Research Coordinator

Company: Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg

Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg is a not-for-profit charitable Indigenous organization that provides high quality programs and services across the entire life cycle to the Indigenous population in Hamilton, Brantford and surrounding areas.

Pursuant to Section 24 of the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code), this position will give preference to applicants who identify as a member of an Indigenous community (First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples). Candidates from this group are asked to self-identify in their cover letter as part of the application process.

Position Summary: 

Reporting directly to the Director of Research and Learning, the Research Coordinator supports the development, implementation, and day-to-day coordination of research and learning activities that centre on Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives, and priorities. The Coordinator provides operational and administrative leadership to help ensure projects are organized, ethically grounded, culturally safe, and accountable to community-defined priorities. The Coordinator works closely with the Director of Research and Learning, Indigenous community members, scholars, staff, and other stakeholders to support respectful engagement, documentation, scheduling, and knowledge sharing across Community Research and Learning at Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg. 

Position Details / Qualifications: 

Education:  A post-secondary degree (Bachelor’s required; Master’s an asset) in Indigenous Studies, Social Work, Education, Social Sciences, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and lived/community-based experience. Experience supporting community-based research, research administration, or program coordination is preferred. 

Experience: 

• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience supporting research, evaluation, education, or community/program coordination (Indigenous-led and/or community-based experience strongly preferred). 
• Working knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing, cultural safety, and ethical approaches to Indigenous and community-based research (e.g., OCAP® awareness and respect for community protocols). 
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain respectful working relationships with Indigenous community members, partner organizations, and academic teams, with attention to accountability and trust. 

Skills and Competencies: 

• Ability to work well within a collaborative, shared leadership environment with humility, reliability, and follow-through. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to coordinate across diverse groups and synthesize information clearly. 
• Ability to support proposal development, tracking of deliverables, and basic reporting; familiarity with common funding environments is an asset. 
• Comfort navigating community and institutional systems (e.g., university processes) and escalating issues appropriately while centring Indigenous perspectives. 
• Working understanding of research ethics processes (academic and/or community-based); experience preparing or coordinating ethics documentation is an asset. 
• Experience supporting training, onboarding, or group facilitation for students and/or community co-researchers using strength-based and culturally rooted approaches. 
• Ability to track expenses and support budget administration (e.g., purchase requests, reconciliations, honoraria), with guidance from Co-Director team. 
• Experience supporting community-based, participatory, and/or Indigenous research approaches (e.g., coordination of meetings, recruitment logistics, note-taking, and documentation). 
• Strong organizational skills, including coordinating schedules, maintaining project trackers, and supporting work plan implementation. 
• Commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty and confidentiality, including following OCAP® principles and community ethics processes as directed. 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Operational Coordination and Planning 

• Coordinate schedules, meetings, and work plans to support the day-to-day operations regarding research and learning across the organization (Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg).
• Support the implementation of Indigenous-led protocols, governance practices, and culturally aligned procedures by maintaining documentation and coordinating approvals as directed. 
• Provide coordination support for proposals, reporting, and sustainability activities (e.g., compiling information, tracking deadlines, and drafting summaries) in ways that uphold self-determination and community ownership. 

Research and Learning Support

• Conduct preliminary and background research using a range of methods (e.g., environmental scans, literature reviews, mapping exercises).
• Prepare concise summaries of evidence, highlighting promising practices and relevant research frameworks, and approaches.
• Identify and compile key considerations related to research ethics, data governance, and methodological approaches.
• Draft internal working documents and forms to support research protocols

Project Intake and Setup 

• Support intake processes for new project ideas by coordinating initial meetings, gathering background materials, and organizing project records. 
• Coordinate project setup tasks such as drafting timelines, maintaining contact lists, and preparing engagement materials in alignment with community protocols and guidance from leadership. 
• Help ensure partner and community needs are reflected in project planning by documenting decisions, action items, and follow-ups, and escalating concerns as appropriate. 

Relationship Support and Community Engagement 

• Support relationship-building activities by coordinating partner communications, arranging meetings, and maintaining shared contact and partnership records. 
• Coordinate respectful engagement logistics for gatherings with leaders, Elders, youth, families, and intergenerational knowledge holders (e.g., invitations, accessibility, honoraria, space, food). 
• Support and uplift local Indigenous knowledge systems by ensuring engagement activities are documented and shared in culturally appropriate ways, as guided by community protocols. 
• Help ensure partner and community needs are reflected in project planning by documenting decisions, action items, and follow-ups, and escalating concerns as appropriate. 

Community-Based Research Coordination 

• Coordinate research project activities that centre Indigenous worldviews and community-defined priorities, including schedules, materials, and communications. 
• Support research activities such as ethics coordination, recruitment logistics, consent documentation, data collection scheduling, transcription coordination, and maintaining secure project files, under the direction of Director and project leads. 

Assist with preparing community-accessible summaries and tracking how research outcomes are returned to community in meaningful, appropriate ways. 

Training and Support for Co-Researchers and Community Sites

• Support the coordination of culturally relevant training for Indigenous co-researchers (e.g., scheduling, materials, and participant supports) rooted in teachings, language, land, and storytelling. 
• Provide logistical and administrative support for mentorship activities (e.g., coordinating check-ins, tracking training completion, and organizing resources). 
• Support intergenerational learning by coordinating participation and ensuring youth and community members are included as knowledge holders, as guided by project leads and community partners. 
• Support Co-Researchers/ Research Assistants with tasks such as survey creation, focus group, sharing circles and other data collection processes etc., (as deemed necessary)

Knowledge Mobilization and Reporting Support 

• Coordinate and support the sharing of research findings back with community through culturally appropriate formats (e.g., gatherings, feasts, ceremonies, visual storytelling), including logistics and materials. 
• Support basic reporting and documentation (e.g., meeting notes, activity summaries, draft content for reports/presentations) that reflect the voices and priorities of Indigenous families, as directed. 
• Assist with translating research into action by coordinating follow-ups, tracking commitments, and supporting implementation tasks that improve the well-being of Indigenous peoples in urban settings. 

**Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg does not use AI tools for the purpose of qualifying candidates.