Career Center

Position Overview 

The Indigenous education program specialist is a content specialist within Indigenous education, particularly early childhood education, and applies relevant subject matter knowledge with a focus on Indigenous scholarship, knowledge, and practices in child development and early childhood education. Such knowledge and practices may include the ability to engage in identification of appropriate curricular content, instructional design, needs analysis, use of communications technologies, education program delivery techniques, student motivation, and program evaluation. The Indigenous education program specialist will work independently with guidance from the early childhood education program lead, the director of the Institute of Child Development (ICD), and the associate dean for undergraduate education, diversity, and international initiatives.

In collaboration with faculty and staff in ICD, this position is primarily designed to support the implementation of an Ojibwe culture and language pathway in the individualized studies track of the B.S. in Early Childhood degree, offered by the Institute of Child Development. The individualized studies track in the B.S. Early Childhood program allows students to select a supporting program to supplement their early childhood content. The Indigenous education program specialist will aid students in developing a supporting program in Ojibwe culture and language, or related domains. A goal assigned to this position is to develop various templates that students can refer to when selecting university-wide courses for a supporting program.

A key responsibility of this position is to actively support and advance the Universityâ™s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This position will support the Institute of Child Developmentâ™s commitment to anti-racism.

The position is a 50% time, 12-month position for a two-year period in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Much of the responsibilities for this position can be achieved primarily remotely from within Minnesota, with occasional meetings or gatherings on campus. 

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer. 

Job Responsibilities

Program Development (50%)

• Support the efforts of ICD faculty and staff to identify and include Indigenous scholarship, knowledge, and practices in core early childhood courses; collaborate with course developers and instructors, to the extent possible to achieve this goal.
• Support faculty and academic staff in designing and incorporating instructional materials and assessment resources.
• Work closely with faculty, staff, students, and community members to develop and deliver effective academic support programs and resources in the individualized studies track of the B.S. in Early Childhood.
• Coordinate with American Indian Studies to support access to introductory Ojibwe language courses for students with that need and interest.
• Coordinate with Tribal College and Tribal Nation leadership to ensure program suitability and supports to prevent duplication or interference with other ongoing programs and initiatives at the Tribal Colleges.

Early Childhood Liaison to Tribal Colleges and University Partners (50%)

• Develop supporting program templates for students to select from, by coordinating with various programs on campus that will provide options for coursework and scholarship.
• Coordinate with early childhood advising staff to address student inquiries and to develop a supporting program in Ojibwe language, Indigenous
• Language and Culture, and other domains relevant to the studentâ™s interest.
• Engage with Tribal Colleges, CEHD Students Services, and University transfer admissions staff to support student access to the program.
• Build connections to aid in promoting the Ojibwe culture and language pathway in early childhood education to Indigenous and broader communities, increasing visibility, and attracting new students to the program.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelorâ™s degree in education or related field with 3 or more years of related professional experience, or a masters degree with proven ability
  to perform the role.
• Experience in early childhood education settings.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with multiple partners from diverse communities.
• Experience in Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, or Tribal Colleges.
• Strong problem solving skills.
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages (Ojibwe preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in early childhood education or child development.
• Experience developing educational programs.
• Fluency in Ojibwe or other Indigenous languages (verbal and written).

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities