Specialist has proven experience in community engagement programs working in relationship with Indigenous Peoples. Such experience includes the identification of steps to ensure culturally safe design and delivery, as well as application of monitoring principles and processes. They have experience in the design of collaborative efforts and programs that promote meaningful participation.

In this role, you will:

• Provide specialized knowledge, research, and data-driven insights to enhance program/service design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations/structures, partners, and members to foster culturally safe engagement reflecting commitments against the CRC Indigenous Peoples Framework
• Lead implementation of specialized programs, services, and initiatives that align with organizational goals and industry best practices.
• Lead the development and refinement of technical frameworks, guidelines, and methodologies to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Coordinate and support the planning and execution of program strategy and service delivery activities that reflect inclusion and cultural safety.
• Lead the development of specialized metrics, evaluation tools, and impact assessment models to measure program effectiveness.
• Provide technical guidance on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks to ensure data-driven decision-making.
• Lead technical training sessions, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives for internal teams and external partners.
• Develop and contribute to research, reports, and policy recommendations to shape best practices in the sector.
• Ensure community engagement strategies integrate technical insights, equity principles, and culturally responsive practices.
• Facilitate participatory processes that empower communities to co-design and influence program/service direction.

What we are looking for:

• Qualifications include a minimum of 6-9 years experience and a 3-year college diploma or university degree in public administration, emergency management, public administration, social sciences, health science, community development, or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. May require a graduate diploma/degree in a related field and/or a professional degree, certification or designation.
• Requires expertise in a specialized discipline or broad experience across fields, along with an understanding of interconnections between process and business units.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with Indigenous communities, organizations, or governments in a culturally safe, respectful, and reciprocal manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint is required.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership development and working with diverse communities.
• Ability to identify complex problems, analyze interrelated factors, assess and mitigate risks, and develop solutions using specialized skills.
• Communication and influence skills to gather perspectives, understand needs, and present information to reach consensus, often in somewhat sensitive situations.
• Experience applying community engagement principles, participatory approaches, and culturally safe practices.
• Ability to integrate best practices and evidence-based approaches into program frameworks.
• The ideal candidate has lived and/or has professional experience with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Nations or communities.
• Active in broader Indigenous networks and has an enduring commitment to sharing and advancing knowledge derived through Indigenous knowledge systems including balancing Western and Indigenous world views.
• The official languages recognized within the Canadian Red Cross are English and French however demonstrated skills and ability to communicate in an or multiple Indigenous language(s) or ability to communicate and adapt within Indigenous protocol is highly desirable.

Working Conditions:

• As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English.
• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).