BNLEK Community Liaison & Instructor Coordinator

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level B

Job Title

BNLEK Community Liaison & Instructor Coordinator

Department

UBCO | Indigenous Initiatives | Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Compensation Range

$6,949.92 - $9,992.50 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

July 22, 2026

Note:Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

Part-time .8 FTE

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job/Position Summary:

This position organizes and coordinates the instructional interactions between students and community stakeholders that lie at the heart of the Bachelor of Nłeʔkepmx Language Fluency. These include courses, internships, capstone projects, and special events, all of which will regularly engage community members and institutions.  Key contributors managed by the CLIC include first language speaking mentors, community organizations partnered with the program through student internships and capstone projects, participating and alumni students, and academic and other UBC staff. The position assists transition of students from their community college centres of learning (such as but not limited to the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, NVIT) to UBC, and works collaboratively with associated UBC faculty/staff in managing student supports.

Organizational Status:

The BNLEK is housed within the Indigenous Studies program (INDG), itself housed in the Community, Culture, and Global Studies Department of the IK Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Presently the BNLEK has one faculty position and this coordinator’s position associated with it, and the language instructional elements of the program. The position works independently, with great initiative and autonomy, under the general supervision of the Head of CCGS, and collaborates closely with the BNLEK faculty member and other INDG faculty, including the instructors and coordinator involved in an analogous degree, the Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency. The position is also responsible to maintain, develop, and cultivate external relationships with key organizations (for example, NVIT) and additional community partners. The position must maintain existing relationships and support the development of new linkages (including those with other Interior Salishan language communities) as the program develops. Community engagement is a major responsibility of this role: it is a core part of the program and essential to its success.

Major Responsibilities:

Community Outreach

• Responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with external partners, particularly with NVIT, the Tribal Councils within the Nation and the respective First Nations Bands, while managing collaboration activities with these external partners to facilitate student admissions, scholarships, projects, internships and success.
• Develops, supports, and manages university - community relationships for language instruction, internships and capstone projects.
• Responsible to promote internship / capstone project opportunities within the community, and supports students in the internship / capstone process to ensure the success of those projects, and the retention and successful completion of the students involved.
• Provides public facing contact for the BNLEK and recruitment of new students into the Nłeʔkepmx Language Fluency initiative.

Program Support

• Actively supports communities, faculty and students in establishing formal internship positions; develops and manages community internship agreements; manages all administrative aspects of internships, maintains a database of past and present internships, collects data, prepares reports on outcomes and recommends improvements to internship program. Works in collaboration with faculty to develop and administer tools for assessing and improving internships, and assessing the success of individual interns.
• Actively supports communities, faculty and students in establishing formal capstone projects; develops and manages community capstone project agreements and any associated protocols; manages all administrative aspects of capstone projects, maintains a database of past and present projects, collects data, prepares reports on outcomes and recommends improvements to the program. Works in collaboration with faculty to develop and administer tools for assessing and improving capstone projects, and assessing the success of individual students.
• Ensures knowledge sharing about, and respect for, Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ communication, information, and intellectual property sharing protocols.
• Organizes and supports first language speaking mentors and elders to participate effectively in language instruction. This will include all aspects of administration, including arranging technical supports, and liaising with community leadership as appropriate, and coordinating appropriate remuneration for community inputs. Collaborates with instructional staff to support community-based learning. 
• Contributes to the growth and development of the BNLEK and associated fluency degree initiatives by actively promoting in the community and supporting internal and external collaborations.
• Contributes to the support of overall Interior Salishan Indigenous Language Fluency Initiatives by actively collaborating with all stakeholders in the development of new language degrees.

Student Support

• Provides support and advice to students with respect to community engagement, in the form of internships, capstone projects, or other activities, to ensure: student success; appropriate protocols; and, reputation management.
• Communicates effectively and works closely with students to ensure their success with the program, internship and / or capstone project.
• Collaborates with student support staff (APS and enrolments services) and academic advisors to facilitate student admissions, scholarships, and success.
• Collaborates with community institutions and academic and library staff to identify, develop, and access language learning materials in any media.

BNLEK Strategy and Growth

• Contributes to the ongoing development of the vision of BNLEK program, and other related programs.
• Works closely and collaboratively with the other Interior Salishan Language Groups to continue the growth and expansion of the program.
• Recommends changes or improvements to the program.
• Identifies opportunities for new BNLEK activities, other programs, partnerships or collaborations.
• Performs other tasks related to the support and development of the BNLEK program, and the operation of the unit.
• Other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement:

The BNLEK relies heavily on effective and respectful community relationships at all levels This position requires familiarity with communication and consultation processes and protocols in working with Indigenous faculty, staff, students, and community members. A lack of familiarity with the issues for Indigenous engagement in teaching and learning could result in dysfunctional or ineffective understandings and approaches, which could perpetuate problematic situations and negatively impact students, work colleagues, and others.

Errors in judgment may have negative consequences for the quality of teaching and learning at UBC, as well as the quality and success of internships and capstone projects. They may also result in the inefficient use of resources, and/or poor relations among students, faculty & staff, and the community. They may severely damage the reputation of the University and the BNLEK program. Must exercise a high level of professionalism and judgment when dealing with various units and departments, as well as with non-UBC colleagues.

Failure to follow best practices and exercise sound judgment could result in significant resource and reputation costs to the University, and could possibly have a negative impact on future internal and external partnerships. Such damage can have immediate and long-term consequences for student's success, and the quality of the community-university relationship, and the reputation of UBC in the Indigenous space.

Supervision Received:

This position works independently under the general supervision of the Manager, Strategies and Operations Indigenous Initiatives. The academic staff associated with the degree, and the community partners involved in the program will provide advice and guidance as required. Community leadership provides information and direction on protocol and the most effective processes to support community-university partnerships.

Supervision Given:

As a central role within the BNLEK, the role takes, collates, and provides advice and information to all parties involved. The role is a key information broker and relationship builder and protector between community and university partners. While not “supervision” per say, advice and support for students engaging with community partners is also part of the role. 

Working Conditions:

This position will be located off-campus, co-located with key community organizations involved in Merritt (Snk'y'peplhxw Coyote House Language and Culture Society and/or NVIT). Frequent travel in the interior region may be required. A hybrid working arrangement consisting of no less than 50% on site presence may be negotiated. This arrangement is subject to change based on the needs of the program.

Education/Work Experience:

Minimum

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Three to four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Lived experience of interior Salishan language community is required.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred

• Prior knowledge of an Interior Salishan language, preferably Nłeʔkepmx, is strongly preferred.
• Masters or equivalent experience preferred. A combination of Nłeʔkepmx, language fluency and community experience may be considered equivalent.
• Formal and/or informal experience of language revitalization activities and/or experience coordinating / facilitating adult language training at the community level required.
•  Experience working in educational contexts relevant and engaged with Indigenous communities required.
• Experience working with Indigenous Adult Learners preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct respectful consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
• Reside within the Nłeʔkepmx territory.

Performance Competencies and Criteria:

• Intermediate to high proficiency in Nłeʔkepmx or related Interior Salishan language.
• Self-motivated and self-directed.
• Excellent communication skills and knowledge and experience of Indigenous communication protocols.
• Experience in strategic engagement and planning processes is an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Knowledge of distance learning.
• Effective computer skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain supportive working relationships.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of clients.
• Proven ability to work in a team and collaborate with others.
• An understanding of the university environment and culture is an asset.
• Ability to function effectively within a changing environment.
• Ability to think strategically and exercise diplomacy, tact, and discretion.