Manager, Indigenous Student Support
Top Benefits
About the role
The Student Services department’s role in student success is to create a culture and environment that unleashes the full potential of all the students at SAIT. Our primary goal is to support Student-First Culture, by focusing on student success and mobilizing all campus community members in this shared goal.
The Opportunity
Are you passionate about advocating for Indigenous student success and fostering inclusive, culturally grounded learning environments? SAIT is seeking a visionary and community-connected leader to serve as Manager, Indigenous Student Support (internally known as Manager, Natoysopoyiis). This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead initiatives that empower Indigenous learners, build strong community relationships, and influence institutional change.
Guided by SAIT’s strategic plan, the Manager will lead the development and delivery of culturally relevant programming and services that promote belonging, engagement, and academic achievement for Indigenous students. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, maintaining meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations to ensure programming reflects community priorities and perspectives.
The Role
-
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of support services and programming for Indigenous learners.
- Ensure alignment of programming with SAIT’s strategic priorities and the needs of Indigenous students.
- Oversee daily operations of Natoysopoyiis, ensuring it remains a welcoming, culturally safe, and student-centered space.
- Manage budgets and resources effectively, including the transparent use of donor and restricted funds.
- Build and maintain respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, and partners.
- Coordinate the presence of Elders to provide culturally grounded mentorship and support to Indigenous students.
- Provide strong, values-based leadership to the Natoysopoyiis team, setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and teamwork.
- Offer consistent coaching, mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities to staff.
- Ensure staff are equipped and empowered to deliver culturally informed, student-centered services.
- Serve as the primary liaison between Indigenous students and SAIT’s academic and service areas.
- Collaborate with faculty and academic leaders to promote inclusive, culturally receptive learning environments.
- Advocate for Indigenous student needs across the institution, contributing to policy and strategic initiatives.
- Participate in the Student Services Leadership Team and contribute to divisional planning and decision-making.
- Advise the Director, Student Services, and other institutional partners on Indigenous protocols and priorities related to student success.
Qualifications & Experience
-
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a human services field (e.g., business, education, psychology); a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
- Proof of Indigenous ancestry and demonstrated connection with Indigenous communities is required.
- Strong knowledge of Treaty 7 ceremonies and protocols.
- Experience in student services within a post-secondary environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams with integrity and empathy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams and communities.
- Strategic thinking and planning skills to drive institutional goals forward.
- Deep understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.
- Experience working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers in organizational settings.
Job classification: Manager
Salary range: $125,000 - 133, 000
# of positions: 1
Hours Per Week: 37.5
Posting closing date: August 6, 2025
About SAIT
SAIT is a global leader in applied education. Named one of Alberta’s Top Employers, we offer the chance to work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers.
Building on our 100+ year history, we’re looking for innovative, bold and collaborative employees who embrace change and deliver world-class customer experiences. Your future starts now at SAIT.
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about EDI at SAIT.
At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT - so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.
SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to the Talent Advisor.
BEWARE FALSE POSTINGS AND RECRUITING OFFERS
SAIT has been made aware of individuals or organizations posing as SAIT using false postings to attract job seekers and collect personal information. Please be aware that SAIT will never request sensitive personal information beyond what is required for an application.
Career opportunities at SAIT will always be posted on the SAIT career site and we encourage applicants to only apply directly through there. When your application is completed you will receive an email confirmation, if you did not receive one please check your junk mail or try applying through the SAIT career page again.
About Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Technology is who we are — it’s what we do. Officially known as the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), we’re a community of thinkers, creators and champions leading change and reimagining the workforce of tomorrow.
In 1916, our doors opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with 11 students and a mandate to train veterans returning from the First World War. Over the years, we’ve matched community needs — as a hospital during the Spanish Flu pandemic and as a Royal Canadian Air Force Wireless Training School during the Second World War.
Fast forward to today and SAIT’s action-based learning, solution-focused research and industry partnerships are helping to shape the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs and pioneers.
Manager, Indigenous Student Support
Top Benefits
About the role
The Student Services department’s role in student success is to create a culture and environment that unleashes the full potential of all the students at SAIT. Our primary goal is to support Student-First Culture, by focusing on student success and mobilizing all campus community members in this shared goal.
The Opportunity
Are you passionate about advocating for Indigenous student success and fostering inclusive, culturally grounded learning environments? SAIT is seeking a visionary and community-connected leader to serve as Manager, Indigenous Student Support (internally known as Manager, Natoysopoyiis). This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead initiatives that empower Indigenous learners, build strong community relationships, and influence institutional change.
Guided by SAIT’s strategic plan, the Manager will lead the development and delivery of culturally relevant programming and services that promote belonging, engagement, and academic achievement for Indigenous students. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, maintaining meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations to ensure programming reflects community priorities and perspectives.
The Role
-
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of support services and programming for Indigenous learners.
- Ensure alignment of programming with SAIT’s strategic priorities and the needs of Indigenous students.
- Oversee daily operations of Natoysopoyiis, ensuring it remains a welcoming, culturally safe, and student-centered space.
- Manage budgets and resources effectively, including the transparent use of donor and restricted funds.
- Build and maintain respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, and partners.
- Coordinate the presence of Elders to provide culturally grounded mentorship and support to Indigenous students.
- Provide strong, values-based leadership to the Natoysopoyiis team, setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and teamwork.
- Offer consistent coaching, mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities to staff.
- Ensure staff are equipped and empowered to deliver culturally informed, student-centered services.
- Serve as the primary liaison between Indigenous students and SAIT’s academic and service areas.
- Collaborate with faculty and academic leaders to promote inclusive, culturally receptive learning environments.
- Advocate for Indigenous student needs across the institution, contributing to policy and strategic initiatives.
- Participate in the Student Services Leadership Team and contribute to divisional planning and decision-making.
- Advise the Director, Student Services, and other institutional partners on Indigenous protocols and priorities related to student success.
Qualifications & Experience
-
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a human services field (e.g., business, education, psychology); a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
- Proof of Indigenous ancestry and demonstrated connection with Indigenous communities is required.
- Strong knowledge of Treaty 7 ceremonies and protocols.
- Experience in student services within a post-secondary environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams with integrity and empathy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams and communities.
- Strategic thinking and planning skills to drive institutional goals forward.
- Deep understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.
- Experience working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers in organizational settings.
Job classification: Manager
Salary range: $125,000 - 133, 000
# of positions: 1
Hours Per Week: 37.5
Posting closing date: August 6, 2025
About SAIT
SAIT is a global leader in applied education. Named one of Alberta’s Top Employers, we offer the chance to work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers.
Building on our 100+ year history, we’re looking for innovative, bold and collaborative employees who embrace change and deliver world-class customer experiences. Your future starts now at SAIT.
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about EDI at SAIT.
At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT - so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.
SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to the Talent Advisor.
BEWARE FALSE POSTINGS AND RECRUITING OFFERS
SAIT has been made aware of individuals or organizations posing as SAIT using false postings to attract job seekers and collect personal information. Please be aware that SAIT will never request sensitive personal information beyond what is required for an application.
Career opportunities at SAIT will always be posted on the SAIT career site and we encourage applicants to only apply directly through there. When your application is completed you will receive an email confirmation, if you did not receive one please check your junk mail or try applying through the SAIT career page again.
About Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Technology is who we are — it’s what we do. Officially known as the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), we’re a community of thinkers, creators and champions leading change and reimagining the workforce of tomorrow.
In 1916, our doors opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with 11 students and a mandate to train veterans returning from the First World War. Over the years, we’ve matched community needs — as a hospital during the Spanish Flu pandemic and as a Royal Canadian Air Force Wireless Training School during the Second World War.
Fast forward to today and SAIT’s action-based learning, solution-focused research and industry partnerships are helping to shape the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs and pioneers.