ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ELCC AND K-12 EDUCATION

Location: Central Office, Edmonton, AB
Closing Date: Until Suitable Candidate Found
Position Status: Full-time (40 hours/week) one year contract

THE OPPORTUNITY

Rupertsland Institute is seeking an Associate Director, ELCC and K-12 Initiatives, which is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the administration, implementation, and evaluation of RLI’s education programs under the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC), K-12, Métis Access to Post Secondary, and ELCC and K-12 Michif Language Revitalization portfolios. Reporting to the Director of Operations, the successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across all ELCC and K-12 education initiatives to ensure they are culturally grounded, outcomes driven, and aligned with the strategic priorities of RLI and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. The Associate Director serves as the senior administrative lead for the assigned portfolios and will ensure day-to-day operations align with policies and funding agreements. The successful candidate will be a strong leader with excellent interpersonal skills and experience engaging effectively with students, families, educators, and other stakeholders.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Strong leadership skills with a recognized strength in leading and engaging teams, creating a culture that promotes the development of individual and organizational capacity.
• Strong sense of initiative with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects or tasks, delegate, set expectations, and monitor progress of direct reports.
• Proven strategic thinker with the ability to execute complex business plans and establish short-and long-term plans to meet key objectives.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an ability to produce professional documents, reports, and presentations.
• Strong knowledge of education priorities, government reporting, and funding compliance.
• Superior interpersonal skills and a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and changing environment and be adaptable and flexible to changing needs.
• Knowledge of Métis history, culture, and issues affecting Métis people. An in-depth understanding of RLI or the Otipemisiwak Métis Government is an asset.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in education, program management, or public sector administration.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Indigenous Studies, or a related field.
• Experience in overseeing multi-program portfolios and managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing teams.
• Experience working within an Indigenous or non-profit organization is a strong asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work a regular schedule of 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday, with flexibility for weekend and evening work, as required.
• Ability to travel throughout Alberta, as required.
• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• Submission of a clear Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check.

• Lead and oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of RLI’s ELCC and K-12 education initiatives and programs.
• Develop and implement departmental annual workplans, in alignment with RLI’s Strategic Priorities set by the RLI Board of Governors, the RLI Business Plan, and Otipemisiwak Métis Government
• Monitor the performance of programs against key performance indicators, grant deliverables, and strategic outcomes.
• Ensure all programming reflects Métis perspectives, incorporates community feedback, and promotes Métis educational sovereignty.
• Oversee and manage education department staff including Managers, Coordinators, and Program Consultants.
• Provide effective leadership to the ELCC and K-12 teams, including mentoring team members through feedback, coaching, and formal evaluations.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets; oversee procurement, contracts, and financial reporting.
• Approve, and oversee fee-for-service agreements, ensuring expenditures comply with administrative policies and funding conditions.
• Collaborate with all RLI departments to ensure efficient operations and support a unified brand.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of education data.
• Review, revise, and implement departmental policies and procedures in accordance with RLI standards.
• Oversee the development of program models, logic frameworks, and evaluation tools for continuous improvement.
• Ensure alignment with Alberta Education standards and federal distinctions-based strategies.
• Represent RLI in discussions with school authorities, government departments, educational partners, and community organizations.
• Participate on local, provincial, and national committees related to Indigenous and Métis education.
• Support consultations with Métis communities to ensure programming reflects citizen needs.
• Other duties as required or assigned.