Youth Innovation Lead - Chef de l'innovation jeunesse

Position : Youth Innovation Lead

Location : Ottawa (in person/Hybrid) with consideration for remote

Employment Type : Full-Time, one (1) year term

Department : Operations – Connection Hub

Reports To: Connection Hub Manager

About the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL)

The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages is dedicated to promoting and championing Indigenous languages by supporting the efforts of Indigenous Peoples across Canada to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages.

Our national team is passionate about our work, and the difference we make with the research, resources and innovation we develop collaboratively with partners and share with Indigenous communities. We have policies in place to ensure a welcoming, safe and respectful workplace, as well as rigorous standards for transparency and accountability.

Our Vision: All Indigenous languages in Canada are safe, vibrant, and thriving.

Our Guiding Principles

There is an urgent need for concerted efforts and investments toward the revitalization of Indigenous languages to arrest and reverse the erosion that has already occurred. Research shows that no Indigenous language in Canada is safe and that all are in varying stages of endangerment.

Indigenous languages are fundamental to the identities, cultures, spirituality, relationships to the land, worldviews, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous languages have and continue to contribute to the strength of Canada as a whole, including biodiversity and the richness of linguistic and cultural heritage. The Commission is committed to protecting the vitality of all Indigenous languages, including sign languages and sleeping languages.

We welcome interest by qualified candidates as we expand our national team to launch new, exciting projects and to meet growing organizational needs.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager of the Connection Hub, the Youth Innovation Lead provides strategic and operational leadership to initiatives that amplify Indigenous youth perspectives, strengthen collaboration and partnerships, and foster innovative approaches to community engagement and strategic policy. The role serves as a focal point between Indigenous youth, communities, partners, and rightsholders, ensuring that youth voices are meaningfully integrated in the Commission’s work.

The Youth Innovation Lead plays a key role in supporting the design, implementation, and assessment of youth-led innovation initiatives which advance the mandate of the Commission, strengthen knowledge sharing, and develop community-informed approaches to amplifying youth-led priorities to language revitalization.

Key Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Manager, lead the development of youth-led innovation initiatives and engagements in alignment with the Commission’s mandate and strategic priorities.

Build and strengthen reciprocal, meaningful relationships with Indigenous youth, communities, networks, organizations, and partners nationally and internationally.

Support the development of a youth-led advisory council to inform the Commission’s activities and priorities.

Foster culturally grounded and inclusive spaces and platforms that amplify youth leadership, participation, collaboration, and innovation.

Support the identification, prioritization, and amplification of youth-specific language revitalization needs.

Support the impact assessment of the Commission’s youth-led innovation initiatives.

Build strong working relationships with external stakeholders and partners in support of youth-led priorities and innovation strategies.

Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership on youth-led innovation initiatives which reflect youth priorities and are grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems.

Prepare high-quality briefing materials, speaking notes, and issue analyses as it relates to youth voices, perspectives, and engagements.

Collaborate across internal teams to ensure alignment on engagement approaches and communication outputs.

Represent the Commission at key engagements and forums to strengthen relationships with Indigenous youth, communities, governments, external partners, and rightsholders.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Degree in Indigenous studies, public policy, social innovation, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Significant experience (3-5+ years) working with Indigenous youth, communities, and organizations.

Experience in leading community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development.

Experience working with complex and sensitive priorities requiring confidentiality, sound judgement, and cultural humility.

Knowledge and Expertise

Knowledge of youth engagement principles, Indigenous languages revitalization, Indigenous governance, and culturally-grounded community engagement approaches.

Strong familiarity with innovation, strategic engagement, and partnership development practices.

Strong understanding of Indigenous histories, language revitalization priorities, cultural preservation, and the broader policy landscape in Canada, including the Indigenous Languages Act and the TRC Calls to Action .

Strong familiarity with federal, provincial/territorial, and Indigenous policy environments and decision-making processes.

Skills and Competencies

Demonstrated ability to build respectful, collaborative, and trust-based relationships with Indigenous youth, communities, rightsholders, and partners.

Strong commitment to empowering and amplifying youth voices, perspectives, and priorities.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively across teams and diverse stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.

Excellent understanding of Indigenous governance, knowledge systems, worldviews, and perspectives.

Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize diverse sources of information into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills to connect meaningfully with youth, communities, and diverse partners/rightsholders.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefings, reporting materials for senior leadership.

Strong project management skills, with experience leading initiatives from design through implementation.

Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate complex, fast-paced environments.

High degree of cultural competency, humility, and respect when working with Indigenous youth and communities.

Ability to work collaboratively across teams, while also operating independently and taking initiative.

Assets

Proficiency in an Indigenous language and bilingualism (English/French).

What We Offer

The Commission offers a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental benefits and a pension plan, three weeks paid holidays to begin, plus additional paid days off through the year, including federal and provincial holidays. The Commission offers a wonderful, supportive work environment, with opportunities for career development, mentorship, and professional development.

The Commission recognizes that our success requires us to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and diversity in its widest context, one where all people, regardless of difference, are valued and respected.

Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants in accordance with section 16(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act . Candidates are encouraged to self-identify in their cover letter.

Poste : Chef de l'innovation jeunesse

Emplacement : Ottawa (en présentiel/hybride) avec considération pour le télétravail

Type d'emploi : À temps plein, période d'un (1) an

Département : Opérations – Connection Hub

Rapports à : Gestionnaire du Connection Hub

À propos du Bureau du Commiss