Indigenous Health Education Coordinator

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has an end date of March 31, 2026 and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Location - This role is in person at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for The Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program

The Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program was founded in 1988 by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD) at the University of Alberta to encourage a greater number of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students gain access to, and graduate from, all faculty of medicine and dentistry programs. Since the program's inception, the Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) has been a leader in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students, representing Abenaki, Blackfoot, Cree, Dene, Delaware, Inuit, Iroquois, Metis, Mi'kmaq, Mohawk, the Ojibwe communities in Health Sciences in Canada.

Position 

Reporting to the Director, WIHP, the Indigenous Health Education Coordinator (IHEC) will, in collaboration and engagement with other educational leads, develop, coordinate, maintain, support, and implement Indigenous Health Education across the FoMD. The successful candidate will also be required to provide support for special projects, events, workshops and recruitment of session leads. The individual must have a detailed working knowledge of the requirements of the education program(s) and possess excellent interpersonal and multi-tasking skills with flexibility and adaptability when taking direction from multiple sources. This position requires a highly proficient individual who is adept at coordinating multiple schedules and the various detailed complex tasks and projects required of this position.

Please note this is a 2-year term ending March 31, 2026.

Duties 

• Develop, plan, coordinate, and implement Indigenous Health Education across the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD) that is inclusive of the advancement of the Indigenous Health Course and other Indigenous Health Educational Initiatives for all learners in the FoMD, faculty/student/staff development, and other Indigenous health education needs as they arise. 
• Develop, deliver, and enhance as necessary, existing Indigenous Health Education offerings to attract Indigenous students into any of the five FoMD programs and strengthen relationships with Indigenous community partners.
• Working with campus, community, and other partners, create and manage a Calendar of Engagement Events vis-a-vis Indigenous Health Education. 
• Serve as the primary contact for Faculty programs, community groups and other partners in Indigenous Health in respect of Indigenous Health Education; provide information about the Indigenous Health Education program offerings to prospective Indigenous students, and to interested faculty, students and staff. 
• Develop an Indigenous Health Education engagement plan that will serve as the foundation for communication/orientation on discussions related to Indigenous Health Education across the faculty. 
• Respond to written, e-mail, voicemail and verbal requests for information about the WIHP, the Indigenous Health Course, its academic and student programs, and all other Indigenous Health Education initiatives and services.
• Represent the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and the WIHP at FoMD curriculum and health education meetings and workshops and at external events as requested by the Director, WIHP.
• Collaborate with the DDS, DHYG, MLS, MD, and RADTh programs on the ongoing development and implementation of the Indigenous Health Course and other Indigenous health education needs. 
• Collaborate with partners in Indigenous health (e.g. community, Indigenous Wellness Clinic, Poundmakers Treatment Centre, other medical schools, etc) on content development and course implementation.
• Maintain and further develop relationship and communication networks with Indigenous communities/peoples, and other partners in Indigenous health in collaboration with the team within the WIHP business unit. 
• Maintain a list of contacts, and areas of interest regarding Indigenous Health Education for possible and ongoing collaboration and engagement with community regarding Indigenous Health.
• Network to create opportunities for advancement of Indigenous Health Education to ensure it meets, and is responsive to, the needs of the communities we serve, and advocate for the removal of barriers.
• Prepare the Indigenous Health Education annual budget for incorporation into the overall WIHP budget. 
• Prepare and submit annual Indigenous Health Education program annual reports to ensure the effectiveness of programming/activities and ensure they are meeting the stated purpose and objectives.   
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A degree in a related field.
• Experience in education, curriculum organization, or implementing courses.
• Knowledge of community protocols, practices, etc when working with/in Indigenous communities/peoples.
• Knowledge of wise/promising practices for effective delivery/outcomes in student/faculty/staff learning of Indigenous health. 
• Knowledge of planning/coordination of large-scale initiatives.
• Must be a collaborative, team orientated, diplomatic and proactive individual capable of working autonomously but also within the WIHP team environment through sharing of knowledge and skills, contributing ideas and recommendations, and implementation.

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree or Master’s degree in Education (BEd, Med) is preferred.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in education, curriculum organization or implementing courses is preferred.
• A combination of education background and experience may be considered.
• A Master’s degree in psychology, education, arts or related field and three years experience organizing and implementing courses/or other related student services, program, or instructional experience in an educational institution.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.