Associate Dean, Indigenous Education

University of British Columbia

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia invites applications for a full-time tenured faculty position to serve as Associate Dean, Indigenous Education. The promotion of Indigenous knowledge and engagement is a signature strength of UBC’s Faculty of Education and a critical component of the strategic goals and priorities. The Associate Dean, Indigenous Education, provides leadership in the areas of Indigenous programs, research, and student support in the Faculty of Education through the oversight of the Office of Indigenous Education (OIE) and the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP).

The successful candidate will be offered two concurrent positions – an ongoing academic appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, Associate Professor of Teaching, Professor, or Professor of Teaching with tenure, and a five-year term administrative appointment as Associate Dean, Indigenous Education, which may be renewed for another five-year term. The academic appointment will be housed in one of the academic units in the Faculty of Education that is most closely aligned with the successful candidate’s scholarly focus. Both appointments are expected to start July 1, 2027, or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.

In accordance with UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, and pursuant to sections 11 and 13 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search is restricted to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

The successful candidate must possess a doctoral degree in education or a related field. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following:
• an international reputation and a distinguished record of academic accomplishments consistent with an appointment as an Associate Professor, Associate Professor of Teaching, Professor, or Professor of Teaching at UBC, in an area related to Indigenous Education;
• knowledgeable of local, provincial, and national Indigenous Education priorities;
• ability to provide strategic guidance and advice to the Dean, administrative leadership team, faculty, staff, and students on Indigenous Education;
• ability to provide innovative administrative and academic leadership to the OIE and NITEP;
• ability to collaborate with other Associate Deans, Department Heads, School Directors, and Program Directors in the Faculty of Education on matters related to Indigenous Education;
• ability to deal with serious conflicts, personnel and student matters through an informed and thoughtful form of mediation and decision-making;
• ability to represent the Dean, Faculty of Education, and UBC as a representative on Indigenous Education both internally (e.g., Teacher Education Advisory Committee, University-level committees and working groups) and externally (e.g. government bodies, educational organizations working to advance Indigenous Education);
• ability to engage with and advance Faculty and institutional strategic plans and priorities;
• strong understanding of budgets in a post-secondary institution context;
• excellent leadership skills that are grounded in Indigenous cultural teachings and ways of being; and
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, tied 1st in Canadian rankings and ranked 10th globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit this website.

The OIE is committed to advancing Indigenous education priorities across the Faculty, university, and within local, national, and international communities. As the Indigenous education landscape undergoes exciting policy, programmatic, and curricular shifts, our Indigenous educators, scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, and allies in the Faculty are responding with exciting research, teaching, and leadership. This work extends beyond classrooms and schools to consider Indigeneity at the intersections of social, ecological, linguistic, and political justice in other places, locally and internationally. For more information about the OIE, please visit this website.

The Faculty of Education and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to and expertise in decolonizing, reconciliation, anti-racist, and social justice approaches to research or educational leadership, teaching, and service, and have a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and teaching effectively in a welcoming environment. For more information about the Faculty of Education’s commitments and work related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, please visit this link.

The academic appointment (rank and tenure) is subject to a positive review of the successful candidate’s record of achievements based on UBC’s appointment and tenure criteria as specified in the Collective Agreement, following the University’s established appointment processes. For more information on the review process and criteria for appointment, please visit this link. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. The expected range for the professorial salary of the academic appointment is $210,000 - $255,000 per annum. An administrative stipend will be provided during the term as Associate Dean, Indigenous Education, in addition to the professorial salary.

Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package that includes:
(i) a cover letter (maximum two single-spaced pages, please indicate if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
(ii) curriculum vitae;
(iii) evidence of teaching excellence (including course outlines and student evaluations, if available);
(iv) a statement of administrative experience and leadership background (maximum one single-spaced page);
(v) an EDID statement (maximum one single-spaced page) that describes and documents your contributions to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) through your teaching, scholarship, leadership, service, and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans for EDID; and
(vi) names and contact details of three references, one of whom may be an Indigenous community member who is not an academic. Letters of reference will only be requested from candidates who are advancing to the next stage in the search process.

Complete applications must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file addressed to Dr. Jan Hare, Dean, Faculty of Education, and sent to Michael Wilkinson, Manager, HR & Administration, via email at michael.wilkinson@ubc.ca. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process. Accommodations are available on request for all applicants with disabilities at all stages of the search process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact educ.hr@ubc.ca.

While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are encouraged to submit their complete application package by January 30, 2026. Questions regarding this search and the application deadline should be directed to Michael Wilkinson, Manager, HR & Administration, Faculty of Education, at michael.wilkinson@ubc.ca.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.