September 18 2025

POSTING NUMBER – 25-09-18 (Please include this number when applying)

Position: Director of Research and Partnerships – Indigenous Women’s Research Institute (IWRI)

Classification: Full Time

Location: Hybrid, including a minimum of 2 days in-person per week

Salary: Dependent on qualifications

Summary: The Director of Research and Partnerships is responsible for identifying, developing, implementing and sustaining the research mission of the Institute within the context of Indigenous matriarchal, kinship, land-based, relational, culturally adaptive, and decolonizing research. The position includes formal and informal accountabilities to Indigenous partners and to research partnerships in which the Institute stewards, leads, or participates. The Director will facilitate discussion of key community priorities with multiple partners, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, private sector and public sector partners, research funders, research institutions, and others as applicable.  The Director will ensure that new and ongoing research initiatives within the Institute are fully integrated with its overall vision. With the Iskwewak Awetowak Nipowawin (Women Leading Knowledge) Indigenous Women’s Leadership Circle, the Director will identify and actively pursue new opportunities, collaborations, and research partnerships that correspond to its research priorities through a harm reduction and trauma-informed lens that seeks to position research as a tool for systemic transformation.

Core Responsibilities:

a) Leadership:

    • Represent the Institute and provide strategic leadership in developing and communicating the Institute’s research mission, as informed by the priorities of Indigenous women and Indigenous communities and organizations and in partnership with the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Circle (henceforth, “the Circle”);
    • Through the lens of matriarchy, kinship, land, and relationships, and building on past research and recommendations including in the Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report, the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, lead development of Institute’s research strategy, including identifying potential projects and research partnerships that may be supportive of its goals to support research as a tool for systemic change; 
    • Actively seek new partnerships with partners that align with the vision and objectives of the Institute through research projects and initiatives, whether as lead or as partner, in their capacity as lead representative of the Institute to external clients, funders, contractors, and Indigenous communities;
    • Identify new and significant opportunities for research development, including emerging areas of research, new funding sources and potential new collaborations;
    • Create a research framework, ethics review and evaluation functions, and other necessary research infrastructure;
    • Apply management oversight of the Institute’s financial resources, including submission of Institute’s annual budget and monitoring availability of funds prior to initiating spending decisions;
    • Pursue conflict resolution, if conflicts arise, with a lens toward harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches, including through informal and formal dispute resolution mechanisms and through ceremony.

    b) Research:

    • Lead the development of publications and research projects in collaboration with partners;
    • Work with project partners and the Circle to develop a community-based governance related to specific projects delivered on behalf of the Institute;
    • Pursue research grants as relevant with private and public sector funders for areas of priority research, and seek relevant partnerships accordingly;
    • Develop strategies to ensure that the Institute’s unique areas of research strength and expertise are properly recognized, supported and sustained within the context of potential new partnerships and collaborations;
    • Direct and advise students and/or contractors in conducting research, preparing documents, developing resources, or administering programs and services, in conducting research, writing reports, and preparing other knowledge mobilization outcomes;
    • Ensure Institute researchers and other support staff are aware of research policies and procedures and develop Institute-specific procedures to mitigate risks;
    • Be aware of grant funder terms and conditions for research projects awarded to the Institute, including framing and developing evaluation and reporting systems related to specific research projects;
    • Supervise student and contract researchers within all research initiatives, including the completion of performance evaluations as required, hiring and appointment processes, and other elements.

    Qualifications & Experience:

    a) Required Qualifications:

    • Knowledge and experience working in the context of Indigenous languages, beliefs, values, ethics and philosophies
    • An advanced degree in an area such as social sciences, history, sociology, law, education, political science, economics, or public health within the context of Indigenous research
    • Demonstrated familiarity with Indigenous research ethics and protocols with proven skills in formulating research plans and applying appropriate methods
    • Demonstrated expertise in successfully designing and carrying out individual and collaborative quantitative and qualitative research, including an understanding of statistical principles and methods for data analysis
    • Experience in working with 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, organizations, and/or research projects;
    • Demonstrated ability to create collaborative research outputs with other Indigenous scholars, community members, or Elders, including in the context of knowledge translation for Indigenous communities and within peer-reviewed publications
    • Exceptional abilities to build and foster relationships with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, urban Indigenous communities, academic institutions, scholars, governments and others, and experience working with a variety of public, private, non-profit and grassroots organizational structures.
    • Experience writing, editing, and coordinating large-scale multi-disciplinary research proposals within academic institutions or community partners
    • Demonstrated ability to secure research funding through various sources, including investigator-driven or partnership-driven grants and agreement, and/or to administer those agreements
    • Well-developed problem-solving, negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills, including in the area of knowledge mobilization/ translation.
    • Subject to Criminal Record Check, Prior Contact Check, and Child Abuse Registry Check.

    b) Asset Qualifications:

    • Certification or equivalent training in the area of Indigenous research data management and Indigenous data sovereignty.

    CLOSING DATE: All letters of interest and Resumes must be received no later than 1:00 pm on October 10 2025.

    Attention:          Human Resource Assistant

    350-200 Alpine Way, Headingley Manitoba R3H 0B7

    FAX: 204-946-5042

    Email: hr@mamawi.com

    We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  As an Indigenous employer, we encourage First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals to self-declare when applying.