About Western

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, recent connections, and new ways to make a difference.

About Us

Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives leads system-wide change required to advance truth and reconciliation efforts, achieve equitable outcomes for Indigenous peoples, and implement Western’s Indigenous Strategic Plan. The Office is committed to building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, and fostering an academic environment, where all students, staff, faculty and community members experience the university as a welcoming, supportive, culturally secure environment in which Indigenous languages, ways of knowing, being and doing are respected and supported.

The Office’s priority areas are:

- strategic planning and implementation
- communications and reporting
- community engagement
- policy development and practice
- space planning and management
- curriculum and training development
- student affairs, access and recruitment strategies
- faculty and staff recruitment and retention strategies
- research and scholarship strategies.

Within the Office of Indigenous Initiatives is the Indigenous Student Centre, committed to supporting Indigenous students in reaching their highest potential through a safe space, wholistic, culturally relevant and strength-based programs, and services that foster Indigenous presence and inclusion, increasing access and retention.

The priority areas for the Indigenous Student Centre are:

- Indigenous cultural enrichment
- Indigenous student academic and career support
- Indigenous youth and community outreach
- Indigenous orientation and transition
- Indigenization of the student experience
- Indigenous Student wholistic well being

Responsibilities

The Administrative Assistant (Indigenous Student Centre) plays a critical role in assisting the leader/ direct report and staff with various administrative duties related to the delivery of programs (supportive programming focused on cultural systems of community and healthy relationships) and services geared toward current and prospective Indigenous students at Western University. This role will impact both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities at Western, as well as the greater London Indigenous community, in an effort to educate, decolonize, and indigenize our systems. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for maintaining and updating the Unit's filing system, student records, and storage facilities. They also are responsible for recording team meetings and minutes, financial record keeping for the Unit, making deposits, receiving and processing receipts and reconciling cash advances in a timely and accurate manner. The Administrative Assistant assists all staff in the daily operations of the Centre including grocery and supply orders, organizing meetings, booking rooms and assisting with receiving, sorting and delivering mail. The role will also be called upon to provide support for student events that occur at the Wampum Learning Lodge, as required.

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes the Role is to Achieve





- Through one-on-one support and facilitation of visiting teachers and Knowledge Keepers to provide cultural programming, Indigenous students will learn the meaning of healthy relationships, how to foster them with self, family/friends, and community (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous). Indigenous students will gain strategies to:
- Heal their relationships with education through close connections to the land
- Develop and grow their safe community within campus
- Fostering of self-confidence around Indigenous identity.

- This role will gather feedback from Indigenous students on their needs and provide weekly drop-in times for sharing time together as a support.
- Provide access to knowledge outside of their scope through guest teachers (Elders/Knowledge Holders) focused on topics of wholistic wellness: the physical, mental, spiritual, and intellectual.
Students will gain life skills focused on food – purchasing and cooking, budgeting, balancing family, and community responsibilities with academic responsibilities.

Qualifications

Education:

Minimum Required: Community College Diploma in an administrative field

Preferred: Post-Secondary Degree in Social Service Work or a related field

Experience:

Minimum Required:

- 1 year of experience in a supporting role for Indigenous people, focused on youth
- Experience working with Indigenous community organizations
- De-escalation and conflict management training
- Trauma-Informed Lens and Anti-Oppressive Approach

Preferred:

Experience and knowledgeable of Indigenous community engagement practices

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) from Turtle Island and can affirm claims of Indigenous membership and citizenship as required within Western’s MAPP Policy 1.58 – Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Membership and Citizenship. Details of the affirmation processes are available on the OII website.

Skills, Abilities & Expertise:

- Knowledge of general office procedures including records management systems
- Ability to establish effective routines for excellent communication with all members of the team to maximize productivity
- Proven ability and natural inclination to interact with people in professional, respectful and diplomatic manner
- Self-motivated multi-tasker with strong organizational skills
- Positive, outgoing attitude with genuine customer service orientation
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative and follow through on work assignments
- Familiarity with University policies and procedures preferred
- Written and verbal communication skills to clearly express ideas in an objective manner, and adapt communication style to suit the situation and audience
- Customer service skills to understand customer needs and expectations, with a desire to deliver helpful and reliable service to the University community
- Ability to apply supportive and cultural knowledge to on-on-one and group interactions.
- Ability to source new information resources for students dependent on the need expressed.
- Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, health/healing practices, current and historical issues,



and anti-oppressive approaches towards services and support.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the social determinants of health and the social consequences and risk factors associated with mental illness (e.g., substance abuse and addiction, suicide, self-harm, stigma).
- Knowledge of diversity as it affects different populations and service delivery, including, but not limited to, gender, sexual identity, cultural, spirituality and racial issues
- Well established and demonstrated interpersonal, relationship building, leadership, and oral and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and proven ability to exercise a high level of initiative and independent judgement
- Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite

Why Western?

Western offers a broad and exciting variety of part-time and temporary employment opportunities with ample room for job exploration and growth. Within our beautiful campus, you are part of a progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance including access to our state-of-the-art recreation centre. Apply for an opportunity to be part of the Western community and contribute to its success!

Background Checks

While transcripts are not required for the interview, they may be needed prior to an offer of employment.

Affirmation Policy

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University.

Applying at Western

To ensure that your application is given full consideration, please complete all relevant sections of the application. In addition, you can choose to supplement your application with a cover letter and current resume.

Consideration of applicants will include an assessment of previous performance, experience, and qualifications. Applicants should have oral communication skills in English.

Western Values Diversity

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone (phone hidden).

Please Note:

This position is an existing vacancy. This position is fully in-person, on-site. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.

📌 Administrative Assistant, ISC (Canada)
🏢 Western University
📍 Canada