Position Title:
Bilingual Senior Indigenous Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist (Telework/Hybrid)

Status of Employment:
Temporary Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Position Language Requirement:
English, French

Language Skills:
English (Reading - B - Intermediate), English (Speaking - B - Intermediate), English (Writing - B - Intermediate), French (Reading - B - Intermediate), French (Speaking - B - Intermediate), French (Writing - B - Intermediate)

Unposting Date:
2026-08-10 11:59 PM

This role is a hybrid work arrangement. Work schedule to be discussed with the Hiring Manager according to the guidelines defined by the department.

Position summary

The Senior Indigenous Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a pivotal role in transforming the organization's workforce. This specialist is the driving force behind the design and execution of recruitment strategies, working to significantly boost Indigenous representation and inclusion at every level in alignment with the National Indigenous Strategy.

Serving as a corporation-wide strategic partner, they strengthen Indigenous outreach and build culturally informed practices to ensure better representation across the entire organization.

The work goes beyond conventional recruitment; it champions a culturally competent and trauma-informed approach. This involves a deep commitment to building authentic talent pipelines, creating culturally safer spaces for Indigenous professionals, and navigating the sensitive complexities of identity verification with care.

Ultimately, this role is about effecting systemic change, focusing on removing barriers and cultivating recruitment partnerships built on a foundation of trust and genuine reciprocity.

This critical role is dedicated to attracting, engaging, and retaining Indigenous talent from coast to coast to coast.

Key responsibilities

Strategy & Program Design:

• Lead the development and execution of corporate Indigenous recruitment strategies, programs, and outreach initiatives to attract, hire, and retain First Nations, Inuit, and Métis talent across all occupational groups.

Advisory & Practice Modernization:

• Act as a senior subject matter expert, advising management and HR partners on culturally appropriate, inclusive, trauma-informed, and bias-aware hiring practices.
  
  • Ensure a highly supportive and culturally safe Candidate Experience throughout the entire hiring lifecycle.
  • Review, modernize, and decolonize existing recruitment processes to eliminate systemic barriers facing Indigenous applicants.
  • Apply best practices for Indigenous-led verification of identity and authenticity, collaborating respectfully with Indigenous organizations and Employee Resource Groups.

Partnerships & Talent Pipeline:

• Build and maintain strong, sustainable partnerships with Indigenous communities, organizations, educational institutions, and talent networks.
  
  • Expand recruitment networks by collaborating with national Indigenous media, screen, and cultural organizations
  • Establish sustainable recruitment streams, including internships, co-op programs, and career mobility initiatives.

Influence & Change Management:

• Drive continuous improvement by identifying and removing systemic barriers in recruitment and staffing processes, thereby improving equity, accessibility, and candidate experience.
  
  • Collaborate horizontally across the organization to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to Indigenous recruitment and workforce planning.
  • Support change management by influencing stakeholders and embedding long-term, sustainable improvements in hiring practices and inclusion.
  • Elevate and strengthen organizational awareness and cultural competence in Indigenous recruitment through advisory services, tools, and knowledge sharing.

Data & Reporting:

• Conduct workforce analysis and data-driven assessments to identify representation gaps, inform strategies, and support succession planning through the development of Indigenous talent pools.
• Provide strategic reporting and recommendations to senior management to measure progress and drive continuous improvement.

Experience and Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Indigenous Studies, Human Resources, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field, or an equivalent meaningful combination of education and community/professional experience.
• Deep, lived understanding of First Nations, Inuit or Métis cultures, histories, values and contemporary realities in Canada is highly valued in this role.
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in full-cycle recruitment or talent acquisition, with a proven track record of successfully attracting and retaining Indigenous talent.
• Demonstrated experience establishing relations of trust and reciprocity with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and professional networks.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, organizations, or employment initiatives.
• Experience providing strategic advice to managers and stakeholders in a complex organizational environment.
• Strong working knowledge of the reconciliation frameworks, employment equity, systemic barriers, and inclusive hiring practices.
• Ability to turn high-level strategic direction into practical, daily recruitment operations.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to turn high-level strategic pillars into practical, daily recruitment operations.
• Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
• Trauma-informed Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills characterized by empathy, cultural safety, compassion, and deep listening.
• Influence and Advisory Skills
• Indigenous cultural competency
• Bilingualism: Proficiency in English and French is required (particularly for supporting a bilingual or francophone Indigenous environment).

Candidates may be subject to skills and knowledge testing.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Primary Location:
181 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1K9

Number of Openings:
1

Work Schedule:
Full time