Position : Innovation Project Officer

Location : Ottawa (in person/Hybrid) with consideration for remote

Employment Type : Full-Time, term one (1) year

About the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL)

The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages is dedicated to promoting and championing Indigenous languages by supporting the efforts of Indigenous Peoples across Canada to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages.

Our national team is passionate about our work, and the difference we make with the research, resources and innovation we develop collaboratively with partners and share with Indigenous communities. We have policies in place to ensure a welcoming, safe and respectful workplace, as well as rigorous standards for transparency and accountability.

Our Vision: All Indigenous languages in Canada are safe, vibrant, and thriving.

Our Guiding Principles

1.

2. There is an urgent need for concerted efforts and investments toward the revitalization of Indigenous languages to arrest and reverse the erosion that has already occurred. Research shows that no Indigenous language in Canada is safe and that all are in varying stages of endangerment.

3. Indigenous languages are fundamental to the identities, cultures, spirituality, relationships to the land, worldviews, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.

4. Indigenous languages have and continue to contribute to the strength of Canada as a whole, including biodiversity and the richness of linguistic and cultural heritage. The Commission is committed to protecting the vitality of all Indigenous languages, including sign languages and sleeping languages.





We welcome interest by qualified candidates as we expand our national team to launch new, exciting projects and to meet growing organizational needs.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager of the Innovation Hub, the Innovation Project Officer is responsible for supporting the grant administration, evaluation, and growth of the Innovation Hub. This role plays a critical function in supporting funding distribution, project lifecycle tracking, initial assessments of applications, and strengthening community engagement to expand participation in the Innovation Hub.

Key Responsibilities

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- In collaboration with the Manager, support the full lifecycle of innovation-related work associated with grants and funding agreements, including intake, assessment, collaborating with partners, and reporting.

- Build and maintain relationships with experts, rightsholders, communities, organizations, and other stakeholders to identify and advance innovative approaches.

- Build and strengthen reciprocal, meaningful relationships with applicants, communities, networks, organizations, and partners nationally and internationally.

- Support the identification, prioritization, and amplification of innovation-specific language revitalization needs.

- Develop communications materials such as briefing notes, presentations, and project status updates.





- Coordinate timelines, workflows, funding release, approvals and quality control across multiple concurrent projects.

- Work cross-functionally with internal teams to support coordinated program delivery and consistent communication related to funding opportunities and project updates.

- Assist in maintaining communication schedules, collecting project success stories, and ensuring timely dissemination of information to stakeholders.

- Represent the Commission at key engagements and forums to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, governments, external partners, and rightsholders.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

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- Degree in Business Administration, Indigenous Studies, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Significant experience (2-4+ years) in in project coordination, program administration, grants management, innovation programming, community development, or a related field.

- Experience coordinating funding programs, tracking budgets, monitoring project deliverables, and maintaining accurate records.

- Demonstrated experience organizing meetings, events, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities.

- Experience in leading community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development.

- Experience working with or alongside Indigenous communities, organizations, or governments is an asset.

Knowledge and Expertise

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- Solid understanding of Indigenous histories, language revitalization priorities, cultural pr

📌 Innovation Project Officer (Canada)
🏢 Office Of The Commissioner Of Indigenous Languages
📍 Canada